'Battling Blue Monday'

'Blue Monday' is the third Monday in January, and it is thought of by some people, in the Northern Hemisphere, as the most depressing day of the year! The term ‘Blue Monday’ was coined by psychologist Cliff Arnall in 2004. Whilst its origins are rooted in a 2005 idea for a PR stunt by Sky Travel to encourage you to book a holiday to banish the blues! For many Blue Monday is still a great time for some extra focus on the mental health of yourself and those around you.

Many of us have discovered how the delights of nature, being out in the garden, enjoying a walk etc can help us feel more positive and lowers the chance of depression.

One of the best ways of improving your mental health in winter is outdoor exercise, and unlike gym membership it's free. Yes, I know that when it's freezing cold outside staying indoors does seem tempting, but I'm pretty sure Alfred Wainwright the famous UK rambler said "there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing" ... so let's all try to dress appropriately and go for a walk today - or indeed (if you can) do a little gardening.

Once back from your walk or gardening, have a cup of your favourite warm beverage ... mine is tea, what will you have?

If for any reason you are not able to have a walk, then the next best thing would be to enjoy a breath of fresh air, by simply breathing in some fresh air can give a boost to how we feel.

Related Post - Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - read it here

(me enjoying a walk, photograph taken from post here)

All the best Jan