With all the fun anad excitement of December behind us and Blue Monday about to see a shower of credit card bills fall onto our doormats and into our inboxes, January is possibly the most depressing month of the year in the northern hemisphere.
But there are plenty of ways to find joy in this cold, dark month. Let's look at some of the ways to make January more carefree, happy and even fun!
Read on for 5 ways to beat the January blues...
1. Have a Last Hurrah
Many ice rinks and other Christmas attractions are still around for the first week of January, so bundle up and head out to ice skate or enjoy some other winter adventures.
Make the most of the frosty or even snowy weather by getting outside as much as possible.
Why not try to capture some great photos while you're there to really start the new year with a bang!
2. Have a No Spend Month
After the excesses of December, and with those credit card bills imminent, our bank balances can look seriously bleak in January.
So why not have a no spend month?
Use up all the food in your cupboards and freezer, avoid the shops (even online), 'shop your wardrobe' by taking a good look at what you already have, and catch up with all the films you missed over Christmas on BBC iPlayer.
3. Enjoy Your Family
Whether your family Christmas was a success or not, make the most of the dark evenings and chilly weather by staying indoors and hygge-ing it up!
Make hot chocolate, read aloud together, play board games and focus on family, love and laughter.
Laughter is the easiest way to boost your mood so watch comedy classics like Laurel & Hardy or whatever makes you and your family laught the most.
4. Exercise
Even when you're doing fun stuff indoors, getting outside for a walk or a run will do you the world of good.
Getting out into the dark or the cold might be the last thing you feel like doing but it will make you feel healthier, boost your immune system so you're less likely to get sick, and give you a glow inside and out.
Encourage kids to get outdoors with this fun winter scavenger hunt:
If you really can't face getting outdoors, follow a yoga or Pilates YouTube video or just put some music on and get everyone dancing.
After the excesses and the carbs of Christmas, eating good, nourishing food has to be one of your top priorities in January.
We don't recommend detoxes or diets but stocking up on lots of essential vitamins and minerals from delicious seasonal foods is a great alternative.
Use all the delicious winter vegetables to make some delicious soups and casseroles, stock up on your cruciferous veg and leafy greens to nourish your body and really give your immune system a boost.
Consider adding vitamin D, vitamin C and echinacea supplements.
If you feel up to it, tackling things that get you down is also a great use of your time in January.
Perhaps you could start to declutter your home to make space for what you want to welcome in this new year.
And, if the January Blues are really hitting, make sure you keep an eye on the soil for those tiny shoots of snowdrops and crocuses poking through.
As the light increases day by day and the sun begins to return, look forward to the Spring Equinox and all that the year ahead will hold for you.
More January, New Year & winter tips:
More January, New Year & winter tips:
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