Adding Sunshine to Blue Monday

The radio stations in Edmonton have been broadcasting that today is "Blue Monday". The third Monday of January is deemed to be the most depressing day of the year.  I believe it works out to be January 24. Apparently, psychologist Cliff Arnall came up with a formula:

Weather plus (+) Debt minus (-) Salary 

Times (x) time since Christmas to time to fail in fulfilling New Year's Resolutions

Divide (/) by Motivation to Take Action

This is also the time of year in which many people suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Symptoms of seasonal affective disorder may include irritability, moodiness, weight gain, decreased energy, increase in anxiety and despair, fatigue, and avoidance of social situations. For some people, this disorder can be debilitating and for the rest referred to as the "winter blues". Do not despair. There are many things you can to add some sunshine to your world on "Blue Monday".

Change Your Environment. You cannot change the weather but you can change your environment. Apply a new coat of paint to your office walls, hang new pictures, add a plant, or move the furniture around. Make your environment more inviting. Start spring cleaning early. Put a spring picture on your computer as a screen saver.

Chunk Down Your Debts. Create a debt reduction plan. Call your credit card company and ask for a reduction on your interest rate. The same process may be used with your internet, telephone, and television providers when reducing some of your charges. I do not guarantee these solutions for you but I know from personal experience they do work. Use what you have in your pantry for food staples, plan your meals, buy groceries with a list, and cook your own style of gourmet meal...pull out the fancy china for you. Why? You are worth it.

Increase Your Salary. Get a second job or spend less. Use your skills and talents to help you generate income doing things like typing/proofreading, walking a dog, babysitting, even snow shovelling (if you have snow).

Make Your Resolutions Stick. Write down your goals. Create action steps to achieve them. Make sure they are realistic. Ask for help or delegate to get things done. Resolutions stick when you are focussed. Let others know what you want to achieve so they can remind you of your commitment to yourself. Perhaps you can remind them of theirs.

Motivation. Surround yourself with like minded individuals. If weight loss is your goal, join a group who wants to lose weight or hire a personal trainer to help you with your goal. Keep a diary of your food intake and activity. Track your progress.Celebrate your milestones. Create your own exercise playlist of songs which pump you up and make you feel energized and alive.

Take action. Most importantly, take action steps toward your goals. Keep the momentum going. You want sustainability not an overnight set up and take down. Your determination and perserverance with carry you through any obstacles in your way. Many experts say it takes 21 days to break or make a new habit, I challenge you to go for 30 days instead and create a fire in your belly to succeed and persist because you really want what you are focus on.

Finally, add sunshine to your life with laughter and surrounding yourself with family and friends. Go for a walk. Go to an art gallery or a movie. Make a snow angel or have a snowball fight. Sing in the shower. Recite your dreams aloud. Tell a joke. Smile with your eyes.

For this is one day, which will not repeat itself, so live it up!

"Nothing is worth more than this day." ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Tomorrow is a new day - Tuesday!