Is your sitting room looking bare and lifeless without your Christmas tree and ornaments? Is your home a little bit too quiet without the humdrum of family chatter from the festive season? Are you back at work and feeling a bit flat? If your answer is ‘yes’ to any of the above, then you may be experiencing the January Blues. Fear not, you are not alone. This widely-experienced phenomenon was documented by the psychologist Cliff Arnall back in 2004. He noted that cold weather, strained finances, failed New Year’s resolutions, low motivation, and the lapsed time since the joy of the Christmas period all contributed to the general population feeling flat. So, what can we do to fight our blue moods? Here are some of our top tips…
1. Book a Holiday
Here at Premier Stays Fife, we have a plethora of beautiful rental properties in St Andrews and the East Neuk. Why not check out our availability and get a long winter weekend, a spring holiday, or a summer staycation in the diary? It’s so important to have things on the horizon to look forward to. Our properties are all kitted out with super comfortable beds to ensure that you can get a great night’s sleep — another foundational pillar of keeping your mind and body well this winter.
2. Keep Active
Exercise and time in the great outdoors are known to boost your mood, so get moving! Whether that be a walk in the park, a relaxed yoga flow, or a HIIT class, integrating activity into your day will definitely help you feel a bit more yourself. If you’ve booked a January break with us, there are lots of activities to enjoy in St Andrews and the local area. Inspired by the iconic opening scene of the 1981 film Chariots of Fire, you could run along the West Sands with Vangelis’ music playing through your headphones. Alternatively, you could take your dog for a walk along stretches of the stunning East Fife coastal path — we have a number of pooch-friendly properties available to rent. Or, if neither of those take your fancy, a round of golf on one of the world-famous St Andrews Links courses would be another great option!
3. Stay Connected with Friends and Family
The third Monday in January is known as ‘Blue Monday’ and said to be the most depressing day in the year. However, we love that, a few years ago, the Samaritans rebranded this day as ‘Brew Monday’, a time to connect with and catch up with friends and family over a cuppa. Why not book a long weekend away in St Andrews and enjoy a hot beverage with your nearest and dearest in one of the lovely cafés in the town? We particularly love the traybakes and cakes at The Cottage Kitchen and the scones at Gorgeous! If you weren’t already persuaded that some quality time with your loved ones was just what was needed to beat the winter blues, then National Hugging Day, which takes place on 21 January each year, should certainly prompt you to book some time away with your besties, siblings, children, or parents. As Victor Hugo famously said, “laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face” — we couldn’t agree more. Check out our accommodation availability now!
4. Try Something New
Trying something new is a great way to spice up the monotony of the dark winter days. This year, we’re inspired by Cheese Lovers’ Day and Science Fiction Day, both of which take place in January.
St Andrews has an artisan cheesemonger, I J Mellis, which sells an amazing array of sensational Scottish cheeses, from Isle of Mull Cheddar to Hebridean Blue and Connage Gouda. They also sell delicious, freshly-baked breads, crackers, chutneys, and other accoutrements. We would recommend popping into the shop and treating yourself to some of their produce to enjoy back at one of our rentals paired with a bottle (or two) of seasoned red wine for the perfect night in.
To mark Science Fiction Day (even if it is a belated celebration!), we would recommend visiting Topping & Co., an independent bookshop in St Andrews. With traditional rolling ladders, cosy woodburning stoves, complimentary tea and coffee, and an unrivalled selection of titles, this really is a haven for bibliophiles. They have an excellent array of science fiction titles, and their staff are always on hand to help you find a book that you’ll love.
So, this January, we encourage you to keep active, to stay connected with friends and family, and to try something new. Most importantly, make sure you have something on the horizon to look forward to — we firmly believe that a holiday in St Andrews with Premier Stays would tick all the boxes. Check out our availability now!
If you feel that you cannot cope or your low mood is persistent, please do seek professional help. There are excellent resources on Mind UK, or you can contact your GP.