January always feels like the longest, bleakest month. Perhaps it’s the frigid misery of reality that hits us like a water balloon to the face as we struggle going back into the real world. Or maybe it’s just me.
The excitement of the new year seems to have worn off. We’ve been on a post-Holiday come down thanks to the painful realization of getting back to the grind as January continues.
Being moody about going back to work is typical; however, there can be an impending ascension of gloom that can wash over us.
It very much feels like a constant shadow latching itself onto us, sucking not only our energy but also our mental health dry like Nosferatu.
While there are the lucky few that don’t feel the January blues that I mentioned before, this goes explicitly out to my Seasonal Affective Disorder folks or my regular depressive comrades searching for ways to get through this melancholic month with our mental health going strong.
- As previously mentioned, if you’re like us and are disposed to depression, the post-holiday blues can be severe. It’s as if our regular depression intersects with our SAD.
SAD, otherwise known as the January blues, spikes during winter because of the shortage of sunlight. Sunlight provides vitamin D which is a requisite for the body’s production of serotonin.Fortunately, there are resources to help. Discuss with your medical professional about incorporating vitamin D into your routine, or you can go the Psychology Today route, which recommends bright light therapy.
Bright light therapy helps you keep the production of serotonin during the absence of the sun’s golden rays in the winter by emulating the sun, in the form of a lamp. Investing in bright light therapy can also help if you’re diagnosed with depression by using it all year round. - Since this month can be cold and dark, SAD makes you crave hibernation. It’s easy to stay home all cozy and bundled up ordering food delivery and avoiding leaving our “caves.”
Importantly, this is why keeping your mind busy is vital, especially if you’re feeling more introverted and reclusive.
Nevertheless, the downside of hibernating is the added pressure to keep up with our resolutions. We are even beating ourselves up over failing at making progress. Instead, compartmentalize resolutions into small tasks or maybe think of them as new hobbies to make it seem less daunting.Feeling overwhelmed is how we depressives tend to make it worse for ourselves; we tend to give in to a sense of dread making it worse.
Furthermore, this is why January can be an excellent time to decompress from the holidays to work on self-care since it can be so easy to forget self-love.
The upside of staying in more is saving money, maybe by cooking more, eating better, or perhaps you’re focusing on work (or maybe hustling for new job/career).
- Staying in, keeping busy, and getting active is a surefire way for a significant boost of energy to counteract the SAD/depression fatigue that occurs.
With busy schedules, it can be challenging to find moments to be active, but even the tiniest of moments can do wonders.
Such as going to museums, scenic walks, learning to cook/trying new recipes, redecorating, the list is endless.Conversely, it’s easy to say be more active, but when you’re in the middle of a depressive spiral, it’s the last thing you want to hear or even do. That’s why a good reminder is that progress isn’t linear, so take those small steps towards being healthier and if January needs to be a trial month then why not.
