With lockdown measures enforced across the UK, it’s important to stay mindful to beat the January blues. It doesn’t take much to be positive, and with Blue Monday only just behind us, we’re on hand to guide you! Here are just five ways to help you remain upbeat:
Separating fact from fiction
To beat the January blues, you will first need to halt negative perceptions by separating what is fact from what you think is true. Try writing down what you are currently thinking – this not only slows down your thought processes, but also lets you evaluate them. If you find yourself writing that something always or never happens, you may find these thoughts are more severe than necessary. If what you have written no longer appears true when reading back, try re-evaluating your mindset.
Focus on the positive to beat the January blues
Once you separate the negativity from everything else, you can focus on the positive. Are you looking forward to time with your partner? Or maybe you want to get back to that book, TV series or game you have been enjoying? Maybe the bad thing makes you grateful for something positive? No matter if it’s short or long term, make sure there is something positive to focus on when the going gets tough.
Hearing and listening
Focusing on your senses are an excellent way of removing judgement to beat the January blues, such as with mindful listening. If you’re one your own, you can listen to a piece of music you have never heard before, removing any preconceptions and focusing on the sound throughout the track. This lets you become enveloped in the journey without thought, freeing up how you feel. Alternatively, if you are with someone, you can listen to the other person’s voice and vice-versa to vocalise your concerns.
Mindful breathing
A wonderful way to beat the January blues is with mindful breathing, as shown by #CoreClients Claire Whitehouse, spa manager at Macdonald Hotels & Resorts on Instagram. Through focusing on breathing in and out, you concentrate on the here and now, reducing stress and anxiety for the future. Anyone can do this at home, so simply find a comfortable spot, inhale, pause, exhale and focus on how your breathing effects your body. You should find yourself naturally more relaxed by the end of your time.
Observation
Another mindful exercise to beat the January blues is to focus on the environment around you. Pick an object nearby and observe it for a while. Look at the object as if you are seeing it for the first time, allowing yourself to examine its shape, colour and motion, particularly if it’s something natural. Doing this for a couple of minutes lets you focus on something and appreciate its purpose, calming the mind.
Why not check out how else you can maintain a positive mental wellbeing on our blog? We also have five other ways of remaining positive specifically throughout lockdown. We hope this guidance helps to keep calm and positive over the weeks to come. We will be continuing to share #PremierPositivity on our social media channels, so don’t forget to follow us to ensure you remain on top of the New Year and to beat the January blues!