Sarah Warsi

Alas, here we are, on the last day of January. I don’t know about you, but this month just felt long. And it seems like I was not alone. The online community seemed to share similar sentiments with memes and quotes floating around saying things like ‘January was a tough year, but we made it‘ or ‘It literally feels like January 74th‘. lol

I think the reason this first month of year always feels like it drags on is because we are still adjusting our lives to post-holiday routines and it can be quite the struggle. Plus, it always feels much colder in January with the temperature dipping to the -20 range where you feel like you’ll immediately lose a limb if you’re outside for more than a few minutes! Brrrr.

January also has its designated ‘Blue Monday‘ which is the third Monday of the year and dubbed the most depressing day of the year. (I feel bad for anyone who’s birthday happens to fall on that day!). Again, the origin of this day has to do with the lack of energy and motivation that can come with the longer, colder months, along with the dejected feeling of already having broken new years resolutions.

This is precisely why I choose not to make any resolutions in the first place. I just think it’s pointless. In my humble opinion, if you want to make positive lifestyle changes, then just do it when you are ready to, when it feels right for you, and not when the calendar says that you should.

Once you have the pressure of adhering to a resolution, I find that the true intent behind a positive lifestyle change can get lost. Improve your life at your own pace, in your own way.

Also, we have barely begun the year and already so much has happened. So much heartbreak and loss. It’s almost too much to log into a social media app because you are immediately flooded with a tidal wave of negativity. This past week alone there was a devastating mid-air collision between a plane and helicopter in Washington D.C., resulting in dozens of lives lost. What haunted me about this in particular was that the commercial plane was mere seconds away from landing safely at the airport – and just like that, in an instant, entire lives were lost. Families were destroyed. Yet another stark example of just how fleeting our time really is on this earth. You’re here one minute and gone the next. This is why it can’t be overstated how precious the present moment is at any given time. You must cherish the now, because now is all we really have.

Here are some tips to keep your mental health in check amid all the chaos around us:

Limit your social media consumption – Pretty much a no-brainer. Turn off the notifications. Check in and check out.

More in-person connections – Have more engaging in-person conversations with the people whose company you enjoy the most. Take the initiative to make the plan to grab a coffee and catch up. There is something very calming about like-minded energies connecting and bouncing off each other.

Take more walks and exercise – Get out and get some fresh air. (Only when it’s not -20, of course). Go to the gym and get a workout in. Those endorphins on overdrive will do wonders to ease your mind.

Drown yourself in a good book – Whether it’s a self-help book, a memoir, or a good old-fashioned work of fiction, immerse yourself in whatever intrigues you and let your mind temporarily disconnect from the reality around you.

Listen to music – There is nothing better than immersing yourself in your favourite tunes, by your favourite artist, on repeat.

Binge-watch your favourite shows – There is never a dull moment on Netflix (or whatever your streaming platform of choice may be). Get recommendations from your peers about what’s hot right now or do what I do and just stick to the one show you’ve been watching for years and get can’t away from *cough* The Young and the Restless *cough* 🙂

Overall, just remember to take care of yourself. Your entire self. If your physical, emotional and mental state are misaligned, you will always find yourself feeling unsettled and not at peace. Take a few steps back, in order to jump forward ten.

I can only hope and pray that February onwards feel a bit lighter for all of us. I wish you all peace, happiness and good health. God Bless.