Thoughtful Ways To Beat The January Blues
It’s okay to not be okay … Let’s do all we can to stay positive this January.
After the rush of the hectic festive season, it’s natural to feel low. With all the pressures and adrenaline to make the holidays special, we can often forget to listen to our bodies and push ourselves too much. In the moment, of course, we pay no mind to it. But it’s when the holidays are over and we finally take a moment to breathe that we notice the exhaustion.
The January Blues are an unfortunate reality for many of us. It’s a time of year when we are feeling low, unmotivated, tiredness and lethargic. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is also prevalent this season, which can induce serious depressive episodes during darker months – taken from cygnetgroup.com.
Blue Monday falls on January 20th this year. Due to the combination of bad weather, long nights and lingering exhaustion, it is widely considered the most depressing day of the year.
While no one can provide a cure-all fix for this, there are ways in which we can look after ourselves and listen to what our minds and bodies need. Whether that be a simple cup of tea in the morning, a yoga routine, or a journaling session, there is something you can do to beat the blues.
Write yourself out of the rut
Journaling is a great way for many people to reflect on their day and process any feelings that have been sticking with them. Bullet points; essays; sketches; poetry – your pen is an extension of you.
Your journal can be anything you make it. Do you prefer something minimalist and easy on the eye? Do you want something that pops with colour? Or do you something funky that will stand apart from everything else you own? The decision is ultimately yours. You can have as much fun with it as you like! At the end of the day you want to pick something that you will want to keep coming back to.
Not quite sure what Journaling style is for you? We love this guide How to Build a Journaling Habit that Lasts from dayoneapp.com.
You can find journals and other positive-thinking stationery in-store in our Stationery & Gifts Department!
Taking a moment to breathe
It might sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how little we think about the obvious things in life.
When we are feeling low, one of the best things we can do is take a moment and breathe. Put down your phone, close your laptop, open a window, and just breathe.
A change in scenery can do the world of good if you are feeling up to it. A walk through nature can be incredibly therapeutic and soothing for the soul. We’d personally recommend a visit to one of the many beautiful National Trust sites across the country. With fresh air in your lungs, you might just find your mind begins to clear.
If you’re out on a walk or hike, or even cleaning the house to keep everything fresh, why not listen to some music to properly lose yourself. Our personal headphones of choice would be the SHOKZ Openmove – found in-store and online for £79.99:
Whatever healthy way you find to take a moment is worth it. It is always good to push the negativity to one side and take in the beautiful here and now.
Feel your body and mind connect
One of the best ways to boost mindfulness and peace within oneself is through the practice of yoga. No matter the style of yoga you practice, the meditative art helps achieve both physical and mental balance – something which is more important than ever when dealing with the January Blues.
If you’re looking to give yoga a try – and we highly recommend you do! – it’s important to get a yoga mat you can depend on. Our choice would be the Fitness Mad Warrior II Eyelet Yoga Mat which can be found in-store and online for £23.
One of the things we love most about yoga is the health benefits that come with consistent work. Here is some information taken from Harvard Health Publishing:
“Yoga is known for its ability to soothe tension and anxiety in the mind and body. But it can also have an impact on a person’s exercise capacity.
Researchers studied a small group of sedentary individuals who had not practiced yoga before. After eight weeks of practicing yoga at least twice a week for a total of 180 minutes, participants had greater muscle strength and endurance, flexibility, and cardio-respiratory fitness.
Several small studies have found yoga to have a positive effect on cardiovascular risk factors: it helped lower blood pressure in people who have hypertension. It’s likely that the yoga restores “baroreceptor sensitivity.” This helps the body senses imbalances in blood pressure and maintain balance.” – health.harvard.edu
So give yoga a try! It could be just the thing you need this January.
Make something beautiful
With all the wool and knitting equipment you could possibly need in our Haberdashery Department thanks to C&H Fabrics, now could be the perfect time for you to take up knitting or crochet.
Fancy making your own pair of socks or gloves? You can.
Want to create a funky cardigan that oozes personality? Go right ahead!
Want to create a mini, soft and loveable friend? Why not make two!
Knitting and crochet not your thing? Worry not. With our wide range of LEGO you can enjoy hours of entertainment. One of our current favourites is the Himeji Castle set for £139.99 – an enjoyable build with an absolutely stunning finished product.
And with our range of EUGY products you can create miniature models of your favourite animals.
There is no shortage of wonderful creations at your fingertips. If you need something to inspire you or take your mind off something different, focus your energy into something that will bring you joy.
It’s okay to not be okay … It will get better
January Blues may be here to stay, but that doesn’t mean we have to let it get the better of us. We encourage you to try new things, take up new hobbies, and spend time doing what makes you happiest to build yourself up out of the darkness.
Our store is always open for you to treat yourself to a coffee and cake, meet with friends and family, and browse. If you need to get out of the house or find things to keep you occupied in it, we’re here for you.
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