Congratulations: you made it through 2021! It was another tough year, and you are still here, reading this, despite all the Covid-19 blows thrown your way. If you have started 2022 feeling a bit off and fed up, don’t fret. It may be a temporary experience that will blow over as the calendar year moves on.

Back to life, back to reality…

Going back to work, an empty house, study, the gym, or anything to do with normal life after the holidays can be difficult for many of us. We might experience depressed feelings, increased loneliness, tiredness, and/or we may be more anxious or stressed than usual. This short-term experience is sometimes called the ‘January Blues’. Although not a clinical diagnosis, much of what we experience with the January Blues can imitate other mental health conditions. There is a big difference however between the January Blues and other mental health conditions - the January Blues only last for a few weeks and are very short-term. If the symptoms persist longer than this, it may be worth checking to see if you are affected by something other than the January Blues.

The January Blues are likely due to a variety of reasons. It may have to do with a combination of the weather, financial worries (after an expensive Christmas), a lack of something to look forward to, Covid-19 fears, and/or low motivational levels. For some, the holidays were a disappointment, or overly stressful, or perhaps a reminder of all that wasn’t achieved in 2021. For others, the contrast of a buzzing Christmas versus a lonely and isolated January is enough to make us feel down. 

Getting over the blues

The January Blues will go away after a short while, but you can help speed up this process. Some tips from experts to help speed it up include:

• acknowledging that this is normal,
• staying active,
• being in nature,
• putting something in the diary to look forward to,
• getting as much daylight as possible,
• getting creative,
• eating properly,
• talking to a mental health professional,
• and sleeping well.

If depressive feelings and/or exhaustion last longer than a few weeks, it is advisable to speak to a mental health professional who can help you work through the difficult emotions and thoughts that have arisen for you.

LegalMind

LegalMind is an independent and confidential mental-health support available to solicitors and their dependants, 24 hours a day. You can contact LegalMind by phoning 1800 81 41 77 or sending an SMS to 00353 87 369 0010.