Beat the January blues
After weeks of talks about gifts, decorations, trees, party foods, santas and elves, January brings one of the gloomiest days of the year. Many people struggle to cope with the change and they find themselves bit depressed for a few days or weeks in January. If you are one of them you are not alone!
Infact there is also some scientific reasons why we feel that way. “Emotionally and cognitively and executively the brain has established a lot of pathways,” says Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a licensed clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist. “The more you do something the more ingrained it becomes in neural pathways, much like how a computer that stores the sites you visit — when you log onto your browser, they will pop up because you use them a lot. Change is an upheaval of many things and the brain has to work to fit it into an existing framework.” When we introduce any change of routine into our lives, our brain is also on guard and ready to pounce, immediately considering the possible threat change can carry.
Also whenever we go to a peak of an excitement, the trough will be very difficult to cope as our brains are used to the excitement and adrenalin created in the month of December. So how can we beat the January blues?
Tell yourselves that this change is necessary and inevitable
Everything in this world works in “cycles”. Seasons come and change. Birthdays come and go. Sun rises and sets. Moon works in its own lunar cycle. We are designed to work in the same pattern too. Holidays come and go. Too much of something is not good. The bible says,
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot..
Do financial planning and set financial goals
January is the best time to assess your financial status and plan how you are going to save this year especially after a month of heavy spend on those Christmas gifts! This will also give you a new inspiration to go to work or find work and pursue your financial goals. Money is an important asset for us to live in this earth. Lack of planning and poor management can result in misery and worry. Many falsely interpret the verse in the bible and assume “money is the root of all evil”. The bible says, “LOVE of money is the root of all evil”. Therefore we need to learn to be good steward of the money and plan to use it wisely.
– Plan a regimen to take care of your health
It goes without saying that “health is wealth”. The bible says,
“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”
God wants us to enjoy a good health while we are in this earth. If we don’t have a good health we cannot do the purpose God has given us in this earth. It is our responsibility to take care of our body which God has given us. It is better to ask God for wisdom to take good care of our body and stay healthy than to spoil our health with bad decisions and pray for healing!
– Take on an exciting project
DIY or a house improvement or setting up a blog or writing a novel etc. Whatever is in that wishlist of yours its time to unleash in January! It is good to have a mini-purpose and excitement when you wake up.
– Be thankful
Whatever state you are in learn to be thankful. Somewhere in the planet earth there is someone who has lesser than what you have and still happy. So if you are worried about your grumpy boss be thankful you have a job. If you are worried that you dont have a job be thankful you have arms and legs to find a job. If you are worried about your kids be thankful you have kids. If you are worried that you dont have kids be thankful you are married. If you are worried about everything be thankful you have breath in your lungs because many have sadly died in the last year and were buried along with their dreams.
Worrying will never give you anything good. But being thankful will help you to give new perspective in life and God may show you directions and solutions to go to the next stage of life as you set your eyes on him. David in the bible was a shepherd boy ignored and forgotten by his father while his brothers served in the army. But David was very thankful to God as he wrote several psalms while he was a shepherd. God gave him breakthrough as he took all his assignments with a thankful heart and in due course of time he became a king! So being thankful may help you to discover what God has called you for!
– Take care of your mind and spirit
We are not just physical beings trapped in a body but spiritual beings having a physical body. We have a body, a spirit and a soul. Just like we take good care of our bodies we also need a healthy mind and spirit. I have heard of people talking about meditation, yoga, spa, aromatherapy etc to relax and strengthen the mind and spirit. I haven’t tried any of those as I know there is one proven way in my life which will give that peace and strength I need in my spirit especially during tough times. The proven ways are to read the bible, pray and attend a church service. I wouldn’t trade anything for these as they are like air, water and food for me. The bible has every truth and knowledge we need to live a peaceful and quiet lives. When we are confused, scared, joyful, ecstatic, sorrowful, grieving, depressed, worried, anxious or afraid there is an answer for every season of your life. Praying to God when I struggle gives me strength. Knowing there is an awesome God who knows everything and also holds my life in his hands gives me peace and strength to have a good night sleep even when I dont have answers in life. Jesus once said to Peter, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” We may not have all the answers in life but one day God will make it clearer to us. Until then lets keep praying and trusting God. Finally, going to church makes me happy and joyful to see friends and families who also share the same peace and joy I have. Sometimes I get strengthened from others by their kinds words and vice versa. Church also helps me to have a deeper understanding of God and the bible. So if you are not part of any church or read the bible or dont know how to pray why not visit a local church this month and take a decision to attend church regularly this year? I can guarantee that your life will never be the same!
Happy new year!
