Do you ever get the feeling that January is just one long Monday? You’re not alone. The post-holiday slump happens, and January Blues have a tendency to creep up on us! But the great news is that there are simple self-care strategies to help you beat the blues.
What are the January Blues?
The “January Blues” is experienced as an array of emotions, such as sadness, lethargy, lack of motivation, and a general feeling of being down. It’s common to feel exhausted or listless due to the emotional toll this condition can take on one’s well-being.
How do we beat the January Blues?
So, how do we beat the January Blues? There are a few self-care strategies that can help you navigate the post-holiday slump and emerge feeling energized and renewed for the rest of the year.
Put even some of these into practice, and the January Blues will be a thing of the past!
Self-Care Strategies to Help You Beat the January Blues
1. Get outside every day
Self-care strategy Number 1, get outside every day. Even if it’s just for a short walk around the block. One of the best things to do for your mental and emotional health is to get outdoors more often.
Going out into nature has been linked to improved mood and reduced stress levels. So make sure you’re taking conscious and consistent breaks from screens and busy schedules to spend some time outdoors.
Plus, fresh air does the world of good! So, take the time to go explore the great outdoors. Who knows…you might find some other unexpected joys along the way.
2. Get in the sunshine
Getting outside will actually check two strategies on this list…that’s a win-win for sure! Because strategy number two for beating the blues away is to get as much sunshine as possible.
Why?
Because getting some rays will give you great doses of that much-needed Vitamin D.
A lack of Vitamin D has been shown to decrease our happiness, which is partly why we tend to feel bluer in the winter months. But exposure to natural light can help increase our serotonin levels. And serotonin is known as the “feel-good hormone” and who wouldn’t want more of that?
3. Make time for yourself every day
The next self-care strategy to help ward off those January blues is to make time for yourself every day. Even if it’s just 10 minutes. Just 10 minutes taking stock of how you’re doing can help reset your mindset in the blur of everyday life. This time for yourself allows you to appreciate and value yourself. And this appreciation and positive feelings towards yourself can help you feel more energized and motivated to tackle the day’s tasks.
So carve out a few moments for yourself every day. Be intentional about this. Build it into your daily schedule. Whether you curl up with a good book or draw yourself a nice bubble bath and relax, do whatever works best for you. Just create this outlet of self-care and those blues won’t ruin your daily glow.
4. Do something you enjoy every day
In a similar vein to Strategy 3, we have Strategy Number 4, do something you enjoy every day. You can effectively combat the January blues by making yourself a priority. Rather than waiting until “there’s another time” to do something for yourself.
Spoiler alert…there will never be enough time. You have to make the time. And particularly, you have to make time for you!
And a really simple way to do this is to do something you enjoy something every day. It doesn’t have to be an extensive, time-consuming activity. It can be a workout session or a pottery class. But it can also be simple, like watching an episode of your favorite show, playing with your pet, or taking the time to make a nice dinner or lunch.
Simply creating daily moments for yourself to do little things that make you happy can help reset and rejuvenate your mood so that you can tackle January (and the rest of the year!) head on!
5. Connect with friends and family
Next up, Strategy Number 5, if you want help beating the January Blues, make a conscious and deliberate effort to connect with your friends and family, whether in person or online.
Whether it’s a cozy night in with loved ones or a remote video call from afar, there are plenty of ways to connect with all of your favorite people.
In the busyness of the holiday season, and even just our weekly schedules as we move through the year, it’s easy to neglect making time for our friends and family. But just a coffee catch-up with one of our friends can be a balm to our soul and can help chase the blues away.
It’s also just so important to check in on our loved ones, and provide the opportunity for them to check in on us. So don’t neglect these times of connection, especially when you’re feeling the January blues creeping in.
6. Be mindful of what you’re eating and drinking
Next up we have another self-care strategy for combating those pesky blues…be mindful of what you’re eating and drinking. Essentially, take care to fuel your body with healthy food and drink plenty of water.
Our bodies are really high-powered machines. And all high-end machines need premium fuel to keep them functioning at their optimum. So, with this in mind, be mindful of what you’re putting into your body.
Load up on fresh fruits and vegetables for a natural boost of the all-important vitamins and minerals that are vital for optimal balance. Most importantly, be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Good hydration is a must! And it helps keep your energy levels up…which is a surefire way to fight off any wintertime blues!
7. Exercise regularly
And finally, Self-Care Strategy Number 7, exercise regularly! Even if it’s just a few minutes of stretching or yoga, just get that body moving and grooving.
Regular physical activity – even just a few minutes at the very least – is a great tonic for those blues! Dedicating this time to yourself and your body will help relieve stress and even boost your mood. Besides improving your overall health, exercising regularly can help you think more clearly and stay more productive throughout the day. So get out of your chair and power through those winter days with some regular exercise!
Let’s beat the January blues and make this year the best yet!
Embracing self-care can help us beat the January Blues this season. And these self-care strategies, whilst simple, are easy to implement and can make a huge positive difference to our mental health, not only in January but throughout this year.
By building time into our schedules to get outside, make time for ourselves, connect with friends and family, and do a little something we enjoy, we’ll be well on our way to defeating the January blues.
Couple that with eating healthy, and regular exercise, and we can create an easy set of steps that will have huge positive impacts on our emotional and physical health.
January Blues be gone!
Related read: How To Stick To Your New Year’s Resolutions
