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The January blues, the post-Christmas come-down, seasonal affective disorder. It goes by a lot of different names, but it manifests itself as sadness, depression, anxiety, listlessness, and tiredness, and it is a real thing that affects millions of us every year. There are some tips and tricks that can help you get through January, though, and set you up for a positive new year.
Stay Busy
January is a good time to get your admin done. Clear out the attic while you put the decorations away. Take stuff to the charity shop to make way for a new year of clutter. Check your subscriptions, set up your new computer, install software, and plan your storage with RAID tools. That new storage might well come in handy if you take up a new hobby like photography or videography, too, and using a planning tool ensures your setup is right for the year ahead. The key, here, is to keep busy and prevent moping around.
Do Something You Enjoy
Whether you enjoy playing board games at your local board gaming group, taking the dogs up Lomond Hills, or taking in the latest installation at the Art Institute, make some time to do things you enjoy.
Learn Something New
West College has learning centres and campuses in Paisley as well as other cities and towns. Here, you can enroll in evening classes and courses for adults on a variety of different topics. Alternatively, use the opportunity to teach yourself something new. Learn another language, or sign language. Learn to play an instrument like piano or guitar. There doesn’t have to be an end goal to learn something new. The learning itself can be the goal.
Take Up A Hobby
If you don’t really have any hobbies you can enjoy, this is a good time to start thinking about indulging in something new. Join a local sports team. If you like football, but don’t think you have the fitness for a full match, PowerLeague Paisley is a walking football club that meets at the Anchor Grounds. As well as keeping your mind active, and enabling you to concentrate on something other than how low you feel, it could help you get fit and active.
Get Some Exercise
Exercise is important, especially if you are feeling down or depressed. Pretty much any type of exercise releases neurotransmitters that promote feelings of well-being. This means you can get out walking or cycling. This has the added benefit of exposing you to the sun. It increases your vitamin D intake and the sun has proven to be an effective tool in the fight against SAD.
Stay Healthy
It can be really easy to get into bad habits in January, especially if you carry them over from Christmas. While you don’t necessarily have to start your diet on January 1st, when there are still festive treats left in the cupboard, you should cut back on chocolate and sweets, get regular exercise, and ensure you’re getting good sleep. Stay healthy and avoid drinking too much alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant, which means drinking won’t make you forget your problems, it will make them feel worse, especially on the day after.
Socialise The Right Way
You might have seen enough of your extended family over the Christmas break, but try not to shut yourself off from the rest of the world. Arrange to meet up with friends, maybe try and convince them to take up walking with you. Avoid meeting in pubs, where you’re more likely to drink alcohol and don’t restrict all of your interactions to social media. In fact, it’s a good idea to limit your time on social media when you’re feeling anxious or depressed.
