Got the Blue Monday blues?
By Chris Devonshire | 9th January 2022
Managing your mental health this Blue Monday and beyond.
Taking care of your mental health is important. Blue Monday is almost here. We’ve got a few ideas and small changes that you might want to try out.
Are you dining out on the memories of merriment and mulled wine? We hear you.
Welcome to January, a spectacularly anti-climactic month with long nights, empty-ish bank accounts and no bank holidays in sight.
Perhaps that’s why January plays host to Blue Monday – reportedly the saddest day of the year. Monday, the 17th to be precise.
For those of you reading this from the Southern Hemisphere, you can stop reading now. You go and enjoy your sunshine, beaches and warm weather as you ease into 2022 caressing your cold brew. We’re not jealous, really.
Managing your mental health
For the rest of us, it can be a decidedly challenging month in many ways. As a result, it’s important to take care of your mental health. Here are a few ideas from our technology recruiters on how they manage their mental health.
Create 1 habit
Instead of a New Years’ resolution, I aim to create 1 small habit that will have a positive impact on my physical or mental health and wellbeing. This year, I’ve changed up my morning routine to include a daily walk. I get up and get out. It’s a super quiet time in my neighbourhood and I get to enjoy it. I’m plugged into Spotify and clear my head. Sometimes I even break into a light run. I call it wunning. One week in, and I’m going strong. I’ve already noticed a positive change to my productivity and mood.
Light it up
A few years ago, I invested in a sun lamp, and it is a game-changer. It’s an ‘alarm clock’ (without the mad ringing) that mimics a natural sunrise, positively impacting how you feel when you wake up. It’s got something to do with melatonin and your sleep-wake cycle. I can’t remember the science, but I haven’t looked back. My mood has been positively impacted from the minute I open my eyes naturally, to what feels like a sunny day.
Gratitude over grumpy
You ever get those days where you wonder why you got out of bed? We’ve all been there and it’s easy for things to get on top if you. My goal is to turn that funk into fantastic. Therefore, I’ve started to write a gratitude journal. Each day I write down positive things that I’m grateful for. Big or small. The theory is that it has the potential to reduce stress, improve sleep and give me a better sense of empathy for people around me. Here’s hoping.
Breathe…
Stress and anxiety can be debilitating. I’m fortunate to have an amazing network of family and friends around me but some people don’t have that luxury. One of my top tips when you’re feeling anxious is to change your breathing pattern. There are quite a few apps out there to master different techniques for different situations. Just starting the day with five deep breaths before I look at my phone or even get out of bed, really balances me out and I feel ultra-calm.
Mediation
For me, I love the benefits of regular meditation. It might feel a bit unusual if you haven’t tried it before. Like number 1 on this list, perhaps trying mediation could be your new positive habit that you create. You’ll soon feel the advantages, just keep persevering. Mediation has been proven to improve focus and concentration, self-awareness and self-esteem and lower your levels of stress and anxiety. Good luck!
Mind the gap
Positive mental wellbeing is not just for the good times.
It’s easy to relegate mental health on your priority list when you’re under pressure. Often, asking for help can be intimidating.
There are some incredible resources out there that provide invaluable coping techniques to help you from falling into the gap.
- Here’s a list of some of the top-rated mental health apps for 2022.
- Alternatively, reach out to Mind or the Mental Health Foundation to get the support you need for your mental wellbeing.
Be kind to yourself and make sure you take the time that you deserve, to unwind and relax.
Not overly thrilled to be back?
If one of the positive changes you want to make is to your career, we’ve got you.
Businesses are back with a bang this New Year and are on a hiring frenzy. As a result, you have more career options. Seeing what’s out there doesn’t hurt. Here’s a look at the latest technology jobs on offer to make an informed decision about your next career steps.
If you just fancy a chat, drop us an email or call us to speak to our data, infrastructure, cloud and technology recruiters to throw around a few ideas, together.
You’ve got this!
Your DH team