4 ways to feel better this Blue Monday

The term ‘Blue Monday’ represents the third Monday in January and was coined by psychologist Cliff Arnall to describe what is thought to be, ‘the most depressing day of the year’. As life returns to normal following the excitement of Christmas, people are faced with a gloomy potion of dark days, cold weather, financial strain and of course, the ongoing battle with coronavirus. Blue Monday does have a reputation for being particularly depressing, but let’s not forget that all of January, and the coming months, will test us all. Therefore, we want to discuss how you can make it through Blue Monday and the first quarter of 2021.

1: Budget/Plan

For most people, January can be a financial struggle. Christmas debt and a loner wait for payday can put people under tremendous amounts of stress and pressure but creating a budget could ease these worries. The chances are you’re short on cash this month. But rather than spending blindly, sit down, make a list of your income and outgoing’s and create a solid budget for the month. It won’t take away your money worries, but it will help you manage what you do have to ensure your priority bills are paid and there is food on the table.

To find out more about how to budget, take a look at our extensive guide here

2: Eat a healthy diet

You’ve probably heard this a million times, but healthy food can improve anxiety and depression. Whilst you may not notice any extreme changes overnight, maintaining a healthy and balanced diet- packed full of healthy fats, fruits and vegetables- could life your mood drastically over the course of a few weeks. Ditching the unhealthy takeaways and cutting down on sugar is a simple yet effective way of helping your body and mind. If you don’t believe us, find out more about the correlation between diet and mental health here

If you’d like to try some healthy, delicious and easy meals, check out our list of tasty One-pot and Slow cooker dishes.

3: Be physically active

Trust me when I say, I understand how difficult it can be to self-motivate when you’re feeling down in the dumps. However, even just 15 minutes of exercise a day could radically improve your mood. Physical activity can help increase your blood flow to the brain, releasing endorphins and neurotransmitters- such as serotonin- which are natural antidepressants. And the best part about it is, you don’t need to push yourself too hard. Even a small walk or 15-minute HITT workout would do the trick. But whatever it is you choose to do, try and commit to something every day- we guarantee you’ll feel great for it.

Interested in trying some new exercises? Check out our 2021 Fitness Guide (I will link to fitness guide when posted) and see if you’re up to the challenge.

4: Don’t put too much pressure on yourself

We’ve all heard the expression, ‘New Year, New me’, but the reality is, very few people completely transform their lives and guess what? That’s okay! After the year we’ve all had with Covid and all the awful repercussions, making it through 202o was an achievement in itself, so feel proud about that don’t put too much pressure on your shoulders. Its good to set goals, whether they’re financial, health related or just for fun. But try not to overexert yourself or strive for something unrealistic- you may be left feeling disappointed or disheartened. Start by setting yourself something small and achievable and then moving the goalpost slightly once you’ve reached it. That way, it won’t seem as challenging and you’re more likely to succeed. But ultimately, do what feels right and take it easy.

If you need some financial help in the coming months, please feel free to check out our free tips on budgeting and money management via our blog and Financial Wellness page.

But if you need some personalised, one-to-one advice, get in touch: 

Email: [email protected]
Call: 0161 804 5464