5 Little Ways to Cheer Yourself Up

Last Monday was "Blue Monday", and I think we can all relate to feeling a tad down in the dumps during these gloomy grey winter days. The beginning of January is often exciting and motivating... but that's worn off by now and may leave a bleak outlook in its place.

When feeling negative and depressed, you can feel helpless and lack the energy to help yourself feel better. But even the tiniest thing can pull you out of the depths of despair and put you in a better frame of mind... the little things become the big things remember!

Here are some simple small things you can do to cheer yourself up:


- Tell a loved one
Many of us keep our thoughts to ourselves when going through a bad patch. Maybe we think ignoring them will make them go away, or that we can't explain our thoughts or why we feel down, so we'd just rather not talk about them...
Whatever the reason is, I think bottling up feelings rarely has any positive affects. Confide in a trusted loved one and tell them how you feel. This isn't about asking them to make you feel better with a wave of a magic wand, it's just about getting thoughts off your chest and not having to pretend everything is hunky-dory when you're struggling. Keeping thoughts to yourself can be very isolating... you may not feel like you want to tell anyone... but I often find that it makes me feel brighter instantly.


-Watch some trashy TV
If you feel like you can't escape negative intrusive thoughts circling in your mind, spending an evening in front of the TV watching something cosy and light-hearted can act as a remedy. It may not be a groundbreaking or life-changing tip, but as a short-term fix, I personally find that a Come Dine with Me or Made in Chelsea marathon can keep negative thoughts at bay.

-Spend time with furry friends
There is something incredibly therapeutic about stroking a purring cat or having a dog rest its silky head on your knee. I grew up with cats and really miss them since moving away from home. My boyfriend and I often pop up to his grandparent's house to get a feline fix (they have an adorable elderly cat called Bonnie), and spending some time with her always cheers us both up. It's apparently been proven that purrs are beneficial to our health (give it a quick Google), and I definitely think they are beneficial to mental health!

-Do some organising/decluttering 
If you're anything like me, you probably have a number of jobs around the house that you've been putting off for months. I've been meaning to organise, tidy and purge my wardrobe since we moved into our flat, and there are cardboard boxes in the spare room which we clearly aren't going to use and really should just go in the recycling bin...
Whatever it is, getting around to doing chores like these is very satisfying and therapeutic and can also help to take your mind of what's troubling you. I subscribe to the idea that having a tidy and organised living environment helps you to have a clearer mind too.

-Re-read a favourite book
This is something my mom used to tell me to do when I couldn't sleep. Rereading a familiar story is very comforting. There will be no nasty surprises as you know the plot so well, and if you choose a book that you first read during a happy time (perhaps during childhood), it will remind you of those memories. So get snuggled up with a blanket and a cup of tea and open your favourite book.

I hope these little tips help you and that your January hasn't been too blue!

Jane 

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