Already started (or broken) your New Year's resolutions, but still finding it hard to get over the post-Christmas slump? Here are 31 simple-to-do tips to help you beat the January Blues.
YOU MAY STILL be feeling a bit low after all the fun and festivity of the Christmas holidays. And even though the evenings are getting a bit brighter, maybe it’s still a little cold and dark outside, you might be a tad skint (thanks to all that holiday spending) and perhaps almost everyone you know has gone back to school or work.
Is the January Blues a Real Thing?
Actually it’s quite common to have a bit of a slump after Christmas, especially when all the twinkling lights and decorations have been taken down, the house looks a little bare and it’s going to be a while before the next holiday celebrations. So if, like me, you’re wondering ‘how do I get rid of the January blues,’ then I have gathered some great mood-boosting tips that can help.
Just How Do People Deal with January Blues?
Well, if you’re still feeling a bit meh even though a fresh new year has begun, are missing the exciting build up to Christmas, or are just struggling to be productive when January just feels sooo quiet, then how do you banish the back-to-work blahs and get through the rest of winter?
Apart from building a time machine and skipping straight to summer, here are 31 tips on how to handle the post-Christmas blues and have a far happier new year.
31 Tips on How to Beat the January Blues
1. Is there a boxset you’ve always wanted to watch, but haven’t got around to yet? Watching (or rewatching) a beloved sun-drenched series, (My winter favourite is Atlantis) is a great way to escape from chilly mornings into faraway and exotic lands and take your mind off the January gloom. And if things are tight after Christmas, some libraries even have DVDs of the latest blockbusters to dive into.
2. Plan fun stuff to do in January. Even if it’s something as simple as snuggling up with the latest new book or series from an author you enjoy, so you have a ready-made schedule of things to look forward to at the beginning of the year.
3. To keep that festive cheer going just a little bit longer, do a small act of random kindness each day. Not only do kind acts spread happiness, but research shows that selfless acts can boost your own wellbeing and can be as easy as making a cup of cocoa for someone. (Get your free printable calendar of kind acts right here: https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/printables)
4. As spring approaches in the northern hemisphere, remember that days are slowly getting longer and evenings are getting brighter. But no matter where you live, keep an eye out for seasonal changes like the budding of flowers to the arrival of different species of birds just to remind you that as the seasons roll on this too shall pass.
5. Plan something to look forward to on the weekends to help you get through the week. Even if it's just meeting a friend or family member for a delicious hot chocolate over WhatsApp or Zoom.
6. Just go outside! As an author it’s easy for me to cocoon indoors, bloodshot eyes bulging as I sit hunched over my laptop, with only the cold light from my flatscreen to illuminate my sun-starved skin.
What is sunlight, preciousssss?
So, my trick to beat the winter blues is to stop every so often and go outside for a bit and get some light in the morning—even if the skies are grey. Not only does it wake me up fully, but it also resets my body clock allowing me to be bright and alert throughout the day.
7. Plan small treats for the evening after your day, even if it’s just a game you enjoy playing like Candy Crush. Having something to anticipate throughout the day then becomes an enticing reward for getting things done at work or at home.
8. Leave out a few festive things, especially if they are spring-themed or produce light like fairy lights. You can even get seasonal leaf or flower string lights, for example, to remind you that warmer weather is on its way. My favourite? Fairy lights in a large, repurposed candle or jam jar.
9. Do some exercise, any exercise. If you have little motivation to hit the gym, marching on the spot as you watch your favourite show is a great way to start. For an even bigger mood boost, go for a walk during the day to benefit from fresh air, light AND exercise.
10. Plan a trip. Studies show that simply planning a trip can boost your wellbeing. It also gives you something to look forward to, since after the festive holidays the winter months can seem a little anticlimactic.
11. Embrace the season. Channel your inner Lenny Kravitz and get bundled up. I’m talking Hogwartsian-length scarfs, thick woolly jumpers, thermals, gloves or fluffy socks. Then go out for a walk and feast all your senses on your wintry surroundings: i.e., what does the crisp air feel like against your skin or what can you see or smell? Treat your journey as if it’s a walking meditation.
12. Make new Christmas ornaments early for the festive season. You can create something super simple like making paper garlands or snowflakes and it can give you such a feeling of accomplishment and creativity, yet it’s such a small and easy thing to do.
