Monday, January 09, 2012

Beat The Monday Blues

It's that time of the new year when we're all coming off our holiday highs, and easing back into the throes of reality. Most of us will be returning to school or work, perhaps even both. After a fun festive season, I find it difficult to shake off the vacation vibe and get back into the groove of things. I've thought up a few ideas to take the dullness out of everyday routines and make the transition back to normality a smooth one. So grab a brush and paint over those Monday blues with a shade of sunshine :)



How To Beat Out the Monday Blues


* Start your day with something that relaxes you, especially if you know the chaos that lies ahead. An undisturbed cup of coffee or tea while watching the morning news, try a hot shower with an invigorating shower gel, write in your journal, watch the sunrise, have a hearty breakfast, meditation or yoga, or even just lying in bed for an extra ten minutes.
* Change something in your surroundings. Coming back from holiday to a place that looks the same can be a little depressing. Rearrange the furniture in your home, bring a new vase or frame to work, brighten up your living space with a new coat of paint. I find that making your workspace more attractive takes away some of the tedium.
* Organize your handbag. Sounds simple, but after the festive season, it can become a bottomless pit of unidentifiable junk. Empty out the contents, edit out anything that's unnecessary, and put things in an order that will be easy to find. You will feel a whole lot lighter, literally.
* Wear a bold shade of lipstick. There's nothing like the right shade of red (or pink) that will immediately boost confidence and morale. And get you a few smiles too.
* This is also a good time to start a creative project. Gather all your holiday snapshots and scrapbook them into something beautiful that will be a reminder of the great time you had.
* Getting into a kitchen routine after endless days and nights of eating out can be grueling. To make it more bearable, start by whipping up your ultimate favourite dish and really make dinner an event. No lounging around in PJ's in front of the TV with a pizza box. Proper plates and cutlery, a nice outfit, decorative table setting or flowers, and relish in that time with your family/significant other. Or by yourself, remember that scene in Eat Pray Love when Liz Gilbert made a gourmet meal just for herself in her apartment in Rome?
* Exercise = endorphins. As unappealing as it may sound, even five minutes of high-impact exercise will have a beneficial effect. But make it fun. Turn up your stereo and dance around, skip rope, hula hoop, jump on a mini trampoline, take the stairs instead of the elevator, or park furthest from your work/campus entrance (I call this 'unconscious' exercise).
* Treat yourself to something decadent. If you don't have time to make anything, go out and get a treat from your local deli. Even just one cupcake can make the world of difference at the end of a hard, long day.
* Make an inspiration board. Collect pictures of all the things you'd like to achieve as well as things you've already achieved. Paste them onto a board on the wall. This will remind you of how well you've done in the past and inspire you to reach your goals in the future.
* Take half an hour out of the day just for You. If you don't have that amount of time to spare, even 15 minutes will do. Do something you love: read a chapter of that novel, browse a magazine, take a power nap or relaxing bath, watch your favourite comedy, take a photograph of something beautiful, or call up and chat to an old friend.


If you're feeling a deeper shade of blue this Monday, I hope that you will try out one of these tips or share some of your own with me. If all fails, catching up with your favourite blogs is a sure-fire way of cheering up. Works for me :)


*Pictures found via Tumblr, Google Images and Flickr. 

57 comments:

M said...

it's still sunday here! :P

but loving the "blues"! Cute post!

xx.M

www.bellesandrebelles.blogspot.com

kavery said...

Nothing but the blues? Nice post!

Josie said...

These are great tips! I emptied out my bag today...can't believe how much crap I've been carrying around with me! Like receipts for clothes I don't even have any more xx

Victoria West said...

Still Sunday here too (in Toronto). :))) But it's officially the last day of the holiday season. :)

Cheers!
Victoria.

Skinny Moonstick said...

What a sweet blue post! :) I am admiring those pictures and dreaming of sitting by that GORGEOUS table, eating those BLUE cupcakes, smelling the pretty blue roses, wearing the AMAZING Tiffany's ring... mmm... now the blues seem very much happy after all :)
Thank you for the sweet tips too! Reading fellow blogs gets me much inspired and rejuvenated in the midst of all the odd daily craziness!
Thanks for the follow too! I am so happy! And I'm following you too now :)
Good luck!

skinnymoonstick.blogspot.com

Paolita@BerryHaute said...

I love all those "blue" pics.... such a pretty shade too!
Good tips to snap us back into reality from Holiday mode.

