Combat Blue Monday this January

January has so many positive parts to it. There’s the likes of a Veganuary, Dry January and people starting all sorts of new ventures with the hope and intention of creating healthy habits and kicking the year off in a positive way.

However, January is also home to Blue Monday, supposedly the saddest day of the year. But why is there such a slump on this particular day of the year and how can you combat this dull day?

What is Blue Monday?

It’s easy to see why this day is known for its negative connotations; the dark nights are still here, the festive period is officially over and most of us will be fully back into the swing of things with work.

But this concept was first coined by travel company, Sky Travel, in 2005 after they claimed to have calculated which day of the year is ‘the most depressing day of the year’. Although it was just a marketing scheme, over the years it has encouraged many of us to seek out the positives in life, on what’s considered the saddest day of the year.

Get some dates in the diary

Having something to look forward to can help boost your mood and energise you. It can give you something to focus on, helping you to power through any bad days.

Plus, being booked and busy doesn’t have to be a spa weekend or a two week getaway either. Making small plans with family and friends like going to the cinema, going for a hike or exploring a new area of your town or city.

These plans don’t have to be with anyone else either, setting dates to spend time with yourself and doing the things you enjoy is a great way to boost your mood.

Tidy room equals a tidy mind?

Having a cluttered space can impact the way you feel and could be causing you to feel more stressed, anxious and a lack of control over your life.

According to Oxford CBT, the combination of the physical activity of cleaning your home and experiencing the results of having a clean living space can help reduce stress, feelings of anxiety and depressive symptoms.

By decluttering your space and organising your home, you may be able to shift your mindset into a more positive space and as a result, feel more in control over your mood and your life in general.

Heard of a SAD lamp?

The reason why a lot of people’s moods take a dip in the winter months may be because of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) otherwise known as ‘winter depression’. This is a type of depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern. Some of the symptoms can include:

• Persistent low mood
• Loss of pleasure or interest in normal everyday activities
• Sleeping for longer than normal and finding it difficult to get up in the morning
• Difficulty concentrating
  
  

One method that could help with SAD is the use of a light box or lamp. These handy gadgets mimic outdoor light and it’s thought that this type of light may cause a chemical change in your brain, lifting your mood and easing the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder. Having one of these lights could mean that even in the depths of winter, you can feel the benefits of the outdoor light.

How can your life insurance policy help?

If you’re feeling more than blue this Monday and need access to mental health support, then your life insurance policy may be able to help.

Many of the UK’s leading life insurance providers now offer free life insurance benefits included with your policy.* These extra benefits can range all the way from 24/7 GP access, free therapy sessions, free mental health support, access to healthcare apps and so much more. Plus, this support often extends out to your loved ones too, including your children.

In the current climate, it has never felt more important to have quick access to free healthcare. An astounding 1.2 million people are now waiting for community mental health care in the UK and unfortunately these figures are unlikely to show the full picture as these numbers will not include those waiting for inpatient care and other services.

Being able to use your free life insurance benefits to get an appointment with a UK-based GP in a matter of hours or access mental health support faster could make all the difference for you and your loved ones.

How to find out if you have access to benefits

Not sure whether or not you have access to free extra benefits? Don’t worry, we can help! You can either check your policy documents (whether this is a letter or email) or you can get in touch with us.

Either give us a call on 0161 241 6146 or drop us an email and our customer care team will be more than happy to help. If you’re still without cover, then click the button below to get started with your free quote today.

If you’re feeling more than blue

If you’re suffering with your mental health and need immediate support then please text SHOUT to 85258 anytime, whether it’s day or night. Here are some other contacts where you can find help, if and when you need it:

• Mind is a mental health charity dedicated to offering advice and support to those suffering with their mental health. They campaign to raise awareness, improve services and promote understanding, their number is 0300 123 3393.
• Calm stands for Campaign Against Living Miserably and the charity offers advice, a webchat service
  and information to anyone who is struggling with their mental health, you can contact them on 0800 58 58 58.
• Samaritans services have been around for 65 years and over 22,000 people now volunteer for them. Their service is available 24/7, 365 days a year. You can contact them on 116 123.
• Switchboard is a helpline specifically designed for all things LGBT+. Whether you’re struggling with your own sexuality or gender identity; or if you have friends and family seeking advice and guidance for those around them, their helpline is open from 10am-10pm everyday and aims to leave those who call feeling like they have the answers they need. Get in touch with them on 0300 330 0630.

*Free benefits are not contractual and may be changed or withdrawn in future.