7 Tips to Keep You Positive on Blue Monday (and beyond)

You may already be aware that Blue Monday was initially a marketing ploy in 2005 by a British holiday company to encourage people to book holidays after Christmas, based on the work of psychologist Dr Cliff Arnall, who conceived the idea.

The January Blues could indeed be true but it’s more likely to have started before January and be associated with winter – through a lack of sunlight, short days, poor weather, social isolation, and perhaps no holidays or exciting things to look forward to (unless you’re a good planner and think well ahead).

We need sunlight for our brains to release serotonin, the mood booster, to feel calm and focused.

Here are 7 short tips to help with positivity, not just in January but throughout the year.

1. Connect and surround yourself with positive people in some way every day – those who make you feel empowered, give you support, and you feel like you’ve known them forever. Phone, go on Zoom, meet up, message or video call.

All methods of connection are beneficial in releasing oxytocin and dopamine, making you feel positive and happy.

2. Avoid watching or reading the news (once a week is more than enough to keep in the
loop).

Bad news attracts viewers, which is why watching the news on TV often focuses on the negative aspects of the world, but there are many good things too!

3. Keep a daily gratitude diary – writing it at night (or thinking of all the good things that happened during that day). Your last thought in your head is the first one in the
morning, so end on good thoughts.

When we remember all the good things that have happened, they far outweigh the negative ones, and we feel more positive.

4. Smile and laugh on purpose (Laughter Yoga) – do you feel like you have no happiness or motivation to even get out of bed?

Reach for a clean pen and bite it horizontally. Hold it there until your cheeks start to ache, then release and do some gentle laughter. Doing so releases happy endorphins into your brain, providing great positivity and numerous benefits for your mind and body, including an immunity boost that is particularly significant during the winter months.

See our blog here on the benefits of Laughter Yoga.

5. Do a random act of kindness – surprise people. It can be as small as holding the door for someone in the elevator, or giving the gift of time to a lonely person, or someone struggling. The benefits of doing surprising acts of kindness give us a boost of dopamine and oxytocin, which makes us feel good and motivated.

6. Leave notes around – Put post-it notes with loving messages to yourself where you’ll see them every day, such as on your desk, the fridge, inside a drawer, or on a mirror. A reminder of how special and exemplary you are at being you. You are unique.

A few examples:
“I am perfect just as I am”
“I love you, I love me”

“More than anything else, I look after myself first because I am amazing.”

7. Create a music playlist (and keep adding to) on your favourite device. The songs you choose must be upbeat and make you feel ALIVE and want to sing and
dance along. Play your music playlist first thing in the morning or when your mood has dipped. Singing and dancing are two aspects of joy that help with happiness,
wellbeing and resilience to cope with life’s curveballs.

This list isn’t exhaustive–there are many more tools, which we share in our Laughter Yoga and happiness workshops, as well as our face-to-face and video wellbeing courses.
Select your wellbeing tools to add to your mental strength toolbox, ready to use when your mood dips or you’re struggling with life challenges.
These tips will bring sunshine to your soul – your special tools.  Practising them will become like an instant holiday, boosting your happiness levels during winter, and beyond
to thrive in life.

Join our Joyful Come Thrive Weekly Newsletter here for tips on how to be happy and fun videos.
To book happiness and positivity boosting Laughter Yoga workshops, Bollywood Laughter Dance, Team Building workshops and courses,
email  happy@seriouslaughter.co.uk
To try Laughter Yoga, join our public sessions on the Events page here.

Serious Laughter – for happiness, joy and stressbusting events for companies who care about their employees’ wellbeing.