The Blue Monday Blues Are Real But Here’s What You Can Do to Stay Posi
Blue Monday is more than just the day back to work after a too-indulgent weekend. It’s more than the retro New Order song that you might have danced to with your girlfriends during said indulgences at an unreasonable hour. No, this Blue Monday is supposedly the most depressing day of the year, designated as such for a whole whack of reasons that don’t include that Champagne hangover.
Blue Monday typically falls on the third Monday of January. After months of bleak weather, the reality of your holiday bills setting in and the guilt of not entirely sticking to your New Year’s resolutions, it can lead to a pretty bad case of the winter blahs. While there’s no science to back it up, there’s a reason that last-minute winter vacations are so popular.
While there’s something to be said for indulging a cranky day and just ordering your favorite takeout, here are a few super simple steps you can take to shake it off and get back to totally owning 2017.
1. Recommit to your goals. So you didn’t work out much since January 1. So what? Tomorrow is another day to try again. If you haven’t already, try making a list (maybe in one of these handy apps) of your intentions. Sometimes just getting it down on paper (or in your phone) is enough to help you reset.
2. Make a tasty meal. Cooking can be a super simple way to be mindful and in the moment. You get to focus on a task at hand, practice or put good skills to use and feel a sense of accomplishment. Plus, bonus: You get a delicious dinner out of it at the end. Win/win!
3. Walk to or home from work. Yes, it’s cold. And yes, it’s probably dark. But even a short amount of time outside can do wonders for changing your perspective and your mood. If it’s not possible to commute to work by foot, try to get out for a stroll on your lunch break. The fresh air and the steps will do wonders for your mindset.
4. Watch a funny movie or TV show. One of the oldest tricks in the book. There’s NO shortage of amazing stuff on TV and Netflix right now, so this is one of the easiest and best things you can do stat.
5. Get a workout in. Besides trying to #nevermissamonday, you’ll get that good old fashioned endorphin boost. We know, we know — when you’re already down, it’s even harder to muster the energy for a workout. But even a short one is better than nothing. Remember: You’ll never regret having done it.
6. Go to bed early. Sometimes the best thing you can do is just call it a day and start fresh tomorrow. Plus, a few extra Zs won’t hurt.
Whatever your method for cheering yourself up from a momentary down day, don’t be so hard on yourself. And also remember, spring is just eight weeks away. You got this!
Do you feel the effects of Blue Monday, and what do you do to help them? Let us know over @BritandCo!
(Photos via Getty)