So it’s a New Year—time to celebrate and then become depressed! At least that is what happens to many of us as we leave the glow of the Holidays and enter the gloom of the real world once again. And reality this time of year is sometimes extra grim with one of the coldest months in the year coupled with short days and little daylight. After the Holiday high with family and fun it is very common to feel at least a twinge of sadness as the New Year begins. We however do not have to succumb to the annual January slump. Below is a list of ideas that will work not only to help us survive January but also to thrive in it—making it a happy and successful start to a wonderful new year.
#1 Make a Plan
January is a perfect time to do planning for the entire year. Make a plan of action for the year with milestones you hope to accomplish, trips you plan to take, and fun times you plan to have. This may include plans for a summer vacation, your son’s birthday party in May, or the valentine’s gift you hope to give. This also may include benchmarks and progress your making toward achieving New Year’s resolutions. Right down anything and everything you are looking forward to during this New Year and start working towards them and planning them. Doing this will get you excited for all that is to come and help you see all that you have to look forward to during the year.
#2 Exercise
Often during the Holidays we over-eat, over-sleep, and over sit making us less active than normal. Thus, a great way to avoid the January blues is to get moving, become active, and exercise. Sometimes we regret the diet decisions we made during the holidays but we don’t need to dwell on them now, we just need to get moving! A book I read recently mentioned that ‘when our body is active our mind becomes free.’ I have found that exercise improves how I feel about myself and increases my energy and enthusiasm for life.
#3 Set Short Goals
The New Year is often the time we set goals for the year but to defeat the January blues, we can set short-term January goals. What do we want to achieve this January? What do we hope to accomplish? By setting these short-term goals and tracking our progress on achieving them we can stay better engaged and focused on the success we are having rather than dwelling on the miserable weather.
#4 Serve Someone
During the Holidays it is common for us to be focused on helping others. Whether it is donating to a charitable cause, picking out the perfect gift for someone we love, or volunteering our time to bring others cheer we often dwell on others rather than ourselves. In January our attention is often refocused on ourselves causing us to feel empty and even depressed. For this reason, one great way to overcome a January slump is to help others. Instead of returning our thoughts and energy back to ourselves look for ways to help others. Whatever it might be whether big or small looking to lift others up will only lift us as well.
#5 Get Sun
So the sun tends to disappear this time of year but whenever you do see it, take full advantage of it by opening the blinds and pulling the shutters. It has been proven that natural light can boost our mode and increase our energy. So when the sun is out, take full advantage of it!
These are a few simple tips that will work in helping us start this New Year off with a bang and avoid the January blues. As we do these things throughout the year or whenever we are feeling a little down, our spirits will be lifted and our energy and enthusiasm will be renewed. So let’s avoid the January slump this year and make the New Year as successful as possible from day one! Good luck and Happy New Year!
No comments:
Post a Comment