10 Instant Mood-Lifters for Blue Monday

Since 2005, the third Monday of January has been dubbed as Blue Monday which is apparently the most depressing day of the year for countries in the Northern Hemisphere. We don’t know about you, but our day is going pretty well so far.

But to help diminish any dark clouds which might be hanging over your head on this day, we’re sharing how you can stay relaxed and happy on Blue Monday – and you wouldn’t believe the benefits it can have for your heart.

Everyone deals with stress differently. Depending on how much stress you’re under and how you react to it can lead to an assortment of health problems. According to Ernesto L. Schiffrin, M.D., high levels of stress can lead to high blood pressure (hypertension), asthma, IBS and even ulcers.

Stress is known to affect behaviours which can lead to an increased risk in developing heart disease. Some of these factors include: physical inactiveness, overeating and smoking. These factors can lead to higher blood pressure and higher cholesterol levels which ultimately increase the individual’s risk of developing heart disease.

Others may choose to excessively drink alcohol or smoke many cigarettes in an attempt to control their stress levels, but many don’t realise that these habits can increase blood pressure and can cause damage to the walls in their arteries, ultimately leading to severe heart problems.

Going through various stressful situations can cause a domino-like effect in the body. Adrenaline is released causing your blood pressure and heart rate to rise, temporarily. This effect prepares you and your body to deal with the situation.

As studies are on-going for finding the connection between the heart, heart disease and stress; we’ve decided to list ten of our favourite mood lifting activities which can help you beat the blues and tackle anything January throws at you with a smile on your face.

Walking  

A 30-minute walk can reduce your risk of heart disease and the chances of suffering a stroke by 27%. Walking is a simple cardio-exercise that can increase your levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and lower the LDL (bad) cholesterol level. It’s true that you’ll find at least one of our staff members popping out for a walk on their lunch come rain or shine.

Yoga

Yoga is known to increase your muscle tone and overall strength. Not only does it strengthen you, but your cardio and circulatory health will also increase too. Yoga has also been known to lower your blood pressure and reduce insomnia.

Running

Running, similarly to other exercises can really lift your spirits. Exercise can instantly lift your mood if you’re down, so get your trainers on and get out there!

Bananas!

Bananas contain several, important nutrients which have benefits for heart health, digestion and assist with weight loss. Bananas also contain tryptophan, an amino acid which the body converts into serotonin, the happy hormone! As well as this, they’re rich in fibre and contain a good amount of antioxidants.

 H20

 When you drink water, your fatigue is lowered and your energy is boosted. Water helps to maintain regularity in the body and flushes out all the toxins that are lurking about.

Laughter

Laughter causes the body to release the body’s feel-good endorphins. Laughter also decreases stress and increases your resistance to diseases by increasing immune cells and infection fighting anti-bodies, so avoid catching a cold, and catch the giggles instead!

Talking to Someone

Talking lets you get everything that is bothering you off your chest and allows you to breathe that little bit easier. Venting out your problems will allow you to re-wire your brain after dealing with the problems and you won’t have to self-medicate yourself anymore away from your problems. 

Read a Book

It doesn’t matter what book you pick off your bookshelf, when you immerse yourself and your mind into the book, psychologists believe that the distraction causes the muscles around the heart to relax. According to new research, reading for just six minutes can be enough to reduce your stress levels by two thirds.

Meditation

A simple meditation technique practiced for just 10 minutes per day can help you control your stress levels and improve your cardiovascular health, giving you a greater capacity for relaxation. 

Breathe

Lastly, just breathe. Take each day as it comes. Don’t over schedule, laugh regularly and think about what would make you happy! Looking after yourself is one of the most important aspects to a healthy life-style.

Stress can be dealt with in a variety of ways, but it’s up to you to find what techniques help you relax and get them blues under control.

Simply implementing a few of our options will have you smiling on Blue Monday and see you through the day with a smile on your face.

What do you do to keep them stress levels at bay? Working full-time is no easy job, but what do you do to see you through the day? Let us know your tactics in the comments section down below, or alternatively, why not Tweet us @defibshop to let us know what stress-busters keep you smiling.

defibshop are committed to equipping everyone with the skills and knowledge to save a life. Speak to one of our Product Specialists on 0161 776 7422 or fill out our Contact Form.