BLUE Monday
In 2005, a publicist created a scientific formula to determine that the third Monday in January is “the most depressing day of the year”.
Blue Monday, as it has been dubbed, can be seen as a bit of fun but it also has a very serious side. For anyone struggling with any mental health aspects, January can be a particularly hard month.
But, there are things you can do and people who can help, so you can turn Blue Monday on its head.
Exercise
The days are getting slightly longer again, so it’s a good time to get and get some exercise. It can just be a walk to the shop, it doesn’t need to be anything revolutionary. Just something that raises your heartbeat for about 20 minutes. The effect of the endorphins on your mind and body will give you a great boost.
Fresh air
If you’re not ready for exercising outside or you don’t have much time, even standing outside and just breathing in the bracing January air will help to relax and clear your mind for a moment.
Talking
If you are struggling with anything in particular, or you feel down and you don’t know why. The best thing to do is to talk out loud about it. It could be a friend, family member or to one of the many professional organisations that can help. Getting your feelings out is often the start of feeling better.
Review your options
There are parts of your life that you can control and influence and parts that you can’t. Working out what you can impact and if any of those aspects might be impacting negatively on you is a great thing to do because there might be some relatively easy changes you can make.
Job options
Obviously, our specialist area is recruitment. If you think your job might be getting you down, we can certainly try and help. We can work with you to review your CV and job options and we’ll either be able and advise you, or we’ll be able to point you in the right direction. You’re at work for such a large part of your day, if it’s not working you for you, it’s time for a change. Drop us an email: [email protected] or call us on 01858 898 058.
Other professional contacts you might want to explore:
Mind
The charity Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They say
“Every year, one in four of us will experience a mental health problem. But hundreds of thousands of people are still struggling. We believe no-one should have to face a mental health problem alone. We’ll listen, give you support and advice, and fight your corner.”
Their team provides information on a range of topics including:
- Types of mental health problems
- Where to get help
- Medication and alternative treatments
- Advocacy
They also look for details of help and support in your own area. Open 9 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays). 0300 123 3393 [email protected] Text: 86463
Samaritans
Whatever you’re going through, you can call the Samaritans free anytime, from any phone on 116 123.
“We’re here round the clock, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you need a response immediately, it’s best to call us on the phone. This number is FREE to call. You don’t have to be suicidal to call us, anyone can get in touch.”