Ahh the January blues. That little bit of sadness most of us suffer with after all the excitement of the festive season. I was so determined to not be affected by it this year, but it's just not that simple.
Admittedly, a lot of my blues are grief related. Both my Nan and my Dad passed away in January. It's been six years this month since my lovely Dad passed away! I thought I would handle it a bit better this year, but I'm seeing a lot of people struggling with the same grief this month, and it's heightening my own.
I have other things on my mind which I don't even know where to begin with talking about or who to trust with the information. I have spoken with a colleague about it briefly but I'm thinking we need a proper girls night to really get into the thick of it. I'm also constantly knackered from trying to balance work and home life. Shift work is an absolute killer! I am very much looking forward to my annual leave at the end of the month.
Don't even get me started on money! I know I'm on a spending ban this month anyway but knowing that I've got a decent pay coming my way this month is making it even harder to wait for it! I don't even want to treat myself (much) I just want to pay off my loans and bills and put some money in my savings.
How I'm getting through it
Being as honest as possible about my feelings
There are some things I don't want to talk about, except with certain people, but otherwise I'm trying to be as open and honest as I can be. There's things I'm still trying to process by myself but knowing I've got a decent support system is key to helping!
Self Care
Self care comes in many different forms for different people but at this time I'm concentrating on my big two: Reconnecting with Josh and Personal Time.
As I said before, I've been struggling to balance my work and personal life, but thankfully it worked out that my last weekend off coincided with Charlie going to his dads for the weekend. I made sure that Josh and I spent plenty of time together. We went shopping, went for a lovely walk in our favourite place and just generally relaxed and enjoyed each others company. It seemed like the first time in ages we went a whole weekend without arguing.
As for personal time, that could mean anything from making time for my hobbies or pampering myself! I'm definitely trying to make a point of making myself look good to feel good lately. I can't be too dressed up for work so I try to make up for it by making my hair look nice or painting my nails or wearing a choker if I think I can get away with it. I'm also really into using moisturising socks at the moment! I love the cheapy ones from Boots - the coconut oil is my favourite! It's just what I need after a long day of being on my feet at work.
Being Patient
We are already halfway through January after all! Pay day is coming, the warmer weather and sunnier days are also approaching. I'm thinking now would be a really good time to start making plans with friends and family so I have things to look forward to in the near future!
Are the January Blues affecting you this year? How are you getting through it? Let me know in the comments!
Until next time,
Saph x
Sorry to hear about the loss of your loved ones happening around January. I think January blues for most people exist because it's the start of a new year yet the things they wanted to change still haven't happened, which brings people down
ReplyDeleteGrief is a hard one to navigate. Sometimes on the anniversary of my Dad passing away it is really emotional and other times it's easier to deal with -- be kind to yourself no matter the amount of time that has passed. It is so good that you're concentrating on self-care, that is something that can really help. Wishing you all the best throughout 2022!
ReplyDeleteThese are some productive and proactive moves to make during January. I do at least one form of self care everyday to make me feel good. Thank you for sharing your suggestions.
ReplyDeleteLauren - bournemouthgirl
I have never felt January blues to be honest. I like winter but many of my friends feel it. I was sorry to read about your father. January will be over soon and I hope your mood will be better. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteI managed to mostly beat the January blues by picking two new hobbies and immersing myself in them. One of them is watercolor and I think that playing with colors has really helped me keep from becoming blue. Great post!
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