On the day that traditionally is the Monday in January when people feel more sad, I’m sharing my simple and effective ways to stop the Blues. Do you have the Blues this January? It’s not uncommon.
Some people call today Blue Monday but this year it seems it’s taking some of us longer to get over the January blues.
Why is that?
Christmas and all the festivities that come with it is over..
New Year has been celebrated and the Champagne corks have been tidied along with several trips to the bottle bank!!
You may still even be finding pine needles!
Normality (whatever that is!) has resumed!
It’s cold and dark and although we’ve had a dry winter, summer seems a long way off. Oh and then to top it all off your friendly postie arrives with some bills!
No more ‘happy” post filling our letter boxes but those hideous brown envelopes informing us we need to pay the bills.
Darn it – everything was happy and smiley and we forgot reality for a while. Yes this week is a week when many of us feel a bit blue!
‘No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world’
robin williams
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a recognised condition. It’s also known as Winter Depression, winter blues, summer depression, summer blues or seasonal depression.. a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms during the winter or summer…
So no, you are not going mad if you feel a bit blue this week..
Join in the conversation on Instagram or Facebook and link in with this weeks Mission to help combat those blues.
What’s your plan of attack this January..?
Are you feeling overwhelmed, not sure where to start?
Maybe you’ve had so many big ideas this New Year that this year was going to be different to last year and maybe the year before that, but it’s all fallen a bit flat?
If you’d like a helping hand with your Missions this year, I’d love to help. Visit my Instagram or join my free Facebook Group “Mission HQ” for this weeks Mission and where you can join the conversation.
‘Extraordinary things are always hiding in places people never think to look’
Jodi picoult
Here are my top tips to stop the Blues this January and help you feeling a little bit brighter again.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s OK to have a good cry or feel a bit rubbish sometimes, it’s how you deal with it that counts.
Talk to loved ones and good friends, it’s OK to be vulnerable and share how you are feeling.
Be kind to yourself, holistically. Self care goes a long way especially at this time of year.
My Free Consistency Checklist is a tool to help you keep track of your progress each day. Be consistent with your actions; stay hydrated, eat fresh foods and make sure you get plenty of sleep and you’ll be amazed with the difference it makes.
Get outside in the fresh air..
You might be reading this when there is possibly a howling gale going on outside and snow might even be forecast but wear the right clothes are you will feel better for it. Honest, even if it’s a quick trip around the block!
Get some Vitamin D in you!
We all know that vitamin D is essential for maintenance of teeth and bone health. It does this by supporting the incorporation of calcium and reducing the loss of calcium from the teeth and bone structure. But did you know that if your vitamin D levels are low, you can feel blue?
A way to boost your vitamin D and your immune system, especially in winter when there is not much sun around is to do so with a Vitamin D supplement. I love these ones.
Light Therapy.
Light helps relieve the blue feeling also, although there is not much light around at the moment. Something else you can try is an investment in a Dawn Alarm Clock..
There are lots on the market, with lots of different price tags! However, they have been proved to be very effective and an 85% better response than using bright light therapies.
They work by waking you up with a gradual brightening light – helping you feel alert and energised all day. The light cues your body to produce more cortisol, setting a sleep and wake cycle which aids early mornings and beating those winter blues.
* A study in 2012 showed that patents who used dawn alarm clock experienced improvement during the first week and increased results throughout several weeks.
Most studies have found the dawn alarm clocks most effective seasonally as opposed to all year round, until frequent natural light exposure is naturally obtained. i.e. the clocks go back and spring has sprung!
Avery D.
Interesting don’t you think?
Finally, if the blues don’t seem to be going away, please don’t be afraid of seeking professional help, You don’t have to deal with them on your own.
The moon and the sun this evening at The RingFeeder – a view that always makes me smile. The beautiful South Hams, Devon at it’s best.
Before I go, here’s a quick fix you can do right now, so stop what you’re doing and give these a try!
* Scribble a list of all the things that make you smile.. * Stick on a top tune and dance around the kitchen. Feel free to check out my playlists on Spotify * Look through a photo album of a fun summer holidays and plan another. * Release those feel-good endorphins!
Whatever your Mission this year, this January, be sure that by trying these quick little tips, will help do a little something to keep the Blues this January at bay. .
