While January is the time we start to crack on with our New Year’s resolutions and plans for the year ahead, It’s also notoriously a time of melancholy. After the warm feeling of the festive period, catching up with the people closest to us, January can feel like the celebrations are over. But there are little things you can do to sprinkle positivity into your day, and we’ve got some awesome suggestions to put a smile on your face.
‘Blue Monday’ (the day, not the New Order hit) was actually launched as a marketing scheme in 2005 by a travel company, who claimed to have calculated the most depressing day in the calendar. They used factors like average temperature, days until the next bank holiday, hours of daylight and days since last payday. Nevertheless, the psychologist that developed the concept later campaigned against it, imploring everyone to focus on the positives. If you’re embarking on new goals this year, that’s an invigorating feeling that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Nowadays, Blue Monday is still regarded as a time for self-care. After all, it’s important to do things that make you feel good about you. Here are a few of our ideas!
Get out there and exercise!
Exercise is one of the best ways to get that feeling of dopamine. It doesn’t need to be an average gym routine – you could go for a cycle through the park, lace up your running shoes and head out to your local nature reserve, or even set up a game of 5-a-side with your mates. Why not get fit, soak up some nature and socialise at the same time? And, best of all, it’ll keep those blues at bay.
If you feel yourself getting into exercise on a regular basis, try an app like Nike Training Club to keep your workouts consistently exciting and full of motivation. That workout routine could well end up being the highlight of your day!
Watch an uplifting movie or show
There’s a reason they’re called ‘feelgood’ movies! When you’re feeling low, turning to that film with a happy ending or sitcom with familiar faces is a great way to lift your spirits. You might have even seen it before, but it doesn’t matter! Movies like The Shawshank Redemption, Matilda, Forrest Gump, or anything starring the late, great Robin Williams (apart from One Hour Photo) are all about making you, the viewer, all the happier for having watched them. Get your family, friends or housemates together and watch something you’re all guaranteed to enjoy.
Treat yourself to some retail therapy
While December is all about sorting amazing Christmas gifts for your loved ones and finding them things you know they’ll go mad for, but January’s all about the gift of self-giving. And why not? You deserve it!
January is actually a great time to make that big purchase you’ve had planned for a while. The January sales are typically one of the biggest in the year, and it means you’re very likely to bag a sweet deal on that classy laptop, heavenly holiday, or swish shoes you’ve had your eye on. Take the plunge and go for it – later you will be grateful!
Escape into a good book
There’s nothing like a captivating book to keep your mind occupied. Whether you’re a fiction aficionado that loves to escape into boundless, immersive worlds, a history buff that’s passionate about exploring further into our rich, collective past, someone that wants to take on a fresh perspective with self-help literature, or even someone that doesn’t know what kind of reading matter they’re into, there’s a book out there for you.
It may be a cliché, but reading is genuinely one of the best things you can do to expand your mind and escape from the things that occasionally weigh you down. And there’s always time to get into a good read – just set your phone to silent, turn off the TV and dive right in.
Catch up with friends and family
We’ve spoken a lot about keeping in touch with friends and family here on the iD Community, especially around Christmas. What made Christmas so good for us wasn’t the decorations, the music, or the food (okay, maybe a bit), it was mostly the chance to spend time with our nearest and dearest.
We’re talking about the people that are always rooting for you, no matter what you do or where you are, in your mind and in reality. These are the people that make you feel better just for having chatted. They may be there for Christmas and other festive moments, but they’re also there when you’re feeling blue. Pick up the phone and call them, text them or set some time for a video call. With iD Mobile, you’ve got unlimited minutes and texts whatever plan you have, so there’s no excuse!
Reach Out
Sometimes it’s not just a simple case of January blues. Those feelings could go on longer, feel deeper and more profound. Mental health is equally vital to physical health for lasting happiness, and it’s right that more and more of us are talking about it. But, while it’s never been more important to speak to our friends and relatives, let them know how we’re really feeling and check in with them, sometimes, it takes more than that to start feeling better in ourselves again.
There’s always someone out there to speak to, who understands how you feel and the things you’re going through. The hardest step to make is the first one, which is to get in touch. But once you do, you’ll be making that all-important commitment to feeling the way you deserve to feel.
If you feel like you need mental health support, Heads Together is a fantastic campaign co-ordinated by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. You can get support from their brilliant charity partners like CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), The Mix, and YoungMinds. Whoever you are and whatever you’re going through, you’re not alone.
Those are a few suggestions to help overcome the January blues. Honourable mentions go to cooking your favourite meal, listening to hilarious podcasts (Off Menu, anyone?) and aromatherapy (don’t knock it till you’ve tried it). What do you do make yourself feel better on those days when you’re in low spirits? Let us know below.
Competition Time:
If you are still feeling a little down, we've got a competition to cheer you up!
For your chance to win a £100 Love2shop gift card; just let us know what you do to make yourself feel better on those days when you are feeling down.
You've got until 23:59 on 28th January 2022 to enter. Good luck!
CONGRATULATIONS!
The winner of this competition is….
, enjoying sun at my day off
