Staying cheery during the winter months

By Joe Cooper

In case you missed it, yesterday was officially the most depressing day of the year. The aptly named ‘Blue Monday’ falls on the third Monday of the year, perfectly encapsulating the dreary January malaise with the country back at work and returning to normality after the Christmas and New Year downtime.  

The history of Blue Monday is relatively short but has risen to prominence in recent years through tapping into a very real feeling for many of us during the dark winter months. The term itself was initially coined by psychologist Dr Cliff Arnall in the early 2000s as a way of helping travel companies to sell holidays to the public, using variables including: weather, debt, monthly salary, time since Christmas, and low motivation levels.  

Though Dr Arnall has since apologised for what he sees as his role in making January a bit more miserable for everyone, there is no doubt that for many this is an incredibly difficult time of year.  

Speaking to the team here at SEC Newgate, we’ve compiled a helpful list of ways in which you can make your January that bit easier:  

1. Start planning your holidays now: Nothing gets you through the cold and difficult days and weeks quite like having a sunny holiday to look forward to. With this being the internet age, there have been dozens of TikToks and Instagram reels advising on how to maximise your annual leave for the year, a trend that Which? has also jumped on. 48 days off for just 19 days of leave. Lovely.  
2. Take in some local culture: With January also being the month that many choose to engage in a period of sobriety, what better way to spend your weekends than by going and taking in some local culture, visiting museums, landmarks, seeing your favourite band and watching a play. For those in London, Londonist is your best friend for all things happening in the capital.  
3. Get yourself organised: What better way to start the year than by doing some life admin – ticking off those little tasks that you’ve been putting off for months. Renew that passport, sort out your pension, start a savings plan, try journalling, do that spring (or winter) clean. The world is your oyster.  
4. Take up a new hobby: Occupy your time by taking up new interests such as learning a new language, playing a new sport, learning to bake, joining a political party or trade union. I went bowling last week for the first time in years and had a great time. Do something new this month and you won’t regret it.  
5. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself: With many using the new year to take up New Year’s Resolutions, there can be a temptation to put pressure on yourself to act to change certain parts of your  behaviour or personality. It’s a difficult time for everyone - do what feels right for you, and have lots of patience with yourself.