The sun is only up for 8 hours a day, the weather isn’t great, and we’re all back to the grind. January can be one of the most uninspiring months of the year. So, we thought we’d share some tips and advice for combatting the January Blues.
The so-called ‘January Blues’ or ‘Winter Blues’ actually have scientific backing and a medical definition of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
With Blue Monday (often regarded as the most depressing day of the year) falling at the start of this week, many of us may be feeling lower than we normally would.
If the winter weather and dark days are grinding on you, you may want to listen up…
Soak up that daylight
The January Blues, or ‘SAD’, are caused by the way the body responds to daylight. As the days are much shorter, duller, and darker at this time of year, it makes sense that we’re not as on fire for life compared to those long, dreamy summer days.
So, an easy way to boost your mood is by taking in as much daylight as possible. Use your lunch break to go out for a walk, skate, or run. This is something we do in the Bleubird office and it always improves the vibe, even if it’s been torrential rain and high winds!
Getting out and exploring more at the weekends and making sure you spend time with Mother Nature in the outdoors is a surefire way to fight off the lower moods.
And, get this… even if you can’t manage to get outdoors, then working by a window is an effective way to soak up more natural light during the day and leave you feeling a bit brighter by the end of it. It would help if there was an epic view of a long glassy wave or a freshly powdered mountain, but hey, we can’t have it all!
Here’s the science… according to a recent observational study undertaken by researchers at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, getting more light between dawn and dusk was related to a lower risk of depression. Further, each additional hour of natural light was linked to lower lifetime odds of depression and increased happiness. Do you need any more convincing?
Stay active
We are passionate about living an active lifestyle and spending plenty of time in the vast playground of the outdoors. Most of our community feels the same. So, lucky for us, staying active is one of the ways to combat the January Blues!
Whether it’s hiking, surfing, swimming, skating, cycling, or just getting out to walk the doggo, staying active has numerous benefits for your physical and mental health, the effects of which can be felt more strongly at this time of year.
If you can, get your exercise in during daylight hours when you can make the most of the sunlight. Both of these combined will help when it comes to our next point…
Try to establish a regular sleep pattern
Sunlight plays an important role in regulating your sleep pattern by affecting your hormone levels and melatonin circadian rhythm. Alongside other factors, fewer daylight hours during the winter months can have an impact on your sleep.
Having a regular sleep pattern is extremely important for helping you feel energised and boosting your mood. There are a number of things you can do to promote a healthy sleep schedule and enjoy a good night’s sleep.
Some easy ways to get into a good sleeping pattern include avoiding screen time in the hours before you go to bed (yes, that means getting off your phones, laptops, and TVs), avoiding alcohol and caffeine in the hours before bedtime, and spending time outside during daylight hours.
Focus on joyful colours
Colours can have a major impact on our mood and certain colours have been shown to have associations with physiological changes and emotional responses.
Bright colours, such as red, yellow, and orange, are believed to increase energy levels, while colours such as blue and green are believed to help you feel calm and grounded. This can be linked to our associations with different colours through their symbolic meaning in our culture and media or where various colours fall on the light spectrum.
So, whether it’s brightening the vibe in your space or incorporating more joyful colours into your daily outfits, you may see some small benefits to your mood through the colours you choose.
Spend time with your crew
Socialising can actually be a major mood booster. So, making sure to stay connected with those closest to you is super important.
Go out of your way to meet up with your mates. Get outdoors and explore together. Do less of the excuse-making and leaving it to when the weather is a bit nicer and simply embrace what you’ve got in front of you right now. However you choose to do it, spending time connecting with others is an easy way to lift your mood.
Findings of a University College Dublin (UCD) study showed that increased social interaction leads to higher levels of self-esteem and confidence, and decreased symptoms of depression.
We hope that implementing some of these practices into your daily routine will help you beat the January Blues this season. But for now, we just want to remind you that the days are getting longer and summer is on the way!
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