Monday 17 January was the most miserable day of the year according to academics. The weather was dreary, Christmas seemed like a distant memory and pay-day still a long way off. But fear not; follow our simple but effective guide to beat the blues...
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Mental note for future Monday’s - ward off the usual end of weekend anxieties with a soak in Origins Calm to Your Senses Oil for bath and body, £21 (origins.co.uk). It contains lavender and vanilla which work as a natural sedative. Then take Dr Frank Lipman’s advice, author of Spent: End Exhaustion & Feel Great Again (Hay House UK) who recommends an electronic shut down at 10pm, this means no computers, no phones or TV’s as they are too stimulating. Cover any little lights that may be glaring from your TV or alarm (I’ve been using Blu-Tack), even the smallest amount of light is enough to unsettle your sleep pattern and prevent a deep slumber.
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Chances are the alarm on your phone is what woke you this morning. An alarm is a traumatic way to start the day, it prevents the sleep cycle from completing naturally. A dawn simulation device is a far less stressful option. Our body clock responds to the light by producing the hormones cortisol, adrenalin and seratonin (they help to energise us in the morning). Lumie Bodyclock Elite 300, £149.95 (lumie.com), gradually increasing light’s intensity to wake you gently and allow your sleep cycle to complete naturally.
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Opt for an early morning workout before heading to the office. When you’re feeling blue, exercise is often the last thing you want to do but it can often be best thing to get you out of your Monday spiral of despair. Endorphins, adrenaline, serotonin and dopamine (aka feel-good hormones) are released and as a result make you feel good. Yoga in particular has been shown to help relieve stress and improve mood. This is because it increases the levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical in the brain that helps to regulate nerve activity, improve mood and decrease anxiety.
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A Vie at Home Study in 2009 found that three quarters of 3000 women polled said that the shade of lipstick they wore affected their mood, one in four chose red if they wanted to feel sexy and almost all said that a deep red made them feel more confident. A spokesperson said “By applying a red lipstick women instantly feel more confident, sexy and in control.” Pencil in your lips with a red liner before applying your lipstick of choice over the top to ensure the colour stays put.
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If you’re like us, the majority of your week is spent behind a desk in a office underneath artificial light. Our exposure to natural sunlight is limited and therefore we cannot produce the levels of vitamin D our body needs. Besides supporting our bones, immune system and mental health, vitamin D is also invaluable when it comes to boosting our mood. It stimulates the production of serotonin, a feel good brain chemical. Whilst nothing beats the real thing supplements can go some way to boost levels of the vitamin in your body. Try Solgar Vitamin D3 600iu 60, £ £7.05 for 60 Capsules (victoriahealth.com).
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Our emotions are controlled by the limbic centre of the brain, which is connected to our sense of smell. Floris perfumer Shelagh Foyle says, “some scents give positive responses, they can transport you back to a happy time that you associate that smell with.” Typically, orange and lavender are relaxing, a waft of chamomile reduces anxiety, rosemary is uplifting and lemon and grapefruit invigorate. When you feel the trials of a typical Monday are beginning to get on top of you spritz Clarins Eau Dynamisante £27 for 100ml (uk.clarins.com), it contains lemon and rosemary and will instantly lift your spirits.