If January had a ‘meh’ button, you’d probably be pushing it today. Monday 19 January 2026 has officially been labelled this year’s Blue Monday – supposedly the gloomiest day of the next 12 months. The festive buzz has vanished. The weather’s a shade of wet-grey we never asked for. And the post-Christmas bills are now very, very real.
But here’s the truth. The science behind Blue Monday is pretty wobbly. A marketing agency coined the term years ago to help sell holidays in the New Year. And it well and truly stuck. Still, even if the formula is nonsense, the feeling usually isn’t. January can really test your mood, which is why today’s the perfect time to hit refresh.
To help you defy the gloom, we’ve rounded up five simple, proven ways to lift your spirits. Plus, to really brighten up your month, we are giving you the chance to win a high-tech self-care treat: the SHARK FW312UK CryoGlow Under-Eye Cooling LED Anti-Ageing & Blemish Repair Mask – Blue Frost. Read on for the tips and how to enter!
Chase the daylight (the ‘green’ screen break).
Most of us spend our January mornings squinting at laptop screens while the actual sun (what little we get) shines outside. But natural daylight is one of the easiest, quickest mood boosters around. And it’s free!
Here’s the trick – getting real light into your eyes before midday helps your body make serotonin, the feel-good chemical that keeps your moody steady through the day. Even a cloudy British morning is bright enough to put some pep in your step. You don’t need to hike up a mountain or run a marathon either. A 10-minute walk is literally all it takes.
For a techy twist, use your phone’s step tracker or Health app to log a quick mile. Then put it right back in your pocket. Avoid the doom-scrolling. It should just be you, some fresh air and a chance for your brain to reset.
The digital declutter (curate your feed).
While social media is great for staying connected and in the know, it’s got its downsides. Especially in January. Everyone else seems fitter, richer, more productive, and somehow able to meal-prep 14 different lunches at once. That’s not the reality though. People are putting on their best face and posting exactly what they want you to see.
Enter the digital declutter. Spend 10 minutes clearing out anything on your feed that doesn’t make you feel good. That influencer whose morning routine involves a 5am jog, a green smoothie and apparently zero actual job? Mute them. That one account making you feel guilty about your December takeaways? Unfollow.
If it doesn’t bring you joy, it’s clutter. Get rid!
Stream some nostalgia (comfort watching).
If you’re anything like us, sometimes your happy place is kicking back with your favourite show. It could be Friends or The Office. Or maybe it’s a film you’ve watched so many times that you can quote it line-by-line. Either way, comfort watching works for a reason.
Psychologists have dubbed it regression therapy. This is where something familiar helps your brain to relax because there are zero surprises in store. You’re not wondering about the latest twist. And the tension isn’t ratcheted up to 11. It’s just straightforward easy viewing.
And if you’re already on iD mobile, even better. Thanks to our Data Rollover, you’ve probably got a stack of leftover data from the quiet festive period. So, go ahead and stream something soothing on your commute, and finish up the day with some super chill vibes.
The ‘reverse’ to-do list.
Plot twist. What if today wasn’t about what you should achieve, but what you already have? Blue Monday often hits hardest when we look at our New Year goals and think ‘oh, I’ve already messed up’. So, instead of a traditional to-do list, try a reverse to-do list. Write down three things you achieved last year, no matter how big or small they are.
Maybe you:
- Paid off a big credit card bill
- Learnt to cook a yummy new dish
- Kept a houseplant alive (which is honestly a miracle)
Whatever it is, they all count. This small exercise will flip your brain from ‘failing’ to ‘hey, I actually did some useful stuff’. It’s a tiny mindset switch with a surprisingly big impact.
Talk, don’t just type (real connection).
Messages are easy. Emojis are easy. Voice notes are… acceptable. But hearing someone’s actual voice? That’s different.
Real conversations release oxytocin, the bonding hormone that helps you feel connected and supported. It’s why a five-minute call with your best mate can do way more for your mood than an hour of texting.
And here’s the bit people forget – with iD Mobile, you have unlimited minutes. So, use ‘em!
Call someone you’ve not spoken to in ages. Have a moan about work, swap weekend plans or tell them a random anecdote they haven’t heard before. It doesn’t matter what you chat about. The talking itself is the real boost.
Beat the blues and win!
We hope these tips help you find a little spark of joy today. But we aren’t stopping at just advice. We want to treat one member of the iD Community to the ultimate self-care gadget to help you glow through the rest of winter.
Here’s what’s up for grabs: The SHARK FW312UK CryoGlow Under-Eye Cooling LED Anti-Ageing & Blemish Repair Mask – Blue Frost. It’s the perfect way to cool down, de-puff, and refresh your routine.
To enter, simply reply to this topic with an answer to the following question:
What makes you smile?
It could be your morning coffee, a specific song, your pet, or just the sun finally coming out. Let us know in the comments! We’ll randomly select one winner from the replies.
Entries close at 23:59 on 2nd February 2026. We’ll announce the winner shortly after to keep the good vibes going.
We’ll notify the winner by direct message here on the Community, so please keep an eye on your inbox. Good luck!
Terms & Conditions
- To enter this promotion, participants must register with the iD Mobile Community and provide an answer to the question on the corresponding topic thread.
- No purchase necessary.
- The closing date for entries is 23:59 on 2nd February 2026. One prize will be awarded:
- SHARK FW312UK CryoGlow Under-Eye Cooling LED Anti-Ageing & Blemish Repair Mask – Blue Frost
- This promotion is open to all UK residents aged over 18 years (except for employees and their families of the Promoter and their group of companies, agents (including affiliates), suppliers and anyone connected with this promotion).
- Only 1 entry per person is permitted, duplicate entries will not be entered into the draw.
- The Promoter may, in its absolute discretion, disqualify any entries which it feels do not comply with these terms and conditions or where any form of bad faith is suspected.
- The entry must be submitted personally by the entrant. Entries by third parties, collective entries or multiple entries will be disqualified.
- The Promoter accepts no responsibility for lost or incomplete entries.
- One winner will be selected at random by an independent person from all correct and eligible entries received. The winner will be notified by email or by private message on the Community platform and will be asked to reply within 7 days of receipt of the notification. If the Promoter does not receive confirmation from the winner that they accept the prize by this time, the Promoter reserves the right to withdraw the offer/prize. The prize will be delivered within 30 days of acceptance.
- The prize is non-transferable and non-refundable and cannot be exchanged by a winner for an alternative. The Promoter reserves the right to replace the prize with a similar value prize.
- The decision of the Promoter is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the outcome of this promotion. We make no representation or warranty in relation to the prizes provided and to the fullest extent permitted by law, we shall have no liability to you in relation to any prize, its fitness for purpose, merchantability or otherwise.
- Upon request, the initials and county of the winner will be available by sending an SAE to the Promoter at the address below. Such requests should not be sent until 28 days after the draw.
- If you are the winner of this promotion, you will be asked to agree to participate in any publicity arising from the prize draw which the Promoter may reasonably require. The Promoter will also have the right to use each winner’s surname and country of residence for advertising and promotional purposes in connection with the promotion in all media without further notice and without the need to make payment to the winners.
- iD Mobile takes your privacy and security of your personal data seriously. Our Privacy Policy explains how we collect and use personal information in accordance with current UK data protection legislation. Our privacy policy can be found at idmobile.co.uk/legal/privacy-and-cookies.
- By entering this promotion, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
- English law applies to these terms and conditions. Promoter: iD Mobile, Currys Group Limited, 1 PORTAL WAY, London, W3 6RS.
- iD Mobile hold the right to change the start and/or end date of the competition at any given time.