Escaping into a beautiful book – bliss.
If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you’ll know that my “go to” treat to cheer me up is a walk in the great outdoors, flowers, candles and of course hugs from my family too.. Guaranteed to make me smile every time and they are calorie free too 😉
I’d love top know what you are doing to stop the blues this January. Let me know in the comments.
Wishing you a very Happy Monday,
PS Remember you can find some free organisational tools that will help reduce overwhelm and help you feel more in control.
* (Avery, D. H.; Eder, D. N.; Bolte, M. A.; Hellekson, C. J.; Dunner, D. L.; Vitiello, M. V.; Prinz, P. N. (2001). “Dawn simulation and bright light in the treatment of SAD: A controlled study”.Biological psychiatry 50 (3): 205“216) (The Can-SAD Study: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effectiveness of Light Therapy and Fluoxetine in Patients with Winter Seasonal Affective Disorder”.American Journal of Psychiatry163 (5): 805“812.
** Woman on a Mission will occasionally contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase from an affiliate site, then I may make a very small commission from that purchase but this will not cost you anything additional at all. Any sponsored posts will be noted as such but as always I only include products that I truly love and I will always be 100% authentic.
It’s January 2022. How are you reflecting on the last 12 months? It’s certainly been a turbulent time – many highs and lows. The week between Christmas and New Year is often a time where we sit and reflect on the year. However for me, this is best done when the decorations are down, teens have gone back to school and there is a little space to breathe.
I’d love you to make time to sit and reflect in a cosy spot this week with a mug of something lovely and your favourite journal or notebook. I’ll be guiding you through a simple yet powerful way to reflect in order to feel empowered moving into this next year.
Firstly, before we delve in, I really want to share my gratitude to each and everyone of you who have subscribed and read my blog, followed along on my instagram and social channels. Every comment and message has been fabulous. I’m excited to be sharing more with you over the next year. I truly believe 2022 is going to been to remember don’t you?
“Life’s not about expecting, hoping and wishing, it’s about doing, being and becoming.”
There are two main questions I’d love you to consider whilst reading this post.
What is the biggest thing you have learned about yourself this year?
What will you be reflecting on this time next year?
Don’t worry; you won’t need to answer them right now!
Things are different today. Uncertain.
We have woken up every day for almost two years trying to digest the enormity of what is happening in the world around us..
We’ve baked, created, home schooled, worked out in the garden, worked from home, even finished jigsaws and so much more but have we actually taken the time to scribe and put on down paper how this decade has affected us to date?
If us grown-ups find it hard to comprehend, how do our children even begin to take it all in..?
I’ve always been a big fan of journaling – it helps free the mind, especially at the end of the year, as we start a brand new one. Taking the time to reflect, acknowledge what you’ve achieved and how you feel about everything is key. It’s often as we do this, we appreciate there are probably way more successes that you first imagined.
“Identify your problems but give your power and energy to solutions.”
tony robbins
I’m going to invite you to journal about last year…
Sounds scary – it’s not trust me. I’m sharing a format with you I’ve used for years with my coaching clients and also with my children. It’s simple but effective. Grab a comfy spot and let’s dig in!
WINS – what have been the highlights of your year
I wonder if you’ve taken time to celebrate each Win as it’s happened, without flying onto the next thing?
It’s easy to forget all that comes with a win, the lead up, the effort taken to get there.
At times a BIG win can be an anticlimax so it’s important to STOP and take a moment to celebrate! Write each win down and if you’ve not celebrate yet… take a moment to consider how you will acknowledge your achievements of last year, no matter how big or how small. A win is a win!
STRUGGLES – what been you been struggling with..
There have been so many struggles we’ve had to deal with individually and as a Nation over the last year. each one of us has a different experience. But you’re here, you got through it and are that much stronger because of it.
Use this time to journal your reflection on what exactly you struggled specifically with and with that in mind, what you might need to let go of this forthcoming year.
LESSONS – what have you learned from the wins and struggles..
Putting the Wins and Struggles together..
Often we can put emotion into an event or a time line but when able to reflect back this way, you’ll always be able to see there will be something you can take forward.
