My Top Tips to beat the January blues

My Top Tips to beat the January blues

January can be really bleak after all of the sparkle from Christmas has been taken down. But this year, for some reason, I was absolutely ready to say goodbye to the festive season. Don't get me wrong, I am so grateful for all of the sales and opportunities in the build-up to Christmas. I attended two weeks of the Newcastle Christmas market, which was phenomenal - I will be dedicating a whole blog post to that as there is so much that I want to say about the event. I had my second year at Newcastle Quayside Market, and I had multiple projects to complete through my social enterprise, Creative Heritage Studios CiC.

The end of 2025 was wonderful, but extremely busy, and by Christmas, I was truly ready to relax. I was eager to spend quality time with Jim and the kids and to feel no pressure to do anything. In fact, I took up a new hobby (embroidery) in an attempt to put down my screens and give my brain a rest. I struggled to switch off initially, as work was so intense, and by the end of the holidays, I was worried I would struggle to get back into a routine.

I was pretty determined to get the new year off to a good start, so on January 3rd, I took the Christmas decorations down. I was on the quayside on the 4th, and I needed to do this before the 12th night on January 5th, otherwise I would have bad luck for the year. I am a bit superstitious like that, and so taking them down late wasn't an option.

This is my frst completed embroidery. Its a bit like an "embroider by numbers" kit and I have really enjoyed it. I have also thought about my own designs too so watch this space for future developments. 

Anyway, I was keen to start the new year, but also felt the cold settling in, and the lack of sparkle and magic had given me the blues in the past, so I now have some tips and tricks that really help. I wanted to share them with you so you can do them too, and perhaps develop some of your own. These ideas can be used throughout the year, not just in January by the way.

Tip One - Embracing the dark with Hygge

You might be wondering what Hygge is, and how you can create a sense of Hygge in your own home. Hygge is a Danish and Norwegian concept that embraces a sense of cosiness, wellness, comfort and connection. The idea is that, in order to feel more connected with loved ones on the dark, cold days, you would use low light like candles to encourage a sense of closeness and togetherness. Things like enjoying food, a warm brew, conversation, and each other's company are recommended. But 'how is it pronounced, Corinne?' I hear you ask. Well, this is how you say Hygee: "Hurgah". Go on, give it a go!

I especially like the concept as Newcastle is a popular Nordic holiday destination, apparently second to London for our Nordic visitors. This is due to the twin city status of Newcastle and Bergen, the Viking settlements in Northumbria, and the WWII connection of Nordic Seamen who evacuated refugees from WWII to Britain, recently commemorated by a visit from S/S Hestmanden.

I feel like we have fully embraced our Nordic sensibilities now that the brand Søstrene Grene has shops in the Metrocentre in Gateshead and in Eldon Square in Newcastle. I always feel relaxed having a wander around the perfectly merchandised Søstrene Grene spaces.

Is there anything better than a warm brew on a rainy day with a good book or perhaps a bit of embroidery. You can take a look at our fine bone china mugs to add to your favourite comfort mug colelction. 

Tip Two - Visual intention boards

I am not a big believer in New Year's resolutions as they are hard to stick to, and I often find they put a lot of pressure on me. I am also a highly visual person, so I have plans this month to do some visual intention boards with some of my lovely friends. Visual intention boards are a scrapbooking activity. You can either take hard copy source material like magazines or photographs, and art materials to create your vision board, or you can use software like Canva to create them too. I am really looking forward to this as it will be a nice way to set intentions for the year and have a visual reminder up on the wall to focus on. If you are a fan of manifestation like I am, this is a great exercise to keep you focused and inspire a positive mindset and sense of excitement for the year ahead. 

This is an example of a vision board they have on Canva - and If you are a charity or a social enterprise you can apply for a free pro acount. 

Tip Three - Developing a healthy mind, body connection

January is usually the month when everyone jumps on the health and fitness bandwagon. And I just know gym memberships and supplement subscriptions will go through the roof. For a while now, I have been going to my local leisure centre for a swim and a sauna. This has become a routine I now struggle to live without. January is a month when that desire for health and well-being is sharpened. But I often think that what stops us from being consistent is our lack of connection between the mind and body. So top tip number three to blast away those January blues is to find an activity that you love, that you can afford to do all year, that you can perhaps do with a buddy or your partner and try and do it all year round. This will massively help when you get to January, as you won't be starting something new when you are broke (because of Christmas). There are loads of free exercise sessions on YouTube that you could start with

Mindfulness also helps with this and will help you be more consistent with physical exercise. Mindfulness can be meditation, but it can also be painting, drawing, singing, playing an instrument, working on a project that uses your hands, or gardening. Mindfulness comes when you are completely immersed and in a relaxed state, doing something you really love. If meditation isn't for you, then try something else. My ambition this year is to have singing lessons, even if I just have a few, I know it will really help me switch off. I also want to join an art class to meet new people and learn some new skills just for fun. I am particularly interested in learning how to paint with oil. I have been totally inspired by my cousin Daniel Sequeira. Take a look at his work, it's phenomenal. 

I have found that time goes a lot slower when I do my embroidery. I think there is something about screen time that warps our sense of time. 

Tip Four - Look to the future & Give Back

The dark nights and cold days can make you feel like there isn't much to look forward to. And your low vitamin D levels won't help if you are in a particularly cold place. But making plans for the year ahead can be a great way of making sure you don't dwell too much on things you can't change, like the weather. So break up the year into sections and start making plans for the year. This could be home decorating plans, plans to head out on a holiday over summer, or creating a must-do list of places or people to visit. Look at joining a new community group that resonates with you. Research volunteering opportunities in your local community and be part of making a positive change. There is so much in the world that we can't control, so focusing on your community and giving back to it can help boost your sense of hope and reduce isolation. 

Giving back to your community really can make you feel so much better. We often feel powerless and volunteering or being part of a social enterprise can really help you find your purpose. 

Tip Five - Do you need a supplement?

Most people in the North East of England have low vitamin D levels. This is because we just don't get enough sun. And this is probably why we love going on holiday to hot countries so much. But let's face it, holidays are expensive. We went on our first family holiday in 7 years last year, so we know all about that. Taking a good quality vitamin D supplement can really help. It's best to chat to your doctor about getting your vitamin D levels checked before you do this. And not all vitamin D supplements are made equally, so again, it's best to get professional advice about which one will work for you.

I crave the sun don't you? I cannot wait to start planning my next holiday. My hope is it will be soon and not in 7 years time!!

I hope you have found these top tips helpful, and I wish you prosperity, good health and an abundance of joy for 2026.

Corinne x