Dr Jen Nash, Clinical Psychologist
The January blues aren’t surprising given that it is cold and wet, the longest month to stretch your pay, Christmas debts seem to rise each year and those well-meaning resolutions are already a distant memory. This is virtually inevitable, so don’t beat yourself up. Highs and lows are a natural part of being human and many believe that we need the lows to appreciate the highs.
Here are my top tips for going with the flow this January:
• If you’re short of cash, think of some fun, free activities to do. Finding activities that don’t cost can actually be quite enjoyable once in a while.
• If you’re in debt and worried, turn your worry into productive action and face your situation head on.
• If the weather is getting you down, think of something nice that you can only truly enjoy in the cold – a mug of hot chocolate, curling up in front of the fire or putting a hot water bottle in your bed are all simple pleasures that will make you feel good at this time of year.
• If your resolutions are a distant memory, shift your focus and take a whole year perspective. When making lasting change a ‘lapse’ or two are inevitable – it’s when lots of lapses run together that it is a ‘relapse’. Make a list of what you have done towards your goal and reward yourself for your efforts.
Think of one small action you can take today to get you even a little bit back on track and congratulate yourself for this. Finally, take solace in the fact that January’s pay day and the first blooms of spring are just around the corner.
Anne Morrison – Life Coach & Clinical Hypnotherapist
Last year we had doom and gloom, the Eurozone Crisis, and now the Christmas bills are coming in - enough to make anyone feel blue, especially with the media constantly telling us we’re going down the drain.
We’re very good at making ourselves feel down by thinking of all the sad, unpleasant and upsetting things that have happened. So, when the Christmas bills arrive remember the joy on the faces of those who opened the presents. Remember the good times you had over Christmas and New Year, the thank yous, the food you enjoyed, and the people you saw. If you’re in work – great, you’ve got a job.
If you’re worried about redundancy or making other life changes, remember human beings are survivors, even if it’s unpleasant we can cope, it’s what we do.
