Contact
+44 (0) 7973 662793

Make January Your ‘Yes You Can’ Month

exercise & endorphins

January is a pretty rubbish month on a number of fronts, whether it’s a lack of money, the weather and feeling desperate to see and feel the sun again!  Based on some of these factors, about 10 years ago the third Monday in January was identified by a psychologist as ‘Blue Monday’, the most depressing day of the year for most people.  And if you’ve fully embraced the national obsession for the Danish way of living ‘Hygge’ – which if you haven’t heard, means creating a nice, warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people around you – then you may be happy, but perhaps feeling a bit sluggish.

So although it’s important to listen to your body, take time out, rest and relax this month – and let’s face it, all year-round – right now getting out and active will bring benefits.  Exercise can really lift your mood and beat the January blues because your body releases chemicals called endorphins.  It’s scientific fact!  The endorphins communicate with the receptors in your brain, triggering positive and energizing feelings.  They also act as analgesics, reducing the perception of pain and mimicking the feeling of sedatives after exertion.  It’s why regular exercise – of any kind – has been proven to:

  • Reduce stress
  • Help combat anxiety and feelings of depression
  • Improve self-esteem
  • Improve the quality of your sleep

So, if you haven’t already found your own personal favourite way to exercise and feel good, why not take the next few weeks to work it out?  Maybe it’s yoga, or spinning, going for more walks in the great outdoors, maybe it’s BodyCombat, swimming, running or Pilates – it doesn’t matter as long as you enjoy it!  Working out with friends or in a class will not only help your motivation to get off the sofa but group exercise is also helpful in beating the blues.

And if you’re still after yet more inspiration, we highly recommend liking the facebook page of ‘This Girl Can’ – it’s full of motivational stories and advice from real women who’re working towards their fitness goals, however big or small.