The early months of the year can be hard. It’s cold, Christmas and other winter celebrations are finished, and it gets dark early. It can be enough to make anyone feel gloomy, but it is made much harder if you have the added responsibilities of looking after your children. But remember, spring is coming. In the meantime, try some of the following:
Get outside
It might seem like an obvious option but going outside is great for your mental health. Fresh air and sunlight (even if it’s ten minutes) work wonders. Try to get the children involved – think of treasure hunts in a park or throwing a ball around. The physical exercise will get the blood flowing and give you a mental boost too.
Make some time for you
Yeah, I get it. Once you’ve tidied up after the little ones, then made dinner, it’s time to clean the house. After that, there are always going to be more jobs to do. But it’s important to try to carve out a sliver of time for yourself. Whether it’s a hot bath once a week, or half an hour with a book in bed, you need to give yourself time for you. You are important too. Maybe ask your partner or a family member to do your chores one evening, and you can return the favour later in the week. You’ll be amazed just how quickly this will help.
Exercise
You don’t need to run a marathon every day or have a chiselled six-pack. Just try to move your body. Head off for a brisk walk or put some music on and dance with the kids in the living room. Exercising releases endorphins that will help your mood.
Play games
Allocate an evening as a family Games Night. Playing board games is a fantastic way to enjoy yourself and bond with your children. Just try to not take it too seriously!
Embrace the chaos
This one is difficult. Occasionally it can feel as though everything is too much. And sometimes that is the case. But try not to be too concerned if the house is a mess, or if you forgot to put the load in the washing machine. Jobs are less important than your happiness. Embrace the busy, crazy lifestyle and try to be present in the moment.
Switch off
We’re all guilty of doom-scrolling. We say we never have time to do anything, yet we’re well versed in what’s going on in the world. It is proven that putting your phone down and trying to remain grounded in reality is a great way to make you feel better.
Ask for help
Life can be difficult. Sometimes going out for a walk or reading a book just isn’t going to help. It’s okay to speak to someone. It can be your partner or a friend or family member. Sharing the load can be a great way to ease your winter blues.
If you feel like you require further help, contact your GP. Or you can go to www.mind.org.uk or call their helpline on 0300 102 1234.
It’s important to remember that it’s normal to feel down during the winter. Just taking a few of these steps will go a long way to turn those winter blues into a happier, sunnier mindset.
Written by James Doyle