The third Monday in January, called Blue Monday, is often referred to as “the most depressing day of the year” because it combines post-holiday blues, cold dark nights, and the stark realisation of potential holiday overspend.
While not scientifically proven, Blue Monday has become a symbolic time to acknowledge the common feelings of sadness or slump many experience in January and to promote mental health awareness and self-care.
Freyja, our Service User Network (SUN) Group Facilitator with Lived Experience, wrote her own acrostic poem describing the feelings commonly experienced during January Blues. She also shares her seven proven tips on beating January Blues.
Just breathe they say
As I struggle for air, but
Nights have got darker
Under this darkness I drown
Aren’t they feeling the same?
Really broken and down
Year upon year, this happens again
Battles with how I feel
Life seems cold and unkind
Under the pressure to change
Every year you will find
Some of us struggling, wishing happiness could be found.
1. Engage in activities that you enjoy, this may include craft, spending time with friends or family, watching a movie, listening to music or spending time outdoors. Try and pick something each day.
As part of our Community Connections service, we offer a wide range of wellbeing activities to fit all preferences and needs including arts and craft, creative groups and other interest groups, peer support groups and coffee mornings, nature activities, both online and face-to-face. View our calendar of activities and browse our activities list.
If you are not a client of MFT, why not register with Community Connections to give our activities a try? All activities are free and delivered in small groups which helps to break isolation.
If you are already a Community Connections client, why not try joining a new group? It is proven that trying something new can help with self-esteem and self-confidence.
2. Keeping a good sleep schedule and to get enough rest.
The mental health benefits of good sleep include boosting our mood, reducing stress and helping with anxiety. More information about sleeping well can be found on the NHS website, including falling asleep faster and staying asleep.
3. Being outside during the day can help lift your mood, the daylight has been shown to help with our mood. If this doesn’t feel possible, then sitting by a window can also be beneficial.
We have a project called Nature Nurtures designed to offer activities in Surrey Downs to help people connect to nature. As part of the project, we offer a range of activities such as mindfulness and five senses sessions in nature. To find out more, please contact us at naturenurtures@maryfrancestrust.org.uk
4. Engaging in some gentle exercise, indoors or outdoors.
Our Community Connections service also offers a range of physical health activities (yoga, walks, qigong, zumba, cardio tennis, football, martial arts for men and meditation, etc) delivered in small groups to improve wellbeing. For more information, view our calendar of activities or browse our activities list.
Register today if you are a new client.
Once a client, contact us to book your place on any activity of your choice: info@maryfrancestrust.org.uk or call 01372 375 400 or SMS 07929 024722.
5. Practice self care and compassion
This article from Positive Psychology has some great advice: How to Practice Self-Compassion: 8 Techniques and Tips
6. Wrap up and keep warm as getting cold can cause us to feel lower in mood.
7. Eating a balanced and varied diet and trying to avoid eating too many comfort foods.
Websites such as BBC good foods can give lots of ideas for comforting and healthy winter meals.
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