January 21, 2022

Beating the January Blues (Naturally)

Brrr… Can you feel that? That’s right, BearFolk, the January Blues has crept into our lives, and it’s causing quite the chill. With the sparkle and socialising of Christmas over, this time of year can feel challenging. But it’s not all doom and gloom. We’ve listed some tips to help you make positive steps towards being your best self again.

 

 

What does January Blues mean?

 

This term is associated with feelings of depression and other mental health issues at the start of the year. The January blues are often linked to SAD (seasonal affective disorder), affecting up to three in 100 people in the UK at some point in their lives. This is where a particular season or time of year can affect your mental health more. In this case, it’s the colder, darker and damper months of January. There is even “Blue Monday” (the third Monday of this month) which is classed as the most “depressing” day of the year.

But there’s good news! That date is behind us, and we can find wonderfully natural and sustainable ways to improve our mental well-being and pull ourselves out of the slump.

It’s so important to be aware of our own mental health in the new year and take steps to improve it, so we’ve listed some simple ways both physically and mentally to help boost your mindset and start beating the January blues once and for all.

 

Get into Nature

 

Here at Absolutely Bear, we believe in the healing power of nature. Jumping into natural areas doesn’t always have to be a big step. Whether you’re based in a city or the countryside, there will always be green spaces to visit. Explore national walks, woodlands or even just your local park. We promise it will bring any low mood up. 

In this study, 94% of people agreed that green exercise activities had benefitted their mental health. So it’s clear as day. Nature is good for you, and there are so many ways for you to get involved:

- Bundle up in warm woollies and take a flask of your favourite hot drink to the park. If you need some inspiration for snug sweaters, you can check out our collection here.

- Bear hug a tree. Yes, we’re serious. It may feel a bit silly initially, but physically touching nature allows you to be more aware of it. This, in turn, boosts your mood and gives you those dopamine releases we’re looking for.

- Speaking of contact with nature, try some barefoot walking. “Grounding” has been proven to aid mental health. Find out why it’s so awesome through our latest article on the benefits of walking barefoot.

- Hike it out. Instead of watching Netflix on your Saturday off, get your walking boots on and your backpack packed (if it’s looking a bit worse for wear, perhaps it’s time for a new one). Starting your week with long walks and hikes allow you to escape from the world and reset your intentions. Think of it like stepping back from your life to see the bigger picture, and you’ll soon see that the bigger picture is pretty stunning.

- Eat your lunch outdoors. Yes, the weather may be colder, but having your lunch break sandwich in a green place can make all the difference. Plus, the cold can wake you up and keep you invigorated for the rest of the afternoon.

 

 

 

Breathe

 

“I do that all the time”, we hear you say. People know how to breathe; it’s the most natural function our bodies do. But what most don’t realise is that we don’t know how to breathe actively.

Being conscious of our breath and controlling it is an excellent way of putting your mind into your body. It helps take away from the worries of January and allows you to feel present.

Mindful breathing is when you focus on your breathing, how it feels, and the motions it goes through.

A great exercise is to breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds and breathe out with a “whooshing” sound for 8 seconds. Keeping your hands on your belly to feel the breaths will also help. This technique will help reduce stress, decrease tension and put you in the moment.

 

Set goals for your well-being

 

Have you ever made a New Year’s resolution and then not stuck to it? (Hello, disused gym membership card). Most of us have, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of. The reason? We don’t make SMART goals.

You may have already heard of this goal-setting technique, but in case you haven’t SMART means:

- Specific

- Measurable

- Achievable

- Realistic

- Timely

It is human nature to start trying to create ambitious objectives for our work, businesses or careers, but when have you sat down and made goals for your mental wellbeing.

Perhaps you want to get out in nature more or dedicate half an hour a day to self-care. Maybe you want to switch your phone off fifteen minutes earlier before bed so you can decompress properly.

Whatever it is, set a goal for you and your natural well-being. We promise it will be much easier to stick to.

 

 

Reward yourself

 

So you’ve made conscious steps to improve your mindset naturally. You’ve got to the end of the week, nailed a goal and are feeling quite proud of your journey. What now?

It’s time, fellow BearFolk, to reward yourself.

This may sound counterintuitive. Didn’t we just create goals that are for ourselves anyway? The point of goals, intentions and actions that benefit us is to keep doing them. It wouldn’t work if you just did it once now, would it?

So find ways of giving yourself the incentive to keep making these decisions.

Did you go on a long walk in the cold? Have your favourite coffee, tea or hot chocolate when you get back.

Have you taken 15 minutes a day to be more mindful? Treat yourself to a new notebook to write down your thoughts.

Did you leave the cosy office to eat lunch in the nearby park? Buy your favourite food just for the occasion.

Rewards can be more materialistic or more mindful. It could be buying a new beanie to get out and about (we’ve got you and your head covered in that respect), or it could be running that relaxing bath you always say you’re going to have.

Either way, take steps to reward yourself for every achievement.

 

PAWS FOR THOUGHT

 

With the pandemic still on our tail, things may seem bluer than usual right now. But if you take some of these steps to help your mental health, things will start to look up. Take time to talk to friends about how you are feeling. Remember, you are never alone.

If you feel overwhelmed or unable to make progress, it’s vital that you seek help. To find out how you can visit the NHS, where they have plenty of guidance and information for people suffering from mental health.

The Bear Necessities blog is a community for all, and we want to build a better future for our world and the people in it. If you’re looking for more tips on how to stay positive, take a look at some of our other articles below:

https://www.absolutelybear.com/blogs/news/8-ways-to-lift-your-mood-when-you-have-the-winter-blues

 

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