Five ways to beat the January blues

No need to feel the blues

The third Monday of January is known as the gloomiest day of the year, due to a combination of post-Christmas blues, cold dark nights and the arrival of financial worry.

Blue Monday takes place on January 17.

The mental health specialists from Private Rehab clinic Delamere have shared their top tips to help you look after your mind and keep track of your mental health this month.

Blue Monday: Five ways to beat the January blues

Don’t overwhelm yourself with social engagements

Despite socialising being proven to have a positive effect on our mental health, committing to too much can sometimes work against us. While it can be very nice to have a full social calendar, it can seem a little overwhelming to have no time to recharge your batteries throughout the week.

Because of this, it is crucial that you set time aside for yourself. If you are going to a social event at the weekend, set aside the following day to emotionally gather yourself, rather than pushing yourself to go out again - this could possibly lead to feeling burnt out and deflated.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that if you do not designate a rest day for yourself, then your body will do it for you when it eventually runs out of fuel. It is always helpful to make time to read, catch up on your favourite television shows, cook a nutritious meal or go for a peaceful walk, as this will leave you feeling replenished and ready to tackle the week ahead.

Try to limit your screen time

This may be an obvious one, but spending too much time on our phones can be disastrous for a number of reasons. One of the benefits of deleting Instagram or Twitter, even temporarily, is that it stops us from mindlessly scrolling.

A recent study highlighted that people were spending a whopping 6.4 hours on their phones every day, along with staring at screens while working and watching TV. As well as distracting us from important things we should be doing, like cleaning, talking to friends or doing laundry, it also leaves people with unrealistic expectations of their own lives.

Being constantly bombarded with perfect airbrushed images, along with photos of influencers sipping cappuccinos in Paris while we are working a nine to five, is destined to eventually have a negative effect on our mental health.