With Blue Monday rapidly approaching I thought it was worth thinking about how we can get through the January blues and how to look forward to the rest of the year ahead. This is especially the case on Blue Monday, a day which is described as the most depressing day of the year. So let’s take a few ways we can get through the last of these short days.
When is Blue Monday?
This gloomy day falls on the third Monday of January each year. For 2025, Blue Monday falls on the 20th of January.
What can we do to combat it?
There are many different ways we can be more positive on Blue Monday or any other day while the days are short and dark. Here are 6 ways to fight the blues.
1. Connect with others
- Reach out to friends: Set up meetings or a phone call with people you might not have spoken to in a while.
- Plan something fun: Plan something fun like a coffee date or maybe a class or activity with others.
2. Focus on Positivity
- Gratitude Journal: Write down three things you’re grateful for to shift focus from negatives to positives.
- Look back at good memories from 2024: Take a look at photos or videos of good moments from the last year.
3. Indulge in Comfort Activities
- Watch or Read Something you enjoy: A favourite comfort movie, TV show, or book can help shift your mood.
- Hobbies: Engage in something you enjoy, like cooking, painting, or writing.
- Food: Make a hearty meal that helps you feel comfy or grab some of your favourite snacks to enjoy.
4. Plan for the Future
- Set Small Goals: Accomplishing even small tasks can bring a sense of achievement.
- Plan a Trip or Event: Having something to look forward to can lift your spirits and allow you to look towards the future.
5. Help Others
- Acts of Kindness: Helping someone else, even in small ways, can boost your mood. If you want to read more on the ripple effect, read our blog on it here
- Volunteer or donate to a charity: Contributing to a cause can be deeply rewarding.
6. Use Humor
- Laugh: Watch a comedy or read something funny. Laughter is a natural mood booster.
- Play some board games with friends: Board games are a great way to laugh and enjoy time together. Here are some examples.
- Herd Mentality: Flip over a question and guess what your family and friends are thinking. If your answer is in the majority, you win cows. If you’re the odd one out, you’re stuck with the pink cow of doom.
- Telestrations: Players race the timer to sketch a word. Once the timer is up, the sketch is passed to the next player who has to guess what is drawn. The guesses are passed around to each play who must try to draw the word that they see and so on. It creates lots of great drawings and funny moments between the group
- Gullible: Remember Call my Bluff, well this game is very similar. Each team tries to fool the other team into believing the ridiculous. See which team is the most gullible, and you place a bet with chip-shaped chips on the answer you think is correct, the team that holds on to the most chips the longest, wins!
So whether it be having a comfy day inside, or meeting up with friends for an activity. I hope everyone is having a good January and start to 2025!
Let us down below what you’re planning on doing on Blue Monday to keep your spirits high!