Looking back without emotion, we can see events clearer, enabling us to learn from any event or even a whole year.
“It is always important to know when something has reached its end. Closing circles, shutting doors, finishing chapters, it doesn’t matter what we call it; what matters is to leave in the past those moments in life that are over.”
paulo coelho
Wherever you decide to journal and document your review or thoughts about last year, make sure you’re warm, cosy and have a drink to hand xx
Remember those questions I asked you to consider whilst reading this post?
What is the biggest thing you have learned about yourself this year?
Finally, how can you plan to make this forthcoming day and year even better?
What will you be reflecting on this time next year?
I love this quote from Judy Garland and think it would be wonderful if we all lived by it, don’t you?
“Well, we have a whole new year ahead of us. And wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all be a little more gentle with each other, a little more loving, and have a little more empathy, and maybe, next year at this time we’d like each other a little more.”
judy garland
Let me know how you get on with the Reflection. You may even want to do this with your family and friends.
Please share this post with anyone you think would love it too..
From your monthly household bills to your weekly shop, every click makes all the difference.
Exciting news! You can help me raise valuable funds for DKMS whilst you shop! It’s true – whenever you buy anything online, whether it be your weekly shop to your annual holiday, you could be raising free funds for DKMS_UK with easyfundraising.
There are over 6,000 shops and websites on board ready to make a donation – including eBay, Argos, John Lewis, ASOS, booking.com and M&S – and it won’t cost you a penny to help me raise extra funds for DKMS_UK, the blood cancer charity. .
Every time you shop online, go to easyfundraising first find the site you want and start shopping.
After you’ve checked out, the retailer will make a donation to DKMS and #Mission50forDKMS at no extra cost to you whatsoever!
There are no catches or hidden charges and I alongside, DKMS will be really grateful for your donations.
You can visit the easyfundraising site before you shop, but better still, please add the donations reminder to your browser so that you don’t need to remember. It makes the world of difference.
The best part is that you don’t need to check if the donations are available on any given website as the donations reminder automatically alerts you.
Every donation helps, no matter how big or small and goes directly to DKMS.
If you can, please share my pledge and this page far and wide, and let’s see what we can do to help DKMS_UK find the lifesavers that are needed to save lives.
Like anything in life, feeling prepared, with the right mindset is half the battle
Exam season is looming, especially for those taking A level and GCSE mock exams. A stressful time for students and parents alike, especially during a pandemic when school life over the last 20 months has been so disjointed.. It really hasn’t been easy for parents and teachers as we try to help them navigate this time in their lives,
Many students feel the pressure really is on to hit those grades. In this blog, I’m sharing a guide to help you make a plan, ensuring the students in your home feel prepared and balanced as much as they can be.
Enjoy the big outdoors, have a break from the book and get some fresh air, even if it’s only for 20 minutes.
Did you know that your diet and lifestyle can affect exam performance?
I believe the right nutrition and exercise plan can energise your mind and body to get you through revision time and sharpen your memory, improve concentration and boost confidence. However, the wrong dietary and lifestyle choices can potentially put you at a disadvantage.
Time to relax with a good novel is always a good idea.
Diet will have a huge effect on your body and mind, choose the wrong meals and you can become sluggish and tired, but if you give your brain the right fuel, you will be able to think quicker, have a better memory and have improved concentration.
The key to boosting your energy and keeping your concentration levels up are nutritious foods, water and oxygen.
Here are my top tips for success during exam season:
Stay Away From Caffeine
Drinking energy drinks like Red Bull or high amounts of tea and coffee will give you a short burst of energy but will burn out and give you a sugar crash.
Try not to rely on the caffeine fix to get you through the regions and exams. Switch to a warming hot chocolate instead!
Keep Your Body Hydrated
Herbal drinks and water hydrate your brain and encourages it to function at an optimum level, delivering nutrients to the brain and eliminating toxins.
Being hydrating is essential for concentration, clarity of thinking and mental alertness.
Avoid Snacking On Junk Food and Ordering Takeaways
A lot of students can fall prey to this mistake because they are so busy revising they run out of time to buy and prepare food in advance, unlersas of course they are living at home!
Many students tend to study in their rooms, however if you are able to separate the study zone and the relaxing and sleep zone, the quality of the nights sleep is vastly improved.
