As much as I don’t like the fact that there is even a day called Blue Monday…probably making us feel blue when maybe we wouldn’t have been – it’s a thing, and because it’s a thing I’m not going to let it get the better of me, and neither should you!

So what is Blue Monday?

Well let’s start with this fun fact. Blue Monday is not based in science. In fact it was created but a savvy holiday company who probably wanted to generate some sales of sun kissed holidays at the time who had had enough of Winter (like me and you). Think the weather conditions (generally crap in January) and debt levels (also very crap at this time of year). Anyhoo, that was 2005, and we have been apparently licking our wounds on Blue Monday ever since.

So how can we kick Blue Monday to the curb?

I’ve teamed up with Nature’s Best, to share my top tips on doing just that;

Get outside

I know, the weather might be rubbish but at this time of year we need natural light more than ever. Getting out into natural light helps to boost our levels of serotonin, which is the happy hormone. So yes, brave the elements and get outside, if only for ten minutes at the very least. Blow those cobwebs off and breathe in some fresh air. I promise you will feel all the better for it.

Do some exercise

We all know it’s a massive feat actually getting our heads into the space where we actually want to DO any exercise and we all have a million and one reasons not to exercise today, but the exercise effect is well documented. Exercise is a brilliant way of boosting your mood and improving your state of mind. You don’t have to go to the gym. You don’t even have to leave your house. And it doesn’t even have to be for long. There are so many great ten minute work outs on YouTube  that you really have no excuse and will feel amazeballs afterwards. You can also check out these home exercises for busy mums and if you’ve got a little sprog hanging off your leg then these workouts for mums and kids should do the trick too.

Get your vits in

I have a special shelf in the cupboard that is rammed full of vitamins, but today on Blue Monday there will be others which will be taking pride of place for their ability to help battle the blues. Seek out your fish oils, B-complex and vitamin D supplements – all of which are championed as being great for our mental wellbeing.

Do a gratitude practice

I challenge you to close your eyes for just one minute and think of three things that you feel grateful for and feel miserable afterwards. It’s just not possible! A gratitude practice is your instant ticket to your happy place. If you have no idea how to practice gratitude have a read of this.

Fake it til you make it – aka smile

OK, you might be feeling miserable, but hurrah! You can fool yourself into feeling happy even if you’re as miserable as a Bandicoot. Smiling triggers a reduction in stress-enhancing hormones and increases the production of mood-enhancing hormones. So it’s an effective way of feeling happy in nanoseconds.

Do something good for someone

It’s official – kindness makes you happy and giving to people makes us happy, happier than giving to ourselves! So go on, make someone’s day with an act of kindness.

How do you plan to shake off Blue Monday blues today? Do share in a comment below.

*This is a collaborative post