Purvi said...

Lying in bed for extra 10 minutes sounds good ;)
and I am about to start a new painting and I have to actually start going to the gym again :) :)
Great tips Sam and I loved all those pictures :) :)

Lizbeth-Glamstyln' said...

lovely post and love the collage of all blues..

new follower.
I invite you to visit my blog.
blessings.

Jade said...

The above pictures are definitely the kind of Monday Blues that I like (especially the cupcakes and Tiffany box!). I agree about treating yourself for sure - best way to make you feel happy is eating/drinking something you love xx

yiqin; said...

nice post <3

Rahul Bhatia said...

A lovely post to begin the new week! Sam, love your posts as they cover such a wide spectrum of life and all the glitz of fashion! Have a lovely week with no Monday blues:)

Anonymous said...

Aww, these tips are sure winners. Thankfully I don't go back to school yet for another few weeks. I totally agree with these tips. I especially like the inspiration board idea! ;)

P.S. I'm glad I was able to give you a heads up on the movies that's coming out soon!

Lots of love, B
http://vivalabreee.blogspot.com/
Tweet me: Viva_La_Breee

Unknown said...

The photo inspiration is just stunning really did capture the title.
Great tips on how to deal with the blues and sleeping some extra minutes could totally help me out with mine for sure.

Happy 2012..

<3 Marina
Fashion.MakeUp.LifeStyle

Nicole said...

Hope you had a lovely weekend Sam :)
Awesome post - I so agree with you on all of these points. I recently sorted out my closet, desk, got a new diary, etc etc. It really helps at the start of a new year.
xxx

ps said...

amazing blue :))


http://fashionbong.blogspot.com/

Antee Gurung said...

its still so sun day here..anywaz will keep that in mind by tomorrow!!lovely collage
Be sure to check out my new posts!!
Love & Luck
XOXO

Vicky Fernández said...

Today's being a very bad monday! Thanks for your tips... I'll need them to pass through the day...

Beautiful selection of pictures!

Vicky
lamaletadeolivia.blogspot.com

Nhi said...

beautiful photos:) think blue is going to be a very fun color for the spring/summer time:)

ROSECANDLE11



GIVEAWAY: GOLD/PINK STATEMENT NECKLACE

GoNcha GoNcha said...

so cute pictures to beat blue monday.
each Monday, I also share tips to overcome Monday Syndrome. Please come and visit;)
have a Cupcake sweet Monday;)
http://gonchagoncha.blogspot.com/

Bailey Schneider said...

I love this list! It's wonderful. It's amazing how many of these things I do already, but you've reminded me of some other things I should incorporate into my life again :-)
Thank you for such a gorgeous post!
Love from Bailey of Vanilla Blonde

Rakhshan said...

i love your tips! sorting things really gives me a feeling of accomplishment.and i keep a novel at hand because i'm always reading something or the other!
loving the print of that blue dress!!xx
i'm posting a link Sam, it's from our second meetup which was yesterday! Do take a look if you get time!:) x
http://www.sarahassansblog.com/2012/01/rouge-bunny-rouge-bloggers-meetup.html

Anonymous said...

Love this post !! great advices and i almost forgot blue is may favourite color :)

Kisses Alexandra,

http://lessformore-ideas.blogspot.com/
http://arbyalexandrarebelo.blogspot.com/

artichoke heart said...

thank you for the comment darling x yes the shoot was for Vogue Russia

come back again soon!
x

http://artichoke--heart.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

Sweety!

Amazing post again, such great tips for those who have blue mondays!

xxx

A Life Un-Styled said...

Thank goodness Monday is over for me! Nothing like a million things to do to keep your mind off the amazing weekend you just had! I hope you had a wonderful weekend - here's to a great week :)

Teresa said...

thank you so much much!!!!!!! i'm struggling to go back to normal.. i always suffer from post-trauma do to great experiences like travels and Christmas hahaha no, seriously! i'm gonna put some bold lipstick right now :)

happy week!
teresa
www.trend-ish.com

Denise said...

That was inspiring, dear Sam! Let's see: some of the things I do already, like treating myself, giving time to myself, redecorating the flat... but I loved the sentence in the middle: "Anything is possible!"
I am feeling blue today. We arranged the beach house to be sold, yesterday. I explained on my blog. I'm democratic. I asked my two brothers whether we should sell it, and I said "the majority wins". They both said yes. Now I'm secretly wishing nobody gets interested... But it's very well located and built, so, I guess many will be interested in.
Anyway, as I said... the majority won...

