Fighting January Blues

Back to work, back to school. Are you feeling the dread of the mill and daily drill starting up again? On top of everything, there are now Christmas debts, winter vomiting bugs and continuing short days with chilly weather. Perhaps you’re feeling sluggish with tightening waistbands from overdoing it over the festive period. No wonder January seems to be an unpopular month and is given its own title, the January Blues!

So how can we try to stop the rot and beat these blues?

Planning a holiday

There is good evidence that holidaying is vital to creating happiness. On holiday, you are more likely to choose activities that make you happy and give yourself the time/space for them. Apparently, even the anticipation and planning part can boost moods, because you are releasing endorphins. I’m not suggesting something that will break the bank, but maybe the in-laws could have the little ones for a night so you could head to a spa. Even a change of scenery at a B&B with the children might just do the trick!

Mood foods

We all know we should be eating better but perhaps the New Year’s regimes should be a little less rigid and a bit more reasonable? Set yourself an attainable plan for the week ahead and incorporate oily fish and other known mood boosters such as nuts, bananas, avocados, seeds, greens… Your kids’ meals are no doubt full of goodness and there’s no reason why mummy and daddy’s diets can’t follow suit! Don’t be tempted to skip meals or brekki in order reverse the festive weight gain; low blood sugar will play havoc with your moods and energy levels!

Socialise

December was probably a very social month for most and you may miss the hustle of being surrounded by family, and attending many a Christmas party or fair with the kids. Try and be pro-active about filling up the social calendar again, even if it means braving some windy weather for a meet in the park with other mums/kids. Research shows that connecting with other people and finding interesting activities, help people feel better.

Comments

Volume control

3 May 2017 11am Where is the volume button? I'd like to say that I woke up on the wrong side of the bed today but I'd spent half the night on the sofa, with Huxley. He has been waking me up at 3.30am systematically for weeks now and I end up taking him there to settle. I have no tolerance of the volume today, surprisingly. Some days, my blocking out skills work better. But there are days when every bit of noise rubs me up the wrong way. When Peppa's voice is more ear-splitting than normal or the Minions' babble is drilling a hole in the skull. Parenting is such a noisy time. I know, that is stating the outrageously obvious, but reflecting on all the flopped expectations of parenthood is quickly becoming a favourite activity! It certainly is an eye (ear) opener. When daddy comes home from work at the end of the day, he always exclaims, "I forget how chaotic being around the kids is". I'm just amazed that he has the chance and capacity to...

Party fever (sickness)

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Baby's First Christmas

Seeing things through our kids’ eyes can make things extra special and especially so at Christmas time. I personally never enjoyed Christmas until my sprogs came along; they are the main reason I now get excited at this time of year! If we put aside the stressful consumerism that always prevails – what to get who, which side of the family to visit this year, remembering to post xmas cards in time, and the Christmas dinner no less – having Christmas for the first time as your own special family unit may capture the innocence back into it all. You may think that your baby isn’t going to be bothered about celebrations and the tradition of Christmas, or what gifts you shower them with. Maybe it’s just the excuse you need to take a moment out, if it’s your first one as a family, or perhaps you have a new addition. I can’t think of a better time for photo cards and creating beautiful keepsakes. You could even have Santa in the picture; you or your partner might want to dress up f...

Big brother

We've entered unknown territory now that Rafy has turned 4. This year at nursery has been like a whirlwind and the tantrum-prone toddler who started ten months ago, has somewhere in this time, become a taller, more independent boy who can use the toilet proficiently (except wipe his own bum adequately after a poo - but I'll take that any day!). I don't know exactly when it happened but he has transformed into a child, as opposed to being a toddler. I look at him in equal measures of awe and perplexity: is this mini human being really my wee Rafy monster? Suddenly there is a boy that talks to me, tells me things and with whom I can (sort of) reason! It's been a long time coming but he actually sits with us at mealtimes and has stopped emptying all the drawers and reachable cupboards in the flat. He can be left to his own devices in a different room from me and I don't have to worry about knives and cups of tea when it's just him around, like durin...

Live Music for kids

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Ramblings

Currently the youngest hasn't eaten all day and the poo episodes have been particularly abominable. Plural episodes, that is. I've tried limitless teething salts and end up giving in and feeding yoghurt and cereal, just to get something down the hatchet. He has whinged from dawn to dusk and the witching hour was insane tonight – drained my soul right out. It usually begins 1-2 hours before bedtime; today it started when he woke up! 3 mins early for school drop off this morning, which is a first for a long time. Was in a skinny T-shirt and short denim skirt but everyone looked at me as if I was stark, raving mad. The heat muggy wave came as predicted although was not quite present at that stage. That's all fine and dandy for them in their long coats and trousers but I live the furthest out from the school and so have the longest, hardest walk, hence sweaty arrivals! Have made the mistake of layering up for a school run before, thinking it's cold out. ...

Mug of Whine

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