How to Cheer Yourself Up After “Blue Monday”?

Blue Monday is a psychological term used to describe the third Monday of January, which is considered the most depressing day of the year. On this day, people often feel fatigued after the holiday season, experience low mood, and stress associated with returning to everyday duties. However, there are many ways to lift your spirits and cope with "Blue Monday." Today, we’ll offer the best recommendations to cheer yourself up and avoid falling into winter gloom.

New Purchases

Shopping has long been a go-to remedy for almost any kind of blues. Of course, it’s not advisable to rely on this method all the time, but sometimes, especially during routine seasons, treating yourself to something new can be uplifting. One of my recent finds that I absolutely loved is the heated throw blanket. It’s a perfect gift for yourself or a loved one during the cold season. Not only will it keep you warm, but it will also create an atmosphere of coziness and comfort, essential for fighting gloomy days.

If you prefer something else, you could check out the spring collections from many brands and start preparing for March.

Healthy Habits

Blue Monday often leads to disappointment, especially for those who were unable to stick to overly ambitious New Year's resolutions. Instead of trying to master a new language in a month or completely cutting out all sweets, it’s better to approach habit formation in a more realistic way. Try focusing on something new that brings joy and satisfaction without making you feel deprived. For example, swap your daily coffee for a cup of green tea or dedicate 10 minutes each day for peaceful outdoor walks. It's important to approach change step by step, acknowledging that sometimes, forming healthy habits requires finding balance rather than making drastic, painful sacrifices. This way, you’ll feel satisfaction from the process, not just the result.

Top January Series

Another great way to distract yourself is by watching new content. In January, many exciting and highly anticipated series are either out or will be soon. Here’s our selection:

Sherlock & Daughter (drama, mystery, period drama; 1 season, 8 episodes). A fresh take on the Sherlock Holmes universe, blending classic detective storytelling with a new twist.

Missing You (crime, drama, mystery, thriller; 1 season, 5 episodes). A story about two people who accidentally meet after a long separation and try to figure out their feelings and life.

Playing Nice (drama; 1 season, 4 episodes). Two couples discover that their children were switched at birth and are faced with a difficult decision: to keep the children they have raised and loved or reclaim their biological children.

American Primeval (action, drama, thriller, western; 1 season, 6 episodes). A series about 19th-century America and the challenges of surviving in a wilderness environment.

Prime Target (drama; 1 season, 8 episodes). "A post-graduate mathematics student discovers an effort to destroy his work in finding a pattern in prime numbers that would allow him to access every computer in the world".