Today is considered Blue Monday so if you’re feeling down there may be a reason for it.
The third Monday in January can feel like a let- down because the festive season is over and we are in the throes of winter and dealing with regular blues on a Monday.
Winter can feel so long, cold and dark. Many people’s mental health has suffered due to the pandemic.
But all of this is not because this day has been labeled Blue Monday.
The day is more closely linked to a marketing campaign than anything scientific that would be a reason to feel down on this particular Monday.
The name was coined by psychologist and lifecoach Cliff Arnall who was a tutor at the Centre for Lifelong Learning at the time, who hypothesised that Blue Monday is the saddest day of the year. This was first published in Sky Travel on January 24, 2005. The British based company closed in 2010.
The day was initially introduced as a promotional tool to encourage people to book holidays.
So there you go.
There’s no real reason for this to be a Blue Monday, but if you’re feeling blue for the reasons mentioned above or other reasons, there is something you can do about it holistically.
How to Combat Blue Monday Holistically
This time of year is a good time to take stock of where you are and any changes you want to make for the year. Sometimes we feel depressed because we are dealing with the same old thing and want to shake up our lives a bit.
Or maybe you’ve missed seeing friends and family or doing certain activities due to the pandemic.
If you’ve made resolutions, how are those going?
Perhaps you’re looking at making changes to your job or career, relationships, health and fitness, recreation or spirituality.
Get out in nature and go for walks with a friend or group. The exercise and company will help boost serotonin levels.
Maybe you just want to have some fun!
Start a new activity, join a cooking class, listen to some favorite tunes or plan a trip you can take.
When we have something to look forward to, it often lifts our moods considerably.
Lift Your Mood
Natural remedies like the Bach flower remedies and essential oils can also help lift your mood.
Rescue Remedy is the most popular Bach flower remedy that is often used for trauma but can also help lift the mood. It is an all natural stress reliever that helps provide better emotional balance and relief from anxiety.
Orange essential oil is a wonderful mood lifter while lemon will awaken you.
Frankincense essential oil is good for emotional – being as it helps relieve stress and anxiety. It’s warm and slightly spicy scent is believed to send messages to the brain’s limbic system which affects the nervous system.
Ylang Ylang essential oil is a sweetly aromatic popular floral perfume which can help curb negative thoughts and stress. The popular perfume can be dabbed on trigger points of the wrist, neck, feet and behind the ears to improve mood and reduce irritability.
Sandalwood is a warm, woodsy scented essential oil that can help improve mental clarity and focus along with balancing emotions for a natural lift in mood. With a carrier oil, rub sandalwood onto your palms and inhale deeply.
Essential oils can be massaged onto the skin, used in baths, inhaled, sprayed into a room or used in a diffuser.
Whatever you do to deal with it, it’s important to take action so you won’t be feeling a blue Monday any longer.
Looking for more ways to deal with the blues naturally? Sign up for the Herbal Collective and get a free magazine sample
