January might be a time for New Year's resolutions, getting fit and starting a whole new chapter in the book that is 2023. But it's also time for Blue Monday on 15 January, aka the "most depressing" day of the year.
Blue Monday is the least upbeat day on the calendar, and a mood slump can be expected. It's easy to see why - it's cold, you're back at work and all of the festive fun of Christmas is suddenly a distant memory. That's why we've come up with some easy ways you can add some lightness and positivity to your life to boost your mood on Blue Monday or any day.
What is Blue Monday and when is it?
Typically marked the third Monday of January, Blue Monday was actually first launched in 2005 as a marketing scheme by Sky Travel, a holiday company which claimed to have carefully calculated which day was the "most depressing" of the year. Later though, Dr Cliff Arnall, who developed the concept, began to campaign against it and the growing focus on the negative connotations. Instead, he encourages us to look at the positive. “Whether embarking on a new career, meeting new friends, taking up a new hobby or booking a new adventure, January is actually a great time to make those big decisions for the year ahead," he said.
Many now look at the day as a moment to take stock and increase awareness of mental health issues. Self-care has become so important over the past year, that's especially true this January, for 'Blue Monday' and beyond. So here are the little things that you can do to give yourself a necessary dose of positivity as we kick off 2023.
1. Have a cup of positivi-TEA
Yes, a good ol’ cup of tea. Perhaps kick start your day with a cup of chamomile tea which is said to help calm anxiety. Also, you can also save lives with a cuppa – Samaritans is "turning Blue Monday on its head" by encouraging people to connect over a virtual cuppa on "Brew Monday". "Reach out to a friend, family member or colleague for a virtual cuppa and a chat," reads the website. "It doesn’t have to be a Monday or a cup of tea, just taking time to really listen to another person could help them work through what’s on their mind. Because now more than ever, sharing a cuppa is more than a drink – it's about reaching out, checking in and staying connected." You can also use Brew Monday to help raise funds for the charity. Go to samaritans.org for more info.
2. Manifest
Roxie Nafousi will teach you a thing about motivating. In her book, Manifest: 7 Steps To Living Your Best Life, Rosie will teach you how to believe in yourself.
This is the essential guide to the art of manifestation, for anyone wanting to feel more empowered and successful in life. Whether you want to attract your soulmate, land the perfect job, find the home you have always wanted, or simply achieve more inner-peace and confidence; Manifest will teach you how to get there in just seven simple steps.
- 1. Be clear in your vision
- 2. Remove fear and doubt
- 3. Align your behaviour
- 4. Overcome tests from the universe
- 5. Embrace gratitude without caveats
- 6. Turn envy into inspiration
- 7. Trust in the universe
3. Read a self-care book
Amazon's best-selling motivational books will help you start off the New Year right. And Ten to Zen by Owen O’Kane, with celebrity fans including Fearne Cotton, Dame Kelly Holmes, Joe Wicks and Saira Khan, is one to read if you want to improve mental health. The book reveals the clinically-researched techniques to help reduce stress and anxiety, and generally feel calmer and happier.
YOUR READING LIST: 10 books to transform your life in 2023: Improve your life, be happier & get motivated
4. Wear something colourful
It’s no secret, colour can be a mood booster, and colour analyst Gabriella Winters of Chromology UK explains: “People absorb and reflect the same colours differently depending on their unique biological makeup. When a colour is placed adjacent to your face, it will reflect its wavelength onto you.” Wearing the “right” colours can make you appear healthier, more radiant and make your eyes and hair ‘pop’. However, the wrong ones can have the opposite effect. “Yellowish or greenish casts from too-warm colours are common, greyish or reddish casts from too-cool colours are also typical.”
5. Buy flowers... for you or someone else!
Because bringing a smile to someone else is what life is all about. Someone might be feeling more blue than you, so this is something you can do to bring a smile to both of your faces. There are plenty of options for ordering online, from premium arrangements from Bloom & Wild to lovely seasonal flowers from Marks & Spencer. Take it from us, you will make someone's day!
