lifestyle How to beat the January blues

Elen Johnston covers her tips on beating the common seasonal sadness

RETURNING to university after the holidays can be difficult. January has the cold of winter without the warmth of December’s festivities. With daylightsaving still shortening the evenings and exams looming, January can be a hard month. January begins with exams and deadlines that many of us have tried to put aside while celebrating the holidays, and it can feel like everything is catching up with us. With saying goodbye to family and friends we spent the holidays with, January can feel bleak. Therefore, it can be essential to develop some coping strategies. When it’s cold and raining outside, it can feel like you don’t want to go outside at all. While this is understandable, it’s important to get outside if you can. I try to keep an eye on the weather and find breaks between the rain to go for short walks. During your breaks try and do things you look forward to even if that’s watching your favourite rom-com. Exam season can make us feel guilty for taking breaks. I know the feeling but sometimes we can find ourselves not being productive and spending our time panicking. When it gets to this point, it can help to take short breaks and step away from your laptop, hydrate, eat some food, and do some self-care. I find that exercise helps my mental health. I love to cycle, but the bad weather can dampen our outdoor exercise plans. But, it can be fun to try out new exercise routines. The thing about exercise is while it’s good for us in many ways, it’s important that you enjoy it. I recommend dance workout routines: there are some great ones on YouTube such as Taylor Swift dance workout routines. it’s difficult to exercise, hydrate, eat, and do things we enjoy. If you’re struggling please reach out to the following services:

• You can self-refer to TalkWorks to access NHS CBT therapy.

• The University offers ‘on the day’ drop-in wellbeing appointments bookable at 9:15-3:30pm by calling 01392 724381.

• If you have a diagnosed mental health condition or disability you may be eligible to access a weekly mental health tutor through your public funding body.

• You can also contact Wellbeing at well being@exeter.ac.uk.

• Exeter Student Nightline is a confidential listening and information service run by students.

• There is also an Education Welfare Team live chat available every weekday from 12:30pm to 2pm.

The truth is, sometimes when we are struggling with our mental health,

• Samaritans is available 24/7 by calling 116 123 for free.

NOT one year has gone by without my New Year's resolutions becoming as ephemeral as Liz Truss being PM. But this year, I wanted to approach 1st January differently. Instead of fooling myself with negativesounding goals, such as losing weight, going to the gym or banning chocolate, I decided to have a more positive mindset.

This year’s resolution is to have a healthy body and healthy mind. I am not going to do this by starting a keto diet or forcing myself into the weights section of the gym with all the intimidating guys; I am going to take things slowly. This means actually paying attention to the little victories.

Yesterday, I went for a run down on the River Exe; it was only short and I was (embarrassingly) as red as a beetroot when I got back, but the Fitbit that I was gifted for Christmas flashed up with “Nicely done!” — my own personal cheerleader! I wrote this down in my new ‘One line a day’ journal and felt a sense of pride for my small achievement.

This is how I am going to keep going with my resolution, not by putting myself down because I have eaten one calorie too many, but by taking each day as it comes. Little changes, for instance making sure I do my 250 steps every hour or giving myself 15 minutes every day to read a book, have already made a massive difference to my physical and mental health; they go hand in hand.

It has only been two weeks, and Rome wasn’t built in a day, but with the right attitude and supportive people around me I feel more determined than ever for 2023.

Emily Roughton

IBEGIN this article with an apology — for being that insufferable friend who inevitably talks about their New Year’s resolutions at any possible point throughout January. Nonetheless, the clichés about 'new year, new start' can so often prove to be true. Making changes to your lifestyle and attitude can be so much easier as we turn a new page in the calendar and reflect on the year that has passed.

For me, this opportunity to reset couldn’t have come at a better time, and by December I was eager to start a new year with a set of resolutions. For me in 2023, this is not necessarily about anything material, like learning a language or starting a new hobby, but instead about changing my mindset.

Learning to prioritise oneself without being deemed ‘selfish’ can be a tricky balance to strike, and certainly something I have found difficult. I struggle to reject social plans, even when I don’t really want to be there — the sort of FOMO I’m sure many of us can relate to. After all, how many times have I been out clubbing to avoid feeling like I was missing out, despite knowing at heart I would much rather be sat in bed with some cheesy chips? If my resolution goes to plan, hopefully there will be far more cheesy chip nights in, than messy TP nights out in 2023.

Linked to this change in mindset is a resolution to accept one of life’s hardest to swallow truths: not everyone will like you. On the reverse, however, will be dozens of people who do, and sacrificing the latter for the former is not worth it. Being comfortable with this fact is not always easy to come to terms with, but I hope 2023 will make it worth it!

Harry Craig, Music Editor