CALM's no BS guide to getting through January and beyond

Winter can feel overwhelming and underwhelming all at the same time. Wallets feel lighter, calendars are emptier, the nights are dark and the weather… let’s not go there.

While we might not be able to go into hibernation, there are some ways you can make this miserable month a bit more bearable.

We’ve put together some no BS tips to help you get through the start of the year. Whether you’re feeling stressed at the year to come, or looking to find some stuff to look forward to in the year ahead, here goes.

WE LIKE TO MOVE IT, MOVE IT

Go for a walk. Dust off your bike. Do some sit ups. Whatever it is, moving your body is proven to help manage your mental wellbeing. Nope, it won’t solve everything, but it can help you feel a bit better. You don’t have to run a marathon or do a billion burpees every morning, just moving your body in any way you please is a great start – find something you enjoy.

Not ready for that? Deep breathing can also help you to feel a bit calmer when you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed. Try taking one deep breath in, and then exhaling for as long as you can. Repeat as many times as you feel you need. It’s a bit like the hokey cokey, but without the shaking it all about part, or any of the other parts, actually.

DEALING WITH JANUARY STRESS AND ANXIETY

Everyone has down days, but if you’re feeling low, unhappy, or worried for days, weeks and months, it could be a sign you’re struggling with your mental health. If it’s all getting too much, you’re not alone – January can be really hard on lots of us. In fact, it’s thought that the winter blues or SAD (seasonal affective disorder) impacts around 2 million people in the UK. It’s no surprise that lots of us feel miserable in winter.

Change can be scary and the new year can bring new anxieties. There’s a lot of pressure to have the best year ever, but we all have good years and bad ones. Not knowing what lies ahead can be intimidating, and not all of us are looking to the months ahead with excitement and optimism. And that’s ok.

TALK, CHAT, MESSAGE, MEME

It can take a bit more effort to get out of the house during winter, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop communicating with your friends and family altogether. There’s loads of ways to stay connected, from online Pictionary, to the good old fashioned dog and bone. Talking to someone on the phone can be a little less pressure than feeling like your every movement’s being watched on a video call.

From texts and Whatsapp, to sending an email, or even a letter, keeping in touch with your network can really help to boost your mood and approach. If you don’t feel like you’ve got anyone to talk to, or you don’t want to talk to the people you are able to talk to, you can call or webchat with CALM. Our professional helpline staff are ready to talk about anything 5pm – midnight every day – you can find out more about what a call or webchat is like here.

DRAW BADLY, SING BADLY, TAKE PHOTOS BADLY

We know you’re probably not the next Picasso (although kudos if you are), but that doesn’t mean doing creative stuff is off limits. All too often we think because we’re not ‘good’ at something it’s not for us, but that’s not the case.

No matter how bad you think you are at drawing, no matter how basic your cooking skills, and no matter how questionable your singing is – doing creative stuff is a great way to let out some stress. Don’t believe us? One study showed that 82% of people reported feeling better after taking part in some art. Oh, and the more you do something, the better you’ll get, so it’s a win win.

STICK IT TO WINTER

Shorter winter days can actually feel really bloody long. Maybe you’re at work daydreaming about barbecued bangers from last summer, or you’re lost in looking back at those holiday snaps – those sizzling hot days can all feel like a distant memory when the weather is crap.

So if you’re finding this time of year tough, tell winter to shove it and take on a challenge for CALM. Having something to focus on, even if it’s doing something weird and wonderful, can help you to feel focussed, purposeful and, well, just a bit better. From setting up an indoor obstacle course, to hosting a karaoke contest, we want to hear what you’re doing to #StickItToWinter