Blue Mondays: How to Feel Light and Bright on the ‘Most Depressing Work Day of the Year’
Feeling low? We’ve got just the thing!
Introduction
What is Blue Monday?
Are you feeling particularly down today? Do you feel like you just had a fun holiday season filled with food, family and friends and now you’re wondering how long it’ll be until you get that again? We know the feeling.
January 20th, 2020 is the third Monday of the decade, which is also known as Blue Monday. But what is that exactly?
Blue Monday is the longest day of winter, or at least close to it. Because of that and other reasons, many call it the most depressing day of the year. This made up day (invented by a travel company) was calculated by considering factors such as weather conditions, debt levels, personal motivation, stress levels, and how long it will be until your next break. Even if it may have been a marketing gimmick, we get the sentiment behind these Blue Monday feelings and want to help you combat them! We know it’s hard, but don’t worry, you’re not alone in this.
Here is our custom starter pack with tips and tricks to help you get through this day and week in the best possible way. Try them out and let us know what you think :)
1. Smile at a coworker (even that one that kind of annoys you!)
Incorporate something new in your routine today. Stepping out of your comfort zone is important especially when days like this makes you feel like you’re stuck in a monotonous routine.
You might have a habit of walking straight to your desk and getting straight to work. Or the interactions you have with your coworkers may be limited to work conversations during meetings or just a quick polite hello.
Let’s try extending that to a full conversation. Find out what they have planned for the week or the weekend, if they have any pets, or what they like to do for fun outside of the office!
Even better, check in to see how their Blue Monday has been — you might just have a buddy to help you get through the day.
2. Take a walk outside
When was the last time you took a walk outside — with no real agenda?
Maybe try it out today or this week with a friend, a new song, or a new walking path. Maybe take a walk to a nearby ice cream shop and treat yourself to a new flavor if that helps motivate you.
You can also try this walk with a different challenge: perhaps you can aim to smile at 10 people, notice artwork or nature around you, or pet some cute dogs. Taking a physical and mental break from work can recharge your energy and get your spirits up.
If it’s too cold …
On that note, sometimes a walk outside may not be ideal.. especially if it’s 15 degrees and you can’t see anything but your reflection on the window with a blizzard in the background. Maybe you just can’t take that much time away from your desk today.
Instead, try taking out a couple of minutes to stretch or meditate at your workspace. We also highly recommend aromatherapy to complement this time. Taking regular breaks can actually help you get more done and be more productive during the day.
If you need some ideas on how to incorporate stretching and aromatherapy in your daily work life, here are some Mondays Goods to help you get there.
3. Treat yourself to a little mid-day snack
We’re all about healthy snacks at work, but sometimes it’s okay to treat yourself a little. Go for that one snack you’ve been saving for your cheat day, or one that makes you feel all happy and warm inside. Some studies actually show that dark chocolate helps cognitive function and increases blood flow to your brain!
4. Listen to a happy song
Need recommendations?
We’ve got a few that have helped us before:
- Walking on Sunshine — by Katrina and the Waves
- Tightrope — Janelle Monae ft. Big Boi
- I Got You (I Feel Good) — James Brown
- Uptown Funk — Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
- Happy — Pharrell Williams
Check out our Blue Monday inspired playlist too!
5. Call a friend
No matter how down you may be feeling, the most important thing to remember is that you’re not alone in this EVER.
There is always someone you can talk to, either specifically about what you’re going through or just to help you get your mind off something. This is also the perfect excuse to catch up with that friend you’ve been meaning to call for a while. Make their day a little better by making yours a little better too!
Although these ideas are Blue Monday themed — feel free to practice any of these on regular days as well and share them with friends and family who could use a little pick-me-up! :)
We hope this helped you out in some way, and Happy Monday!
Warmly,
Team Mondays
