How to Beat Your January Post-Sale Blues

The holidays are over. Spending sprees are to be paid for. The weather is rubbish. It gets dark at 4 in the afternoon. You’re freezing cold every time you take a step out the door and it’s not getting better any time soon.

This is why it’s time to take action to de-stress and address the low moods. Here are some quick ways to feel happier in the dark, bleak month of January.

Smile


Even when there’s nothing funny to smile about. When you find yourself frowning, relax your face, take a deep breath and smile. It sounds stupid but it works. Hold your smile for a few seconds then let go. It works, doesn’t it? Feel your forehead. Your frown is gone and you’ve earned yourself at least an hour of pleasant thoughts.


Walk


Swap the car for your feet whenever possible. Exercise gives birth to good health even if it’s just gently walking your kids to school or taking the lift (elevator) to your office floor in the morning. Knowing that you’ve had ten minutes of walking in the morning will not only warm your toes (leave high heels at the office and put on your walking shoes to get there), it’ll put you in a sunny mood for the rest of the day.


Entertain


No, you don’t have to have a party. Just ask your friends over for coffee and cakes or a game of charades on a cold, dark night. Laughing and spending time with friends warm not only our hearts and make us cheerful. This companionship also warms our homes and lets people know we care.


Take time


Spend time on yourself. It doesn’t have to cost any money. Just put aside some time to fill up your hot water bottle and cuddle up with a nice film. Resolve to start and finish the book you’ve always been meaning to read. Teach yourself a skill. Have some bath time soaks with all the bath salts you received as Christmas presents. Spend the gift vouchers on yourself.


Do something special


Set out to do something special for someone dear in your life in the month of January. Make a list of the things you’ve always meant to, or wanted to do for the people you love. Pick from the list someone who’s been having a particularly hard time recently and do something great for them. Giving you is the best way to feel good about yourself. Doing good comes back to you ten-fold.

Go out and make January your sunny, radiant month.