More than two million people in the UK suffer from the ‘January blues’ and admit to feeling more miserable this month than 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 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 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.
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 feel-good endorphins. Whether it’s a brisk walk around the block, or a light jog, getting outside in the fresh air clears the airways, but a daily dose of Vitamin D supports the body’s natural mood-regulating system.
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.
Prioritise sleep
Sleep is our body’s natural healing process, and it’s a powerful tool to help improve our well-being, 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, such as Kalms Night One-A-Night, can help you drift off without feeling drowsy the next day.
Practice kalmfulness
It can be easy to rush through life without stopping to notice much. Paying more attention to the present moment – your thoughts and feelings and the world around you – can improve your mental well-being. Research[i] shows that kalmfulness has extensive benefits for both mind and body and can be easily achieved through everyday practices such as being present, practising gratitude and spreading kindness.
Manage stress
Whether it’s uncertainty about our health, future, or finances, it’s important to recognise what is causing you to feel stressed, as well as solutions and strategies to help manage it. Herbal remedies have been used to treat stress and improve well-being for many years.
Valerian Root, found in Kalms Day tablets, has been found to relieve irritability, anxiety, and the stresses of everyday life.
Kalms Night One-A-Night is a traditional herbal remedy that promotes a refreshing and restful night’s sleep. Thanks to its valerian root extract, Kalms Night One-A-Night helps to induce calmness and relaxation without causing drowsiness the next day.
Kalms Day is a traditional herbal medicinal product used to temporarily relieve symptoms associated with stress, such as mild anxiety and irritability, exclusively based on long-standing use as a traditional herbal remedy.