13. Keep the festive spirit alive! Why deny yourself? You can still watch cosy movies, snuggle up with a Christmas book or even treat yourself to the odd festive er…treat. The beginning of the year can be a little gloomy, so why not brighten it with a little festivity and the cosiness of The Great Indoors.
14. Copy the Transalpine Redemptorists from Papa Stronsay in Scotland and celebrate Little-Christmas, where on the 25th of each month you do a little Christmas activity e.g. Like decorating a small tree, baking Christmas cookies or even giving someone a small gift.
15. However if you still have all your decorations up and staring at them is making you feel glum, then just take them down. Especially if facing all those garlands, baubles and tinsel is stopping you from moving on and embracing a new year.
16. Start a small project. Take your focus off the season of goodwill and onto future goals you want to reach in the new year. Now you can look forward to doing fun new stuff, especially when there might not be much around to do in January and February.
17. Take up a craft hobby to entertain yourself during the winter months, such as painting or even knitting. You might even finish a present by next Christmas and as every ardent knitter knows, your loved ones can never have enough chunky knit hats, scarves or socks…
18. Grab yourself an Action for Happiness calendar at: https://www.actionforhappiness.org/happy-january. It’s jam-packed with lots of inspiring tips and things to do to keep your chin up during the winter season.
19. Start a gratitude journal. Gratitude journals are a fantastic way to help cheer yourself up. And according to psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky, you can even use them as little as ONCE a week to boost your wellbeing. I use an old candle holder as a gratitude jar with similar results.
20. Make Christmas a simpler, quieter celebration. Take time to reflect on the season’s true meaning instead of focusing solely on the commercial hype and January won’t seem as gloomy in comparison.
21. Lower your expectations. Don’t expect to make massive changes in the new year or dive headfirst into tackling big goals in January. Take a gentler approach to the first few months of the year and you won’t burn yourself out so quickly.
22. Do one small, nice thing for yourself, whether it's taking a long warm bath, choosing a good book or getting out for a while.
23. Find some new seasonal recipes to try during the winter. You can whip up something as simple as making a filling vegetable soup that warms the cockles, or a new hot chocolate and marshmallow recipe.
24. If it's not possible to go outside, then sit by a window and gaze out from time to time. Even if you don’t live near anywhere scenic, you can still see changes in the greyest of skies as clouds shift and birds flee from colder climes. And for those who are stuck inside windowless hell, YouTube can offer you 8 hours of waves crashing on the shores of sun-drenched beachscapes.
25. Use LED tealights and flameless candles to cast a cosy light on the gloomiest of days.
26. If you need more light but can’t get outside for a quick lunchtime stroll, consider getting yourself a light box. You may also see light boxes being recommended for Seasonal Affective Disorder, where the change of seasons causes depression. However, Verywell Mind recommend consulting a doctor first.
27. Keep an eye out for the first signs of spring, such as daffodils or snowdrops or shrubs that flower in the winter. A bit of greenery or a flowering plant is the perfect way to brighten a room and cheer yourself up on otherwise grey days.
28. Gentle yoga, a walk or a jog are a great way to raise the spirits during the winter months and you only have to move as little as 10 minutes a day for a little happiness boost.
29. Get a sunrise alarm clock to help wake you each morning. Not only does it give you a dose of light first thing, it’s a far gentler alternative to the shrill adrenalin-pumping sound of the alarm clock.
30. Grow something green. Whether you just prepare the garden, grow chilis in an allotment, or just pop a potted herb on your windowsill to take care of, nurturing a plant is very rewarding and digging in the garden can be excellent exercise.
31. Find a new skill to obsess about. This year, I’ve started to learn Japanese with Duolingo.
Is there a skill you've always wanted to learn, such as making jewellery, playing a musical instrument or learning sign language? As everything is still a bit quiet, it's the perfect time to start.
However, if after doing a few of the activities listed above, you still cannot seem to shake off the post-Christmas slump, then perhaps it’s time to seek more professional advice.
The NHS and the British Medical Journal have brilliant and helpful tips on how to survive the January blues.
Ultimately your doctor will be best at identifying whether your blues are more seasonal, or if there is an underlying long-term issue. So please seek professional help wherever you can.
In the meantime, I hope this post has been of some use and that you can soon look forward to a better and brighter new year.
Best wishes for 2022!
Kate
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