Exercise
Often when we feel stressed or overwhelmed, we feel we just don’t have the time to exercise. Having worked with clients, who felt the same for almost a decade, they all felt a huge benefit for taking some time out of their busy lives to get some training in. What’s more, they felt more productive too with improved memory! Win!
Exercise can help boost energy levels, clear the mind and relieve stress. Just 20 minutes of fresh air and exercise a day will boost your mood and concentration too.
A walk around the block can really make the world of difference – to all of us; parents and students alike. A walk and talk is always a good idea!
Breathe..
I can totally appreciate that this time of our Teens lives can feel like it’s THE most stressful time for them. The last 20 months of extremely disturbed schooling due to the pandeamic, has been stressful for everyone..
Go easy…
That’s both parents and students!
Exam stress can be shown in many different emotions and behaviours.
Take time to talk; share how you are feeling… talking, tears and sharing emotions, nerves, worry, make all the difference. Please don’t keep the worry to yourself students!
Good luck and try not to stress too much. It will be OK…
I really hope this guide helps you and your students alike to navigate the exam season.
This blog is all about you! Let’s explore how to make your dreams come true by answering some simple questions.
Let’s discover what’s holding you back and how you can make that first move to unlocking the life you want.
If not now, then when? Grab a cuppa, your journal and a comfy spot – let’s go in!
If you were to write a list right now about what you would like your life to look like, what would be on it?
Take 5 minutes (or as long as you wish) to write down in your journal or notebook, everything you’d LOVE to be doing.
Don’t over think it.
Consider it almost like a wish list. You don’t need to think how it will happen, just simply what you would like your life to look like..
Sounds simple doesn’t it?
‘Rather than stifling enterprise, the pandemic has led to entrepreneurs creating new businesses in response to the crisis’
Dylan Jones-Evans, Business Live
These last 20 months have thrown our worlds upside down and inside out. The way we live, work and travel have all changed.
Face to face interviews for jobs became a 10 minute video submission to the panel sharing what you could bring to the company.
We worked from home, our childrens classrooms became the dining room table and we spent more time than ever online, connecting, communicating and evolving.
More than ever, we have become a world where we have had to adapt and craete a new way of living.
For many people I’ve had spoken to, it has bought a conversation of what has worked well for them during these strange times.
People have shared with me that they’ve felt that working from home has been better for them as the commuting times are non existant, therefore improving their quality of life. For some, it’s given them the nudge they needed to create their dream business or structure their home life balance a little better.
With this in mind what’s on your wishlist?
Maybe you’d like to start your own business.
Adopt.
Move the the country.
Write a book.
Overcome your biggest fear.
Find your body confidence..
Renovate a room in your home or maybe build your own home.
Whatever made your wish list, NOW is the time.
ASK YOURSELF: What’s holding you back from making your dreams a reality?
You may already know.
Perhaps you are thinking “nothing is holding me back” but don’t have exact clarity on where to start.
That’s OK.
Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon.
Imagine..
Imagine the thermometer in your home.
Set it to 21 degrees, guess what? Your home becomes a gorgeous 21 degrees – no more, no less.
Imagine if you set your personal thermometer to HIGH. You removed all the worry, self limiting beliefs and behaved that your wish had already become true.
What would you be doing?
What would your day look like?
What would you be wearing, feeling, saying?
Once you know the answers to these simple questions, you can start to make your dreams become true.
Really knowing what you’d like your life to look like and actually visualise, right down to the nitty gritty, what it would look like, that’s when the magic starts to happen1
Be bold, be brave and go for it!
”Happiness Is Not Something Readymade. It Comes From Your Own Actions.”
Dalai lama
More than anything, these last couple of years have taught us that nothing is certain and whilst that can be really scary. In some form it’s exciting..
Now really is the time to go for it.. make that jump, live that dream, because if not now – when?
It’s OK to make YOU a priority and create the live you wish to have.
I’d love to know how your attitudes and passions have changed. Please do join me on Instagram, where the conversation continues, with inspirational weekly mini missions which help you make life changes so your dreams come true.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s OK to have a good cry or feel a bit rubbish sometimes, it’s how you deal with it that counts. 
