How to beat the January blues.

 HOW are you feeling?

HAS January got you feeling a bit stressed, tired, anxious?

THEN you have the 'January blues!'

NOT to be confused with Seasonal Affective disorder (SAD) this is a stand alone sadness or worry, but if you do suffer from SAD, January will feel even more of a worry.

NEVER fear though, because there is hope, this is just a temporary feeling off the back of the festive season. Caused by the following...

Lack of money from festive over-spending.

Christmas anti-climax.

Family arguments over Christmas and New Year! Yep they happen.

Lack of daylight.

Poor, cold, wet and windy weather.

Over-eating bad foods and drinking alcohol through December.

AND so much more besides.

January holds the most depressing day of the entire year, 'blue Monday' which falls on the third Monday in January, bills come out, you haven't been paid yet, the anti-climax of Christmas is over-whelming and it's raining constantly, oh, and you have to get me a birthday card and present! Yes indeed, because occasionally my birthday falls on this day! Great!

SO, you can easily repair the damage, or make sure that you don't fall into the Christmas trap and get yourself into a January pickle in the first place! Personally I think Christmas should be banned, and then that would solve all the problems, except the daylight and the weather, but that's not going to happen, so make sure that you are financially prepared for January, make that a consideration, then the bills won't hit half as hard.

DON'T spend time with family members who you don't like, stay away, then there are no arguments!

MAKE sure that on sunny days you get outside, get some fresh air and as much vitamin D as your body will allow in, also take a vitamin D supplement.

DON'T over-indulge every single day over Christmas, only do it on Christmas Day itself, eat healthily the rest of the time and take time to exercise outside too. If you have time off work, make the most of it doing hobbies and having adventures, don't just sit in front of the tv eating chocolates.

SPEND time in mindful activities, rest and re-charge, chill out, stretch, do some yoga, walk in the park or on the beach, let your mind and body re-charge over Christmas.

BUT.......it's too late, I'm feeling bad now, I was meant to start my New Year's resolutions and I've failed at that, I need help now!

WELL, that's easy. Do ALL the good things now, eat fresh food, no processed food, get on the meat, veg, drink water, stop sugar and alcohol, be kind to your body.

GO outside and get fresh air, get some vitamin D in you, walk, exercise outside, breathe in goodness.

MEET with friends for a cuppa or a film night, catch up and socialise still, it doesn't have to be expensive.

PRACTICE meditation, be mindful, find a class or gong bath, get hippy for a while!

SET goals for the year, you can start a goal at any time of year, it doesn't have to be January 1st, you can start any time you want to.

JOIN a gym or start a new exercise class, get amongst like-minded people so that you can also have some accountability.

EMBRACE your inner child, skip, dance. laugh, enjoy one part of every day whenever you can, take ALL opportunity for happiness.

LET'S make 2026 a flipping excellent year, by the way my birthday is next Tuesday! Just in case, you know, you want to send a card or something....... :)