The festive season seems like a distant memory and the initial excitement of entering 2019 has worn off. The weather isn’t particularly inspiring, credit card bills are looming and New Year’s resolutions are starting to slip.
There could be a perfect explanation for this glum feeling on January 21st. For most, Monday is the least favourite day of the week but today is considered the worst of them all. Officially named ‘Blue Monday’ AKA ‘the most depressing day of the year’. Bleak right?
Do not fear, we’ve pulled together our top tips to help you banish those blues, boost your mood and bounce through the week!
MAKE PLANS FOR THE EVENING
Mondays are tough. Having something to look forward to will help ease the pain. January is the month for discounted food, so book a table, enjoy delicious food whilst catching up with friends. If you’re doing dry January, duck out of it for one night - perk yourself up with a nice glass of something fizzy or a refreshing pint of beer after a hard day at work
PUT YOUR HEADPHONES IN
Find yourself a new uplifting Spotify playlist. Listening to music helps improve your mood, just make sure that you choose the right genre, happy pop-songs, 90’s throwbacks and feel good mix tapes are all winners in our book!
FIND THE LIGHT
It’s mid-January, meaning that you most likely haven’t seen the sun in a pretty long time! A lack of sunlight can not only affect your mood but also limits the amount of vitamin D you’re getting. Ever thought of a ‘light box’? Maybe today is the day to purchase it. Even if the sun isn’t shining, get outside on your lunch break, go for a walk and take in the fresh air. You could even book a sunny getaway to look forward to, that will definitely beat the blues.
GIVE UP SOCIAL MEDIA
If you’re feeling down, the last thing you want to see is someone else looking, feeling or having a better time than you! Ditch your phone and avoid social media for the day (well, at least a little)! Pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read.
RETHINK OVER AMBITIOUS NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
It’s easy to get carried away at the start of a new year, promising yourself that you’ll do more exercise, eat healthier, spend less money, do more cleaning, and so on. Don’t set yourself up for failure, take a step back and re-evaluate the resolutions you’ve set yourself making sure that they’re realistic.
BE KIND
Being kind not only puts a smile on other people’s faces but can also leave you feeling better too! It only has to be something small - a thank you or maybe stop and help someone in the street. Pay your work colleague or friend a compliment, spreading happiness is contagious.
SNOOZE LONGER
Still not turned your frown upside down by the evening, then get to bed a little earlier! The NHS states that most adults need between six and nine hours of sleep each night. Getting the recommended amount will help you feel refreshed and ready for the rest of the week.
So, banish the blue from Blue Monday this January and have the best Monday ever!