Five Ways to Boost Your Mood and Beat the January Blues

More than one quarter of people in Britain suffer from the ‘January blues’ and admit to feeling more miserable this month than they do any other.

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that January is by far the worst month of the year. The magic of Christmas is over, your bank balance is at an all-time low – and as if that wasn’t bad enough, it’s cold, dark and miserable outside.

During this period, it’s important for individuals to acknowledge the difficulties they may be facing and to recognise when they are suffering from the ‘January blues’. Common signs could include; difficulty concentrating, interrupted sleep, breathlessness, irritability or low energy. It can also sometimes show itself through sickness, like a cold or flu that you can’t seem to shift.

Most of the time, the January blues are just that – January blues – and you’ll find that your mood readjusts within the first couple of weeks of the month as your routine becomes re-established. But for those struggling to bounce back, here are a few top tips to help boost your mood and beat those January blues.

1) Get Moving – When you’re running low on energy, probably the last thing you want to do is venture out into the cold, but a healthy dose of morning exercise can release a welcome burst of feelgood endorphins. Whether it’s a brisk walk around the block, or a light jog, getting outside in the fresh air not only clears the airways, but a daily dose of Vitamin D supports the body’s natural mood regulating system.

2) Give Yourself a Health Boost – Christmas is always a time of overindulgence and all that food can leave you feeling lethargic and low on energy. We’re not talking about extreme “fad” dieting – which rarely works – but a committed change in your everyday diet to include more fruit, veg and healthier options will help with mood and energy, and can also help you avoid a plethora of winter illnesses.

3) Prioritise sleep – Sleep is our body’s natural healing process and it’s a powerful tool to help improve our wellbeing, both physically and mentally. However, when we’re stressed, achieving a good night’s sleep can feel unachievable. Consistent bedtime routines, a calming bedroom environment or even taking a valerian root-based sleep aid, can help you drift off without feeling drowsy the next day.

4) Practice Mindfulness – It can be easy to rush through life without stopping to notice much. Paying more attention to the present moment – to your own thoughts and feelings, and to the world around you – can improve your mental wellbeing. Some people call this awareness “mindfulness”. For more information and tips on how to be more mindful, visit the NHS website.

5) Manage Stress – Whether its uncertainty about our health, future, or finances, it’s important to recognise what is causing you to feel stressed this January, as well as solutions and strategies to help manage it. Herbal remedies have been used to treat stress and improve wellbeing for many years. Valerian Root, has been found to relieve irritability, anxiety and the stresses of everyday life.

Based on its long-standing use as a traditional herbal remedy, Kalms Night One a Night is used to relieve sleeplessness, while Kalms Day helps to relieve stress. Both products contain Valerian Root.