We’ve all been there. Christmas is over, there’s nothing left to ‘look forward to’ until Easter and so the infamous January Blues have started to set in. It doesn’t have to be this way!
Here’s five things you can do to beat the blues:
1. Volunteer for a local charity
There are more than 165,000 registered charities in the UK – including around 3,000 in Suffolk alone. As well as our work with some of the better known charities such as St Elizabeth Hospice and the East Anglian Air Ambulance, we’re also delighted to support some of the smaller ‘micro-local’ charities who play an essential role in our communities. These include our nine Mutual Advantage charity beneficiaries. Why not take your mind off those blues and donate a little bit of your time to a group in need?
2. Set yourself a goal for 2019 – but don’t set your expectations too high
Some people are too quick to denounce the benefits of setting a new year’s resolution. While January doesn’t especially inspire joy and optimism (unless you rather enjoy cold, grey and gloomy weather), the start of the year is an ideal time to set a goal and make time for it going forward. But make it realistic, and don’t panic if you haven’t achieved it by the middle of January – it’s called a New Year’s Resolution for a reason!
3. Don’t join a gym!
Not yet, anyway. January is the most expensive time of year to join a gym as thousands are propelled through the doors of their local gym through a combination of guilt and mass advertising – no sooner has the Christmas chocolate been taken off our shelves before being replaced by fitness equipment and diet books. In fact, statistically, most of those newbies will have already given up by 12 January – so save yourself a pretty penny and wait. And remember, the gym isn’t for everyone – there are ways to improve your health without even having to leave the office – such as yoga or meditation and focusing on your mental health.
4. Sort out your finances (no – really!)
Now we know what you’re thinking – who on earth beats the blues by cooking up a budget spreadsheet? But in truth, January is absolutely the best time to sort out your finances ready for year ahead, especially if you’re still suffering a financial hangover from Christmas. Ignoring or mis-managing debt is the quickest way to get yourself into financial difficulty, so be smart and get yourself financially ready for the new year. If you’re saving for something, make a savings plan you can stick to. If you have credit cards or other short-term borrowing, make sure you know when it needs to be paid to avoid any unnecessary fees and charges. And if you’re on top of things, that’s one less thing that can get you down!
5. Join us on a member event
If you’re a member of the Society you have access to our exclusive and varied range of events, just for our members to enjoy. In January and February we some real gems on offer, all of which are completely new for 2019 – give yourself something to look forward to! If you want to know more about what membership of the Society means, please visit the Members Lounge.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46522608
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/karen-laing/5-reasons-why-you-shouldn_1_b_14143988.html
