Our top 5 tips to combat Blue Monday
First things first, a huge Happy New Year! Welcome to 2023. I’m sure we all start off the year with our New Year’s resolutions, that two weeks later we feel we may have over promised ourselves!
Perhaps you’ve heard of Blue Monday? The term honed for expressing what is said to be the most depressing day of the year.
The Christmas festivities are over, the days are short and dark and the weather at times is quite frankly miserable!
We understand that Blue Monday first originated from the UK travel company, Sky Travel back in 2005 to describe the general low mood that can cast its ugly shadow over us at this time of year, however, it doesn’t have to be that way…
We’ve been looking into how to make a Blue Monday into a New Monday and here are our top 5 tips and suggestions from the utterly free and stress reducing options, to booking yourself that treat to pull you through the darkest month.
Go for a walk or undertake some exercise
It can be so easy to over-promise ourselves with new gym memberships, and then get overwhelmed when we can’t keep up with our desire to turn up 4 times a week. Suddenly we realise that we’ve over-committed and drop out altogether.
Why not take it back a step, something is better than nothing right? Pick a time (in between the rain showers) and go for a walk, this helps clear the head, get some exercise in and what’s more, it’s totally free!
Northumberland has some of the most scenic walking in the country so it can be a real treat for the senses!
The England Coastal path covers 62 miles of Northumberland and it’s really easy to walk sections of the coast.
Some of our favourite walks along the coast are:
Craster to Dunstanburgh Castle
(or why not walk further and continue all the way to Seahouses!)
Craster to The Bathing House, Howick
Embleton Bay to Low Newton
Where there is a fantastic refreshment stop at The Ship Inn, set in the infamous square of white houses.
Why not check out some Northumberland walking ideas here.
Upgrade your outfits!
With this we don’t mean go on a splurge for a whole new wardrobe, all we mean is if you’re someone who chooses comfort over design, and let’s face it, I’m sure lots of us do that, particularly in the hibernation of the winter months. Perhaps switch up your comfies for something a bit smarter from your collection, even if it is just to sit in the home office or drive the kids to school.
Invite idea sharing or set yourself some idea saving!
There are so many tech savvy ways to save and share our favourite things now, whether that be save your favourite Instagram post to read again at a later date.
Save holiday ideas or save a Pinterest Board of something you’re planning for later in the year.
By sharing ideas with friends and family we’re communicating and starting conversations, perhaps you have some travel ideas and you know a friend’s been there, why not strike up a conversation.
Perhaps you have some goals you’d like to reach this year, why not start a list in your phone that you can look at from time to time and act on them as and when you can.
If you want to do something a bit more luxurious, why not opt for a spa treatment.
From sinking into a luxurious half day treat at Doxford Hall set in the glorious Northumbrian countryside to booking an in-cottage spa treatment with Glo-Pamper in one of our Little Hideaways. (See the details on how to book in cottage treatments here)
Finally, why not book a staycation?
Who doesn’t like something to look forward to! Did you know the shear act of booking a break can release endorphins! So why not have a browse at our short breaks or summer stays.
It’s onwards and upwards after today, so turn Blue Monday into New Monday!