5 Ways to Beat the January Blues
January is a rubbish time of year, Christmas is over, the New Year has started, the diet has begun and everyone is back in the gym after nearly a month of chilling out and eating our weight in chocolate. It's easy to look back on December with fondness, only to be hit by the realisation that you have a whole year to wait until the big day rolls around again, and it can make you feel pretty down. But never fear, because I have a few tips for getting you through January in a positive, joyous way!
1. Spend more time outdoors
I know this can be pretty difficult when we have minimal daylight hours and we're all back at work for the majority of the time, but exposure to daylight has been proven to be good for us. It can lower feelings of depression and also help our immune systems.
The darker months tend to make us feel more sad in comparison to the rest of the year, so getting outside when we can will be highly beneficial to our state of minds. Believe it or not, it can also help us to sleep better, as well as making us more productive when it comes to everyday tasks. So make the most of the daylight while you still can!
2. Don't make unrealistic New Year's resolutions
Last week, I published a blog post all about why I won't be making New Year's resolutions this time around (you can read all about that here). But the point of this is that no one likes to fail in their goals or ventures, and setting unrealistic New Year's resolutions are fuel for this, therefore making you feel even worse about how you've not managed to meet goals you've set yourself.
Don't make goals which involve making £1 million in a year, instead, say you'll save £2,400 by the end of the year (which is £200 a month), to spend on something nice for yourself or others. Maybe you're saving up for a kitchen or a new bathroom, maybe you want a new car! Set yourself a realistic goal and you're more likely to meet it - simple right?
3. Plan a holiday for the new year ahead
We need something to look forward to. We've had Christmas off work, and now we're back in the office 9-5 with nothing but the weekend to look ahead to. Instead, set your sights a little higher and plan a mini-break or a city-break somewhere either on your own or with someone you love. If you have the time or the funds, then book a holiday somewhere further afield, like Spain, or even the USA! It's up to you, but book something for the middle, or towards the end, of the year, therefore giving you something to be excited for!
4. Step out of your comfort zone and try something new
Some of us need a distraction from everyday life, and trying something new can do just that! Back in October, I tried out a new fitness class - Fight Klub - which I absolutely love (and that you can read all about here) and I look forward to it every week nowadays! It was something well out of my comfort zone as I was more accustomed to swimming and going to the gym three times a week, so it helped to split up my regime somewhat! Needless to say, it was a welcome distraction to the stresses of everyday life, something which you can achieve by doing something new that you've never done, or thought about doing, before.
5. Exercise regularly
I know this sort of harps on the point of the last tip, but exercise really does boost your mood, as well as ensuring a greater quality of sleep and relaxation. Exercise in any form has been proven to reduce stress levels and boost your immune system. Not only that, but you'll feel better for it both mentally and physically, meaning you're more likely to have a positive outlook on life in general, and not just throughout January!
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Have you got anymore tips for surviving January? If so, leave them in the comments below or let me know via my social media links. I will see you again really soon with a brand new blog post for you!
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I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up!
ReplyDeleteI'll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back down the road.
Many thanks
You're right, it's so important to have something to look forward to--be it a few days or months from now.
ReplyDeleteI used to feel as you do about January, but (crossing my fingers) these past two years they've been fine. Perhaps it's because I'm traveling and so much already feels like an adventure.
Travelling sounds so exciting! I'd love to be able to do something like that at some point in the future, then I may not feel the same about January as I do right now, haha!
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