Mental health specialist urges people to find a new order this Blue Monday
A therapist who specialises in helping to reduce and resolve traumatic memories is urging people to look towards positive achievements as we approach Blue Monday (16th January)..
Blue Monday is traditionally the third Monday of January, when, for most people, the Christmas break is becoming a distant memory - and bank balance begins to run low. As the weather becomes more wintry, it's become known as "the most depressing day of the year".
However, says Danny Greeves, an award-winning therapist and published author on trauma, looking to the future and making plans and having goals is the best way to tackle Blue Monday.
He said: "Blue Monday is a time where we focus on what we lack. We lack - and yearn for - the brighter, warmer days of summer, we lack financial resources after the ever-greater expenses of Christmas, we lack time off and even things to celebrate.
"Blue Monday is also a time where the fizz of inspiration for New Year’s Resolutions has worn off and the reality of life kicks in."
If you’re feeling low this Blue Monday, Danny has three tips to brighten your mood regardless of the weather outside.
- Set your intention and attention on what you can genuinely be appreciative and grateful for. Look for both the macro (family, house, job etc) and the micro (a nice cup of tea or a hug) throughout your day to keep a mindful appreciation of all that you have.
- Look for growth. By identifying the advantages of colder weather, having less money and returning to a more structured lifestyle you can uncover the many hidden blessings these challenges can bring. It may be that colder weather often encourages you to wrap up warm with a loved one on the couch, or that tightening your belts pushes you to dust off the board games and have some family fun at home, or even seeing how the routine of day-to-day life benefits your waistline as the chocolates tin runs empty. Finding the upsides and opportunities of this time of year can clear the mind and help you move forward.
- Celebrate the small things. Every time you celebrate you release a squirt of the feel-good hormone dopamine into your system to lighten your mood and boost your wellbeing. But celebrating only the big occasions a couple of times a year is such a waste of this powerful strategy. Finding ways to do mini-celebrations for things such as finishing your morning work out or eating a healthy meal all give that same feel-good boost and better still it’s free and totally within your control.
Danny added: "The biggest challenge with Blue Monday is therefore not the weather, money or the inspiration, but where we place our focus. In order to transform our perspectives around this time of year we can choose to focus on what we already have."
"We can focus on what we can get and gain in the weeks and months ahead. We can explore different ways to find fulfilment."
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