How to Beat the January Blues

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Christmas is officially over and most of us will have just about recovered from New Year’s Eve and are getting ready to face reality once more as we head into the new year and a new decade. However, “blue January” is notorious for leaving everyone feeling down as it brings short days, dark nights, and a return to the 9-5 grind.

To help you try and negate some of the effects of this somewhat miserable month, here are some fun and mood-boosting ways to beat the January blues!

Dust Off Your Gym Membership

It may be the biggest cliché but don’t let that take away from the benefits of joining the gym at the start of the year. Do away with new year’s resolutions and goals as these are likely to be forgotten before the month is out for most people. Instead, focus on the physical and mental health benefits of keeping fit and getting your heart rate up a couple of times a week.

Not a fan of the gym? There’s plenty of other activities that can give you the same mood-boosting benefits such as going on hikes, cycling, or joining a sport team.

Plan a Trip

Come January most people’s bank accounts will be looking worse for wear, with December’s early pay already looking slimmer than it should. However, just because you can’t go on a spending spree doesn’t mean that you can’t start planning a trip or two for later on in the year.

Having something to look forward to later on in the year will help keep you in good spirits, minimising the January gloom that affects most people at the start of the year. With so many different companies now offering you the option to book a holiday with a small deposit, you can get that instant thrill of planning your next holiday without having to splash out the full price at the start.

Try Your Hand at a New Activity

The best antinode to the gloomy and grey days of January is to get your mates together and try something bonkers for a good dose of fun. Getting everyone together once the obligatory Christmas trips home are over with is the perfect way to avoid the blues that hit come the start of the new year.

Personally speaking, I have finally bit the bullet and taken up ice skating lessons! After years of putting it off, I am now 4 weeks into my first 6 week course and can’t imagine a better way to spend my Monday evenings!

If you’re stuck for something new to try and don’t have a local ski centre or ice rank nearby, why not start off a little more lighthearted and try a low-key, indoor new activity like crazy golf? Fun, active, and guaranteed to bring a smile to everyone’s face, it’s the perfect excuse to leave the house. Of course, not just any crazy golf course will do, and there’s nowhere bigger, better, and madder than Junkyard Golf Club when it comes to crazy golf. With locations around the country, this junkyard wonderland is guaranteed to lift your spirits with their iconic bad puns, mad courses, and crazy cocktails. Best of all? The entire venue is indoors so you can really forget all about the gloomy weather and bask in the glow of the neon lights instead.

Treat Yourself

The new year is often when people push themselves the hardest, trying to stick to newly set goals and restrictions. This regimented outlook is often what contributes to the generally miserable mood of January, making it feel far grimmer than needs be. Instead, use this month for some much needed self-care and take some time to treat yourself. Whether that be indulging in some delicious food (remember, most restaurants have offers on in January!) or pampering yourself with a bubble bath, don’t forget to take some time to indulge in self-care this month.