Fashion Pad said...

Awesome post and really great tips!!!

Miu said...

This is a beautiful collage and some very nice tips!

Unknown said...

Thank you for the tips :) That Tiffany ring is sooo beautiful :)
xo Jac
thesunshinedistrict.blogspot.com

Cafe Fashionista said...

Fabulous post! I am loving these suggestions - and pictures! :)

Emma-Louise said...

I love this so much, defintely gonna be saving this post for when I'm having a down day!

Judith said...

Lovely post, love it! :)

DailyGlamour said...

cute post

Punctuation Mark said...

great post! have a great week!

Anonymous said...

I'd recommend watching Julian Smith's "Happy Monday" video on Youtube...stupid but hilarious. Kisses!

<3 Cambria
jupefashion.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

love this <3 i needed it! happy Monday :) xox
**Don’t forget to enter our $30 Jewelry Giveaway!**

Rakhshan said...

thanks a lot, im so happy you liked them:)
i don't think i'd be doing a post about it because of the cyberstalker thingy:/ which is the reason i just sent you the link on sara's blog. xox

Tiffany Kadani said...

I'm about to go exercise now! So true about endorphins. And about your comment on Japanese New Years- it's the same as the Western World. January 1st.

cookinspire said...

Thanks a lot for stopping by at my blog! :) This was really a happy post!! I should have gone somewhere and eat a cupcake before coming home! Very inspiring post!

Unknown said...

Such a lovely post! great words and advice.
Aimee
www.new-yorkdoll.blogspot.com
xxx

Mandy@OrangeAutumn said...

Great advice/ideas on how to beat the blues, I love this!! Those pictures are gorgeous, those are the kind of blues I want on Monday!

Eleonora said...

Great post! I really love blue, it's my favourite colour! :)

Would you like to visit my blog?
[FollementeFashion]

Kisses.

Elin Kling said...

Amazing!

Elle Sees said...

Cheers to beating the winter blues! I love this shade.

Anonymous said...

Reading this post could not come at a better time hun. Its tuesday here in NZ but it feels like Monday! haha. I've taken your idea of starting a new project to heart and will be embarking on a new DIY. Thanks hun. Hope you beat these Monday blues ^_^

Eeli x

Alexandra said...

Wow did I need this today haha. My Monday has been brutal so far but reading this post, I'm reminded that I can always turn my luck around on my own! Especially in the winter when it's so gloomy it's good to remember that some simple tricks can easily turn your mood for the better.

Alexandra xo

http://tovogueorbust.com/

Paula said...

Lovely post dear, I´d love to feel blue (if it meant getting me some Tiffanys!).

www.superclementina.blogspot.com

xx

Thesmallnoble said...

really cute post!
http://thesmallnoble.blogspot.com/

Eleanor at Mirror Of My World said...

thanks for sharing this is such a sweet post xxxxx

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for your sweet comment,it was lovely to read. Yeah im a fashion design student,thanks for your kind words,I love to draw :D
Such gorgeous pictures/collarge,that bag and table setting are gorgeous.And I love your tips to beat the blues.I love your last tip,it so important to take the time just to stop and chill even if it is only for 15 minutes.
Hope you had a great Christmas and new year x

Marianna said...

Do you want to know another way to beat the blues???
A BLOG AWARD.
and this one is for you.
http://lureofthedarkside.blogspot.com/2012/01/dress-made-of-lace.html
thank you for having such a great blog to read.
marianne.

Rolled Up Pretty said...

LOVE this post! Monday blues are the worst but all your suggestions are the cutest! LOVE THEM! Your blog is adorable, definitely following cute girl, can't wait to keep reading!

margaret cruzemark said...

This is great. I love it!!!
Miss Margaret Cruzemark
http://margaretcruzemark.blogspot.com/

Fictitious Fashion said...

ur so right about exercise.. I did it for like 7-10 mins.. n My feet got so warm!! :D

re: Thanku thanku.. n u have a knack for swaying people by ur kind words :) :P
Hope u have a great day!

Lipgloss Kisses said...

Gorgeous pics. That's sure to send all blue feelings away. :)

♥ Chicara

VintageDanielle said...

Typically I try to stay away from blue but these colors are delicious