Change the lights! Start napping! 27 ways to boost your mood for the New Year

Feeling perpetually weary can make the simplest tasks feel daunting. Everything becomes harder, you feel a constant urge to sleep and even simple tasks feel unnecessarily draining. Then, the new year rolls in and the societal pressure to transform ourselves into better versions seems magnified. However, it is the dead of winter, and we are in the throes of recovery from the holiday season. It is a time when our expectations of each other are greater, notes psychologist Dr. Linda Blair. These high expectations can explain the drained feeling many of us experience. Jumping straight into detoxes, boot camps, and resolutions may not be the best solution. Instead, we should learn to decline gracefully when we are stretched beyond our limits, proposes Blair.

Executive coach and author Viv Chitty encourages speaking about “depleted energy” rather than “low energy”. She suggests the downside of feeling low on energy could simply be a state of calmness, contemplation or deep listening. Having low energy could be your body’s way of signaling a need for rest and recuperation, she continues. However, when you find it difficult to concentrate on work or take interest in your surroundings, it may be an indication of a problematic energy depletion.

Here is some advice from these experts along with a few useful tips from our writers on overcoming such energy depletion. Firstly, avoid sleeping in. Embrace the winter by adopting a resilient approach to cold and darkness. Waking up and getting ready after the sunrise, taking brisk walks in the daylight, and keeping your house ventilated are advised.

Secondly, engage in activities that release the ‘safety hormone’ oxytocin, like dancing and nurturing contact with another mammal. Then, understand what influences your energy level. These could range from your dietary habits to responsibilities at work and home. The key is to identify what drains your energy and what recharges it.

Eating a hearty breakfast and visualizing your energy, in order to understand the connection between your body and mind can also help. Take advantage of winter by maintaining social connections without unnecessary stress and practicing gentle exercises that promote calmness and alertness. Making improvements to your surroundings, such as adjusting your indoor lighting or adding aromatic oils to your room can help create a serene environment that promotes relaxation and rejuvenation.

Lastly, consider integrating minor changes in your daily routines like hydrating more, carrying healthy snack options like nuts, planning trips to view artistic works, setting explicit working hours and engaging in exercises such as running up stairwells. Remember to have fun and maybe even incorporate some silliness into your routine like swinging at a playground. Oh, and you might want to refrain from a 'Dry January'.

Contributors: Emma Beddington, Stuart Heritage, Martin Love, Rhik Samadder and Eva Wiseman.