Blue Monday: How We Navigate Wondrous January

A new year can be exciting for some, daunting for others and a mixed bunch of all kinds of emotions for many. January is a whole melting pot of doubts, aspirations, joggers and reflection.

We asked all our lovely staff to share their January experiences and how they deal with the obstacles that come with a new year.

Cal – January can feel unusually heavier than other months, but I have used it as a fresh start to re-align with my aspirations for the year ahead. I am doing new things, keeping fit and setting affirmations which has all helped me hit the ground running. 

Lewys – I have set myself some challenges for the new year and feel optimistic about these. I also scheduled in to re-connect with old friends which always helps keep my spirits high.  

Farwa – My birthday is in January, so I always have something to look forward to. This always takes the edge off what can sometimes feel like a slow month. 

Olivia – Although it was so nice to catch-up with university friends, I have felt drained of energy and motivation. However, I have been able to turn this around by sleeping earlier and trying a new hobby! I finally tried rock climbing for the first time and although I was nervous, I really enjoyed it and would recommend trying new things to kick January into the shape you need it to be. 

Ciara – I find January an alright time of the year. I do feel a bit deflated having just left home after a nice break and getting back into my regular routine. I always take full advantage of January’s discounts at restaurants, a good excuse to try nice food.

Alice – January was a bit of a rough start. I was so busy with the lead up to it that it felt like a bit of shock crossing the NYE line. I feel like there’s a lot of pressure around re-focusing and reassessing your lifestyle from the get go of the year. I realised that I hadn’t done that in a while, so it felt like a monstrous task and onset a lot of anxiety. This year, I used the start of the year to just stop and relax when I could. I fought the urge of forcing myself to get stuck in straight away and its honesty made me feel so much better! Take your time and don’t feel pressured by the other flows around you!

Jo – I always feel pretty exhausted in January, and the Christmas holidays never quite do the job of making me feel re-charged as I hope they will. It’s a dark and rainy month. I do love that January is all about new beginnings and fresh-starts, but that comes with the pressure of new healthy habits and feeling like you need to make positive change. As though last year was never good enough. For me, the best way to take on January isn’t to set myself challenging goals, but to focus on doing kind and enjoyable things for myself. The only New Years resolutions I’ve ever kept are ones that bring enjoyment. 

Jemma – I navigate it by reminding myself that Jan is a whole month not to be written off, but to be used well and try to remember to be grateful to have the chance to be here.

If you or anyone you know is in need of urgent mental support or help, please check our blog post with plenty of resources.