Written by: Shona Hirons, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
There are a number of reasons why it has been decided that the third Monday in January should be named 'Blue Monday'. You may be dreading the arrival of that credit card statement any day now. You may have already broken your New Year’s Resolution. You may be participating in dry January, or Veganuary, and although the end is in sight, it’s at this point that you’re finding it a struggle. The mornings and nights are dark, and it’s generally gloomy outside. The summer holiday seems so far away. If you feel like this, you may have fallen victim to Blue Monday.
If you think you’re going to feel depressed, you probably will be, so instead, choose to be happy. It’s usually Blue Monday for me because my favourite colour is blue. I choose for it to be a happy day. It's OK to have the odd bad day. Nothing is perfect after all, but it’s important to have support in place if that one bad day turns into seven bad days, thirty bad days, 100 bad days, or more.
What you can do if you're feeling Blue?
If you’re feeling particularly anxious or stressed, why don’t you think about doing one or two of the following:
Get up and get moving. Exercise is a natural and effective anti-anxiety treatment because it releases endorphins which relieve tension and stress, boost energy, and enhance your sense of well-being.
Meditate. Meditation works by switching your focus from worrying about the future or dwelling on the past to what’s happening right now.
Practice progressive muscle relaxation. This can help you break the endless loop of worrying by focusing your mind on your body instead of your thoughts. By alternately tensing and then releasing different muscle groups in your body, you release muscle tension in your body. And as your body relaxes, your mind will follow.
Deep breathing. When you worry, you become anxious and breathe faster, often leading to further anxiety. But by practicing deep breathing exercises, you can calm your mind and quiet negative thoughts.
Watch some comedy. Laughing is great for positive mental health and releases the ‘happy hormones’ to keep you happy.
Listen to uplifting music. This is likely to get you smiling, singing, and moving. A favorite song can really lift your mood and reframe your mind.
Speak to your negative thoughts. Being harsh on yourself won’t help you to achieve more. In fact, it can only make you feel worse.
Keep a journal and jot down all the things that make you feel alive. You’d be amazed at how this simple act can switch your brain into feeling good.
Switch off the news. News is full of negativity, so it’s no wonder you feel ‘blue’.
Talk to someone. Just talking to someone you trust can really help to lift your mood.
How Can I Support My Employees?
The Access Group has some great affordable ways for employers to support their employees if they are feeling blue.
Ultimately, employers should look at ways to create a supportive environment for their people. Have regular 1:1s, and make sure it’s a two-way conversation and not something your staff dread. Show that you understand, can listen, be transparent, because uncertainty breeds anxiety, and create a positive plan if there’s a problem.
Next time you feel blue, instead of worrying about what’s going wrong, focus on what’s going right instead.
Shona Hirons, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Shona Hirons is an award-winning global Resilience and Burnout Coach. A breakdown from work-related stress, which led to a life-changing accident, requiring major facial reconstructive surgery and brain damage, gave her a big wake-up call. During her recovery, she went on a journey of self-discovery to rebuild her resilience, consider her values and achieve all the things she was told she couldn't do. Shona has developed strategies to boost her resilience, and now helps others to do the same. She is the CEO of Mindset in Motion, and a leader in corporate wellbeing, working with corporate clients in over 195 countries. Her mission: To improve the well-being of people and businesses throughout the world.
