Blue Monday falls this year on the 21^st January. Following on from the Christmas festivities and New Year it is easy for people to get down when heading back to the reality of work and school. It is calculated to be the most depressing day of the year taking into account several factors such as weather, debt and motivation levels.

The day needn’t be so bad and so here are the top 10 tips on how to ‘Beat Blue Monday’.

1. Try Something new: Trying something new and stimulating your brain is a great way to stop dwelling on the old.
2. Get physical: This can be done easily by something as simple as a shoulder shake at work or walking that extra bit further for lunch to a full work out in the gym. Getting physical is a great to change the way you feel and release some endorphins.
3. Contact a friend or relative: Get in touch with someone you haven’t spoken to in a while, this can take your mind off yourself and your worries.
4. Take a break: Head somewhere different for your morning coffee or even treat yourself to a trip away. Changing your physical location can change your perspective on the world.
5. Be nice to a stranger: Do something good for another by doing a random act of kindness, this is one of the best forms of self-satisfaction.
6. Help the planet: Help the planet by being green for example cycling rather than driving.
7. Pamper yourself: Treat yourself to a small indulgence or something you’ve been promising yourself for a long time.
8. Plan something new: Give yourself something to look forward to. It can be something as little as a plan at the weekend or a holiday for later in the year. Looking forward to something can be refreshing and uplifting.
9. Share your thoughts: A problem shared is a problem halved so don’t be afraid to speak to others.
10. Speak to the Samaritans: The Samaritans are always reachable and there to help. Visit them at https://www.samaritans.org/ or call 116 123 for free.

Mental Health is an important issue and something the Lib Dem’s have always campaigned about passionately. In government we fought to reduce the historic inequality between the way physical and mental health are treated in the NHS and are proud of the strides forward we made, but we know there is still so much more we can do. Find out our plans for the future of mental health below:

https://www.libdems.org.uk/health

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