Green Monday

We know, we know…”Blue Monday” originated as a marketing ploy from a travel company trying to encourage people to book holidays and isn’t an actual ‘thing’ but it is undeniable that many of us do find our moods dip at this time of year, now the excitement of the festive period is over and the world outside is still mostly cold, dark and wet.

Our Home Ed group at Totnes has decided today to reclaim the name and have renamed it ‘Green Monday’ and have spent some time searching the woods for fresh green shoots and signs of the much-anticipated spring that we are all very excited to arrive.

Meanwhile, our Mental Health Champion at The Outdoors School has put together some handy tips for folks who might be struggling with their mental health at this time of year, and we thought we’d share them here in case they might be useful strategies for people reading this.

Cultivate your sense of control

When we’re feeling overwhelmed, Stephen Covey’s ‘Sphere of Influence’ concept can be useful to turn to. By focusing on the things, we can control or influence rather than the things we can’t control, we can improve our sense of personal agency and reduce feelings of helplessness.

Boost your dopamine and oxytocin levels

Oxytocin is a hormone (sometimes called the ‘love hormone’ that is associated with social bonding and feelings of safety. So, if you’re feeling isolated or lonely, something that can help is using techniques that boost oxytocin levels, including:

• Practicing self-kindness and self-compassion
• Mindfulness meditation
• Resting and sleeping
• Send a message expressing gratitude to people you know

Dopamine, on the other hand is a neurotransmitter associated with reward, pleasure and motivation. When we’re down and demotivated, dopamine boosting techniques can help us to overcome low motivational levels. For example:

• Physical exercise, movement or dancing
• Eating healthy foods that are high in protein and good fats
• Trying something new
• Practicing gratitude
• Celebrating small victories

And the good news is that imbolc (the traditional start of spring for many people) is only a few weeks away now so if you are struggling with the still-sleeping wintry world, we’ll be seeing more light and more life come back in and hopefully with that, we’ll all start to reap the mental health benefits that come with this seasonal change.

Author: Collaboration between Emily Woolls, Lead Tutor at The Outdoors School and Hannah Durdin, Content Officer

Date: Monday 20th January 2025