SHOP: 28 best flower delivery services in the UK
6. Have a hair makeover
Blue Monday doesn’t have to be depressing when you can lift your mood with a brand new hairdo! We've compiled a list of the best temporary pink hair colours for an 'I'm bored' hair transformation.
7. Indulge in aromatherapy, right down to your fragrance
Blue Monday isn’t the day to get it wrong when it comes to your fragrance which is why we’ll be opting for something zesty and uplifting. According to some studies, grapefruit can curb depression and enhance memory. What’s more, research from Japan’s Osaka University shows that the scent of grapefruit actually boosts metabolism and reduces food cravings.
8. Listen to a podcast
Searching for a good podcast? You've obviously got HELLO!'s royal podcast to keep you entertained, but if you're looking for a motivational, uplifting one you could try The Diary Of A CEO hosted by Steven Bartlett or Fearne Cotton's Happy Place. if you're looking for a giggle there's Sh**ged Married Annoyed with Chris and Rosie Ramsay. Perhaps you're after a gripping storyline for a dose of escapism - Sweet Bobby is a hit on the Podcast Charts on Spotify. If you're after a couple of friends to keep you company, opt for Should I Delete That by former HELLO! columnist Alex Light and Em Clarkson. Another personal favourite? The Celebrity Memoir Book Club hosted by Claire and Ashley. If you don't hate time to read a celebrity memoir, let these two comics read it for you - and trust us, you'll be shocked at some of the revelations.
Oh, and be sure to listen to HELLO!'s daily news podcast, The Daily Lowdown, to get all the exciting celebrity news and inside showbiz knowledge.
9. Watch something fun on TV
If you haven't already binge-watched some of 2022's most popular upbeat shows and movies, it's time to do it! To imagine your future travel adventures (and OUTFITS!) there's Emily in Paris, and Selling Sunset, while Schitt's Creek is fab for some major LOLs. Watch & Just Like That on Sky re-live your SATC obsession, or check out Harlem on Amazon Prime that will have you fully hooked.
10. Have some pamper time
The link between stress and skin is undeniable, and you might find yourself with dull, dry skin this Blue Monday - which is why an evening pamper could be just what the Doctor ordered. Before you go to sleep, light a scented candle, and enjoy a long soak in the bath. The Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Moisturiser not only has an inspired name, but it also revitalises the skin’s appearance.
11. Catch up with your loved ones
One of the easiest ways to boost your mood is to catch up with family and friends. Whether a one-on-one chat on the phone or FaceTime, or a Zoom call with all of your favourite people, speaking to your loved ones is a sure fire way to feel happier this Blue Monday.
12. Make a romantic connection
If you're single, you’ll be interested to know that Tinder saw the biggest sign-ups to the dating app on the eve of Blue Monday last year. It seems like its never too soon to start finding your Mr or Mrs Right. Sign up to eHarmony today. What have you got to lose?
13. Take a nap
We're big fans of relaxing your way to a better mood. Listen to some music, read a book, write your goals in a journal (we love The Head Plan), spritz your pillow with mood lifting lavender, and catch some well-deserved mid-day Zs.
14. Marie Kondo (or The Home Edit!) your life
An uncluttered space is an uncluttered mind... and getting organised is a brilliant mood booster. If you’ve watched Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix – or have read the organising guru's books – you’ll be eager to spark joy and transform your home life. Meanwhile, if you're a fan The Home Edit's expert organisers Clea and Joanna, re-watch the show and check out their bestseller, The Home Edit Life: The Complete Guide to Organizing Absolutely Everything at Work, at Home and On the Go. What's more, Stacey Solomon's book, Tap to Tidy, might be the perfect escapism with a few little tips and tricks.
RELATED: 5 top storage techniques to give your home the Home Edit treatment
15. Reach out
If you need immediate support, you can text SHOUT to 85258 anytime day or night and chat by text.
If you’re feeling more than blue, or know someone who is, Samaritans offer emotional support. Call Samaritans for free anytime on 116 123 – this number won’t show up on your phone bill. You can also send an email or download the organisation's self-help app. To make an appointment to speak with a trained volunteer, call 01462 455333.
