January can be tough for many - it’s a shock to the system when we go back to normality after the whirlwind of Christmas, so naturally we can feel slumped, overwhelmed or just wishing the dark afternoons would finally start to draw out.
In recent years, ‘Blue Monday’ is a term we have become more familiar with, and that day falls today - Monday, 17th January, ‘the most depressing day of the year’, as it has been named by the media. It’s said to represent the ‘gloominess’ people might feel with post-Christmas blues, dark nights, bad weather, failing New Year’s resolutions and low motivation levels.
If you are struggling in any way, you can get support from a number of charities and organisations (see our list of suggested resources at the bottom of this article).
Here at Life, we leave mental health support to the experts, though we also realise how important it is to take care of yourself and seek support when you need it - something that many of us have or will need to do at some point in our lives.
So if you are feeling a little down today we wanted to let you know we can always be counted on for a little positivity! Our team has put our heads together and come up with some words and sentences that make us feel just a little bit better when things get too much. While yours might be completely different to ours, if you’re feeling a bit low this January, take a moment to scribble down some words and sentences that mean a lot to you. It’s easy to be sucked in by the bad days and writing down positive words will certainly not get rid of those feelings, but it might help you to look forward and see the good in life when you need it the most…
Steam dancing from the coffee pot. Fresh, cool air in the mornings. Hazy views from your window. Waggy dog tails. Your favourite song. Alfresco dining. The first daffodils of spring. Reaching the end of a gripping book. Wandering walks. Sun on your face. Clean bed sheets. Fresh flowers in a vase. Warm pastries. Evening birdsong in the summer. Sea water lapping at your feet. Laughter with friends. Crackling fires. Your favourite summer drink. Warm sand between your toes. The smell of a delicious dinner almost ready to be served. Homegrown flowers blooming for the first time. Ink on a fresh, clean page. Little cat toe beans. Getting lost in a book. Drawing the dawn air into your lungs. Fairy lights. A cup of tea and a chocolate Hobnob. A hot shower. Scrummy, homemade stew.
Resources:
Mind, the mental health charity: https://www.mind.org.uk/ / 0300 123 3393
Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/ / Call 116 123 for free, 24 hours a day
Invictus Trust: https://www.invictustrust.co.uk/get-support-now/
Man Down Cornwall: Group sessions held fortnightly at the Orchard Centre, Launceston, Wednesdays, 7pm; fortnightly sessions on Tuesdays, 7pm, at St Petroc’s Parish Hall. https://www.mandown-cornwall.co.uk/
Pentreath - https://www.pentreath.co.uk/resources/