Monday, January 20 heralds the annual day of the year branded ‘Blue Monday’.
It's been 15 years since the idea of 'Blue Monday' first arrived, and is based on data which showed people are generally unhappiest on one of the later Mondays in January.
Whether you're feeling the effects of this time of year or not, it's always a good idea to take stock of your mental health.
Action Mental Health Northern Ireland have issued some advice to help you 'banish the blues' this Monday.
'Blue Monday' earned its name because data revealed that people were feeling most sharply the come down from the festive season and the financial repercussions of the previous month’s indulgence on this day.
Many of us can feel down in the dark and dismal days of January.
In the fight against low-mood, Action Mental Health espouses the Five Ways to Well-Being, developed by the New Economics Foundation.
The Five Ways provide five key steps that you can take as your mental ‘five-a-day’ to contribute to your overall well-being.
You don’t need to take these steps alone – you may even find them more enjoyable with your colleagues and family. These steps remind us to:
• Connect – with the people around you, whether your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours at home, work or in your local community
• Be Active – whether you prefer walking or running, cycling, playing a game, gardening or dancing, be active, because exercising makes you feel good.
• Take Notice - stop, pause, or take a moment to look around you now and take notice of the beautiful, new, unusual or extraordinary things in your everyday life
• Keep Learning – learning new things is enjoyable and will make you more confident, boost your self-esteem and improve your overall well-being
• Give – making a conscious decision to do something for others improves our mental health and allows us to appreciate the good in ourselves and others.
If you need help at this time of year, contact Action Mental Health NI here .
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