Today is labelled Blue Monday as it is said to be the most depressing day of the year. To help combat the blues we've found 10 things to do to improve your mood...

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1. Wash your bedsheets

This may sound a little futile but a lot of us love the feel of fresh sheets, so if you’re going to spend the rest of the day in bed, or plan to spend the evening there with your laptop, make it a little more luxurious with clean linen.

2. See friends

If you are feeling down today, then popping over to see a friendly face might be just what you need. Message a friend to see if anyone is free for a catch up. Don’t feel dejected if nobody can make it, arrange it for another day instead so you have something to look forward to.

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3. Exercise

According to the NHS, regular exercise can boost your mood. "Any type of exercise is useful, as long as it suits you and you do enough of it," says Dr Alan Cohen, a GP with a special interest in mental health. "Exercise should be something you enjoy; otherwise, it will be hard to find the motivation to do it regularly."

You don’t have to go running or go to a gruelling exercise class, something fun like a dance class or a brisk walk will suffice.

4. Eat well

Keep your blood sugar steady by eating little and often to avoid dips in energy, creating dips in your mood but keep the snacks healthy. Avoid foods high in sugar as the energy spike they give is followed by an energy low which, again, can lead to a low mood.

Foods that have been shown to naturally enhance happiness include spinach, sweet potatoes, avocados, eggs, Brazil nuts and bananas.

5. Listen to your favourite song

Whatever it may be, stick it on during your commute home or blast it when you’re back so you can even sing-a-long. As long as it isn’t a very sad song, it may give you a well needed boost.

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6. Book a holiday

Don’t skip past this one if money is tight, we know January is a hard month after splurging over Christmas. If you can’t afford to book a holiday but would like to then start doing a little bit of research. Narrow down where you want to go and make a shortlist of hotels. Shop around for flights and act when you see a good deal as they’re likely to go up the closer it gets to your holiday dates, which won’t make you happy.

7. Take a quiet moment to yourself
If you’re surrounded by colleagues all day and family all night you may need to take a minute, there’s nothing wrong with that. Have a relaxing bath, take an extra-long shower or, curl up with a book.

8. Learn something new

This could tie into exercise by attending a new class, or it could be something simple like trying a new recipe so dust off your cookbooks. If you’re yearning for a chocolate fix for a little comfort then baking could be a good way to earn yourself a little treat.

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9. Get into nature

This has been proven to combat depression, often referred to as ‘ecotherapy’, it reduces social isolation, boosts self-esteem, improves energy and, hand-in-hand with being out-and-about is an improvement to physical health. If it is too dark and rainy then buy yourself some flowers and bring nature inside.

10. A big hug
Always make time for cuddle, When we hug someone, oxytocin is released into our bodies by our pituitary gland, which can lower the heart rate and reduce cortisol - the hormone responsible for stress – in our body. Oxytocin can also increase feelings of commitment, intimacy and safety