How to beat the January Blues with an ostomy
The third Monday in January 2023 (16th) is nearly upon us and it has been “awarded” the title of “the most depressing day of the year.” So, why is this? It has been said that this was decided down to a mixture of things we experience this time of year such as shorter days, cold days, low motivation, post Christmas comedown and even credit card bills from Christmas.
For ostomates, this can also be for reasons such as having an unsettled ostomy due to overindulgence over Christmas, filled with rich foods and foods you wouldn’t normal eat (or eat in moderation), alcohol and even reasons such as exhaustion and being run down from socialising with many different people through family and friends over a short period of time.
Some say it was established by a University Professor who came up with an exact formula to work the date out, whereas others say Blue Monday was merely a Public Relations (PR stunt) by a travel company, back in 2005.
Let’s talk Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
A mixture of the things pointed out above can impact our stress levels and especially when these things all collide together, as has been supposedly calculated as on Blue Monday, this can definitely set off a spiral of very low mood and feelings of apathy, lethargy and like everything sucks, pretty much!
It is worth noting that some people also are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) also known as “winter depression”.
Symptoms of SAD can include:
- Persistent low mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure in everyday activities
- Irritability
- Sleeping for longer than normal
- Finding it hard to wake up and/or get up on a morning
- Concentration difficulties
- Decreased sex drive
It’s important to have a discussion with your GP if you feel you may have SAD and/or are struggling to cope.
How can you take the blues out of Blue Monday?
Wouldn’t it just be great if we could click our fingers & automatically feel better? That goes for any health problems and not just mental health. Unfortunately, we can’t. There are, however, things we can do to try and minimise the impact of Blue Monday by flipping it on its head and giving it a different meaning.
Ideas include:
Taking steps to get on top of stressors such as money. You could make a budget plan so you have more control of your finances and know exactly what you have as disposable income and what you may need to save up for future things you can plan to look forward to.
Start looking at ideas new adventures such as short breaks or holidays, here or abroad.
Get outdoors and exercise. The struggle to get outside is often too real but even just spending 10 or 15 minutes in the fresh air can help to lift your mood.
Start a Pinterest Board for Spring & Summer. Even just looking at images of what’s to come can make you feel better and get you excited for planning ahead. This can also give you something to work towards and show you that hope is on the horizon and that there is sunshine at the end of the tunnel!
If you’ve overstated a goal for the New Year, adjust it. There is no shame in realising when you have put too much pressure on yourself and adjusting it to something more realistic. It’s okay to acknowledge that you’re only human.
Get creative doing creative activities and hobbies can be all-immersing, which can provide you with a distraction from feeling low, as they require you to put yourself fully into them to get the most out of them. Try just 5 minutes and you’ll more than likely be amazed at how far you can go and want to go.
Eat a balanced diet, where possible. It can be all too tempting to reach for carbohydrate and sugar-rich foods when we feel low but this doesn’t actually do us many favours or fuel our bodies in the right way. Try to reduce stimulants such as alcohol, caffeine and sugar. This can also help with getting a good sleep, which helps to deal with low mood.
Make the most of the daylight even if you are working inside. Take screen breaks and step outside for 5 minutes and breathe in that fresh air. Place your desk near a window as this can also help you get the most of the daylight whilst being inside.
Spend time with and talk to others. You’ll probably be surprised at how many other people feel a similar way as you. Socialising is a great way to feel less alone and share your thoughts & help one another.
It’s also okay to have “blue days”. It’s also equally as important to accept when we are feeling down, so long as we don’t let ourselves get stuck there. Sometimes, we just need to put on some comfy loungewear, wrap ourselves in a blanket, make a hot chocolate and put on some binge-worthy tv!
