After the excitement and joy of December, including Christmas Day and New Year's Eve, we now face the potential doom and gloom of January. But that is only if you allow it to be that way. Just by having the right attitude and perhaps one or two tweaks around the home can help to keep the January blues at bay.
How to keep the January blues away
Let's start by talking about attitude and mindset. It's very easy to get somewhat down in the dumps at the start of January. Plenty of other people are, and it's easy to follow the crowd. But it's important to try not to let them drag you down to their level. Focus on the positives, rather than the negatives. December for many people is full of social occasions, including the Christmas party, meeting up for drinks with friends, and seeing plenty of the family. This, in part, is what makes this month so enjoyable. But the socialising and fun don't have to end in December. Yes, people don't tend to have a lot of money to spend on going out at the start of a new year, but seeing your friends and family doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. Try to continue to keep connected with these people in January and the months to come, as it will work wonders for your overall mood.
It must be said that exercising is a great way to increase one's overall self-esteem, as is losing weight and getting fit. Most of us will put on a few pounds after the excesses of the festive period, and even though exercise is likely to be the last thing that you want to do at the start of January, it really will be of benefit if you can motivate yourself to do some form of it. That feeling of seeing that we have lost one or two pounds at our weekly weigh-in is nearly as good as the taste of eating our favourite food. I did say nearly!
When it comes to food, it's now the time to get back into the routine of healthy eating. December was no doubt fun, as was all the incredibly tasty food you are likely to have eaten. To keep those post-holiday blues at bay, we need to get back into our positive routines, one of which is eating the right types of food. Having a takeaway occasionally is absolutely fine; of course, it's all about moderation and maintaining a balanced diet. You will feel a whole lot better if you can do so. Healthy eating combined with regular exercise is a sure winner at any time of the year, but especially at the start.
Adding subtle changes around the home at this time of the year can make a world of difference to our overall mood. January is a month where it is often dark, cold and dreary outside. When inside, it's beneficial to have the opposite by having bright colours displayed. This could be in the form of coloured picture frames, curtains, cushions, throws and candles.
Having something to look forward to is another good idea. In the January sales, hotels and guest houses often have special deals offering their rooms at a discounted rate. Booking such a break gives us something positive to focus on, especially when those January blues try to come into play.