I didn’t realize until seeing all the posts online (and receiving a message from @Dogpaddling) that today was Blue Monday.  It’s supposed to be “the most depressing day of the year“.  What do you think? Do you give any credence to this claim?

I was thinking about January and the Winter blahs.  Many people seem to feel a bit down this time of the year. I guess this can be attributed to various things like:

1. Post holiday finances – After spending a lot of money during the holidays, people sometimes feel like they’re in a slump when it comes to their money situation. Maybe you overspent and are trying to figure out how to pay off your credit card. There are many reasons why January is a tough month for many.
2. Depending on where you live, this time of the year isn’t the most conducive to feeling motivated because of the weather.  In the Summer, many people try to spend as much time as they can outdoors and keeping active. This should be the same all year round, but if it’s dark when you leave for work in the morning, dark when you come home at night, and freezing cold and with a windchill factor of -40, I don’t blame anyone for not wanting to be outside or just wanting to crawl into their toasty warm bed at night!
3. Not only is it cold (hey, we’re in Canada…this is the norm for us, right?), but the lack of sunshine also has a direct influence on how we feel.  We need our vitamin D!

I can see how the above (plus other factors) really do influence our mental, emotional, and physical states.

Today, I ‘d like to think of ways to beat the blues!

• Get movin’!  This morning, I woke up early and popped in my Turbo Jam DVD before getting my daughter up and ready for school and then getting ready to work. I felt invigorated – energized and ready to take on the day!  Even if you’re not feeling like hitting the gym or doing your workout DVD, why not take the stairs instead of the elevator at work or park a little bit further at the mall than you usually do? Maybe take a walk after lunch? Being active really does make you feel better. Like I said, we’re Canadian. Winter activities – that’s in our blood, no?  Have fun making snow angels with the kids after school this afternoon. The laughter of children will perk you up! What’s funnier than seeing Mom covered in snow?
• Count your blessings. Sure, it’s easy to think about all the things that we want to be different and things that we don’t like about our lives right now. Try thinking about all the things that are going right for you. Ugh. My car is a beater. Hey, at least you have the car and don’t have to walk twenty miles in the snow. My jeans make my boo-tay look ginormous. Be thankful that you have your health. There’s always room for improvement, and there’s no time like the present to make some changes if you’re not happy with the current state of things I have to tell you that Yoga Booty Ballet and Turbo Jam make me feel better! I have a love hate relationship with my workout DVDs. Sometimes I feel like they’re the bane of my existence, but after each workout, I feel like a million bucks!
• Spread some joy! Maybe you’re not feeling like the happiest person today, but you can turn around a mood by randomly spreading some cheer. It’s contagious, I tell ya! People think I’m always bubbly and full of positive energy, but I am definitely not. I have my days of stay-out-of-my-way-and-don’t-bug-me-or-else! On the whole, I find trying to focus on the good things and putting my energy towards things that won’t zap my energy are what work best for me. This sounds weird, but performing random acts of kindness totally makes my day.

Do you think there’s any truth to Blue Monday?  What are some things YOU do to combat the Winter Blahs?

Quotes sourced from http://happylifequotes.com/