Now the festive period of gift-giving and spending time with family is over, it’s easy to become stuck in a low mood. One of the worst days for this is Blue Monday. Blue Monday is said to be the most depressing day of the year, calculated by a series of factors including lack of money, weather, failed New Year’s Resolutions etc. Rather than getting caught up in this, discover our Blue Monday mood boosting tips to beat the blues.
Exercise
When you’re feeling down, one of the last things you want to do is exercise. However, that makes it even more important to get up and get moving. It’s a great way to distract your mind from things that are bothering you and also increases your internal body temperature, leaving you feeling calmer. You could spend some time at the gym or swimming pool or simply go for a bike ride, jog or walk. As long as you’re moving around, your mood can dramatically improve.
Improve Your Diet
What you eat and how you feel are directly linked. Of course, changing your diet alone won’t fix everything, but it will help. Make sure to have breakfast even if you don’t feel like eating, as it will help you to focus and concentrate. Along with this, try to reduce your intake of caffeine and alcohol; these substances can make you feel low and unmotivated. Instead, opt for water or fresh juice to keep you hydrated. Lastly, try and eat as much fruit and veg as possible. One of the tastiest ways to do this is by enjoying a smoothie each day!
Detox Smoothie Recipes You Have to Try
At the beginning of the year, the majority of people are feeling rather sluggish after enjoying the festive period of overindulgence. Now it’s January, it’s time to treat your body to a healthy detox. Of course, that doesn’t mean your diet has to be bland and tasteless. Our detox smoothie recipes are so tasty you have to try them; plus they’ll leave you feeling ready to take on the world!
Socialise
You don’t need a special occasion to get out and socialise with friends and family. Not only is it important to maintain relationships, social interaction helps to boost self-esteem and leads to better cognitive function. Give an old friend or family member a call and spend some time with them, it’s hard to be sad when you’re spending time around people you love.
Night In
Even though you need to make sure to get out and do things, don’t overdo it. Time to yourself to relax and do as you please is just as important as getting out and staying active. If you stay home at least one night a week, you’ll have time to recharge and if you’re not sure what to do, take a look at our post on how to spend a cold night.
5 Ways To Spend A Cold Night
Can you believe the clocks go back in a couple of weeks? Right before our eyes we'll notice that nights will becoming increasingly darker and we'll be wondering of ways to spend the time. When it gets darker, we know that it instantly makes you feel like you want to stay indoors and keep warm. You might be wondering what to do on a cold night, and if you are, keep reading!
Sleep Well
When you stay up late or just have a bad night’s sleep, it causes low mood and irritability. Over time, continuous lack of sleep will have more serious effects on both your physical and mental health so it’s vital to let yourself rest enough. For those of you who struggle to drift off when your head hits the pillow, don’t forget to read our tips on getting to sleep early…
How to Go to Sleep Earlier
With so many big days approaching, there is a mountain of things to do. Working wears you out so it’s really important to get some shut eye a lot earlier than usual. Check out our top tips to help you to go to sleep earlier!
What are your favourite ways to combat the Blue Monday blues? Let us know over on Twitter at @Mankindcouk.
