OVERCOME THE JANUARY BLUES

The start of the year and the end of Christmas fun can bring a lull in positivity – here’s Emma’s advice on how to stay cheery

Every January I’m told about weight that wasn’t lost, relationships that never improved and dreams that weren’t realised. Couple that with the return to work, gloomy weather and a depleted bank account, and people inevitably feel down. Turn your low mood into motivation for change. First, explore the genuine reasons behind your unhappiness. What is at the root of your low mood? Once you know, you can begin to pinpoint what you can do. Often, people feel they have failed at something, but that isn’t thanks to a lack of drive – it is simply that you set yourself a challenge without really understanding how to achieve it. Once you know the main cause of your unhappiness, break down how you can start to change things. If you want to lose weight, set weekly weight loss or activity targets, and find a diet plan that is realistic, so you can stick to it. If you need to change your career, decide which elements would make the most difference (better hours, higher pay or a sense of fulfilment) and set goals to help you move towards achieving that. You could ask someone senior at work for career advice, discuss your hours with your boss, or search for other opportunities. If you want to improve your relationship, identify what would make you feel happier – more one-on-one time, more romance, fewer arguments – and discuss making changes with your partner. January can be the start of an amazing and productive year, if you are willing to work hard to achieve change.