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We’re all familiar with the January blues; with the sparkle of Christmas a fading memory and the dark days and cold weather hanging around for another few months, it can be difficult to stay motivated. We’ve come up with 15 ways for you to embrace this time of year and start the new term off in a positive way. Take a look at our top tips for beating the post-Christmas blues below...
Whether it's something big or something small, having a holiday, day trip, or simply dinner with friends planned in your diary gives you something to look forward to. Don’t spend your time browsing for dream holidays that you’ll never book, get something real in your planner to look forward to in the coming weeks.
Laughter can definitely be the best medicine. Why not get your pupils involved and get them to take it in turns telling everyone their favourite joke? You could ask one pupil each day to tell their joke first thing in the morning so that the whole class starts the day with a smile on their face.
Have you got something that’s constantly at the bottom of your to-do list? Get it done now! Tasks that we keep putting off are never as painful as we expect them to be, and the feeling of a job well done afterwards will be a great reward.
It’s hard to escape the adverts for gyms and exercise in January but getting active doesn’t have to cost you a small fortune. There are lots of exercise tutorials free to view on YouTube and some only take 10 minutes. You’ll be amazed how much better you feel if you get up 10 minutes earlier to do a little bit of exercise before school – perfect for beating the winterblues.
Meditation and mindfulness are both brilliant techniques to get yourself into a positive headspace. Taking the time to be mindful during the school day, can help you to be more aware of your surroundings and can help to improve concentration. Meditation first thing in the morning, and/or just before you go to sleep, helps to clear your mind and make you more relaxed.
Following a healthy and balanced diet is great for maximizing your energy levels, but did you know that some foods are thought to boost your mood? Brazil nuts, oily fish, oats, bananas, lentils, spinach and even dark chocolate, not only have great nutritional value, but can make you happier too.
The lack of daylight in the wintertime can be a little depressing. If you’re prone to feeling down at this dark time of year it may be a good idea to invest in a light-box alarm clock. This wakes you up with ‘natural’ light, making it easier to get out of bed in the morning.
Sometimes doing something to help others can give us just as much of a feel-good factor as treating ourselves. Why not commit to doing one random act of kindness per day, whether it is having a chat with someone who is struggling, or making a cup of tea for a teacher colleague. If you want to do more, there are thousands of volunteer jobs available across the country.
Don’t sit around at home wishing you were out and about. Be proactive and organise a meal with friends, or a day out at the weekend. It doesn’t have to be something expensive, if the weather is good enough, it’s a great time of year for walking in the countryside, local park or on the beach.
After the excess of Christmas, your bank balance may be looking a bit forlorn. January is a great time of year for taking stock of your spending and planning what you are going to do with your money for the year ahead. If you make a plan for your budget you are less likely to overspend.
Routines are great for getting us to work on time and going to bed at night. But sometimes they can make us feel a bit uninspired. Why not change up your routine to make getting ready for work a new experience? Or, add a meditation session at bedtime? It will help you to sleep better too. Change is great for overcoming the winter blues.
Life is full of little (and big) frustrations. If we bottle these up inside, they can affect our mood and our lives. Why not keep a notepad at the side of your bed and write down everything that has frustrated you that day? This can be a very cathartic activity, especially when you screw up the note and throw it away.
Having a clear, clutter-free workspace is great for productivity, so take the time at the beginning of term to tidy your desk. If you want to make your workspace feel like home, add a few personal touches or some nice new stationery to make it somewhere you are comfortable and excited about being.
Ticking things off a to-do list can give you a great sense of satisfaction. To feel like you are making good progress, break each task down into different actions, and check them off as you go. Add some nice things to your to-do list too; make a cup of tea, five minutes of mindfulness, or decide your star pupil of the week
Had a successful day of teaching? Completed your to do list? Kept your cool during a difficult staff meeting? Treat yourself! Whether its chocolate left over from Christmas, a new pair of shoes in the January sales, or a long soak in the bath, make sure you reward yourself, keep your positivity levels high and beat those post-Christmas blues.
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