The third Monday of January is known as "Blue Monday" and is approaching on the 18th January 2016. It is not just a whim but a calculated theory that was introduced back in 2005.
Maybe it is to do with the reality of being back at work after a lovely rested Christmas break and no doubt something to do with the fact that we are heading towards the end of a long month and people are desperate for their pay after spending a lot of money on gifts. Limited funds can cause anyone worry, upset and stress. On top of this, cold, grey and rainy weather can cause quite a large proportion of people to suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or a lesser form and make people feel depressed just getting up in the morning.
So, given that "Blue Monday" is a real issue and that it is apparently going to effect a large percentage of organisation's productivity, we thought we would give you a few tips on how to overcome the feeling of being "Blue".
- Listen to music to make you feel happy;
- Organise a holiday or a break from the office so you have something to look forward to;
- See friends;
- Organise your work diary so you mentally are on top of your daily tasks and leave Friday with a plan of action for Monday;
- Eat well and drink less alcohol so you do not have the ups and downs;
- Exercise, whether it is walking or cycling to work, playing a team sport or hitting the gym;
- Take photos of your friends and family into work to make you smile;
- Have early nights and relax before going to sleep;
- Make plans in the evening so you are not just sitting in front of the TV every night;
- Suggest a motivating team/department evening or day out;
- If there is something specific making you feel down, speak to your boss and address it;
- Think about all the things you are excited about and that make you happy and put these into a list that you can refer to.
We hope some of these ideas will help you to get through "Blue Monday". If you have any other good ideas to help other people from suffering, do share with us here......
