The transition from the festive season to the slower, darker months of January and February can be rather brutal. Posts like “It literally feels like the 74th of January” or “I hate January, it’s the Monday of months” start to inundate our social media feeds and it’s only a matter of time before the winter blues start tickling the back of our neck.
But there is no need to throw in the towel if your mood is plummeting with the temperature, I have the perfect tips to uplift you.
1. Spend time with friends
Making a conscious effort to see your friends is a powerful antidote against low mood and loneliness. Go out or stay in, either way, spend quality times with your tribe.
2. Move your body
Science has become unanimous on the importance of exercise in beating low mood and depression. Exercise plays a key role in the management of emotional and physical feelings of stress by increasing levels of serotonin (used to treat depression) and dopamine, known as ‘happiness hormones’. This is what regular runner often describe as ‘a runner’s high’. So…No “buts”, get moving!
3. Brighten up
Yes, it’s probably dark by the time you leave work so try taking a walk during your lunch break, offer to walk your friend’s dog on a weekend or if you tend to be a late weekend riser, make a conscious effort to wake up earlier to make the most of your time off.
4. Boost your self-care
With shorter and colder days, you might find yourself spending more time at home and what better time to pamper, nourish and replenish? Run yourself a luxurious bath, try that hair mask your friend recommended, read the book that’s been on your wish list for months, or whatever nurturing activity appeals to you.
5. Learn something new
There is nothing like concentrating on learning a new activity to keep negative thoughts at bay. Take a cooking class, join a salsa school, try new yoga classes, anything to keep your mind active will do the trick.
