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The third Monday in January has been dubbed as ‘Blue Monday’ and is said to be the most depressing day of the year. It is believed to be attributed to a marketing campaign by a travel company, taking into account time passed since Christmas, cold and dark nights, the arrival of bills and potentially when good new year intentions begin to fall to the wayside. Yes these are all valid reasons to feel down, but this theory isn't scientifically proven. However it can be difficult not to feel ‘blue,’ as there is so much media attention around it. For that reason, Memory Makers want to focus on the positive, remind you of the importance to ‘Take 5 steps to wellbeing’ and how participating in one of our workshops can help.
1. Connect
Memory Makers is all about connections. After all when we make a memory, we create a new connection in the brain. Have you prioritised time today to connect with a family member, friend or colleague? And I mean really connect. Often, we can find ourselves so busy that we don’t find the time to connect with those around us. At a Memory Makers workshop, we focus on building connections within our groups and ensure that our participants have the opportunity to connect with us and each other by learning new skills and eating together afterwards.
Some examples of how you can build connections everyday include: prioritising meals around the kitchen table, organising a coffee catch up with friends, phoning a colleague rather than relying on email or switch off the tv and play a board game with those in your home instead.
2. Be Active
I completely appreciate that finding the motivation at this time of year can be hard to be active everyday. The key is to find something that you enjoy. Some examples include to go for a walk or run in nature, gardening, try a Yoga class via YouTube or check out what your local leisure or community centre is offering – there are often great discounts at this time of year. Remember, there’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.
3. Keep Learning
Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. Don’t be afraid to try something new, it can help to build confidence, self esteem and can help give us a sense of purpose. At a Memory Makers workshop, we give you the confidence to learn new skills to create either an individual craft or baked creation to take home and enjoy.
Some examples of how you can keep learning everyday include: try a new recipe for dinner, rediscover an old hobby, work on a DIY project or sign up to a free course online.
4. Take Notice
Stop, pause and take a moment to look around you. Look for the new, the unusual or extraordinary in everyday life – it is there we are often just too busy to notice. Some examples of how you can take notice everyday, is to look for the changing season, savour the food that we taste, practice breathing techniques or meditation or try a new hobby that requires focus such as crocheting or mindful colouring. At a Memory Makers workshop we love the moment when the sound of chat suddenly drops as everyone is so focused on their creation. All of our workshops are planned to reflect the changing seasons, through the foods that we eat and creations we make.
5. Give
Giving is more than just the sharing of material things with others. It is about cultivating a spirit of generosity and promoting active participation in social and community life. It can benefit our own wellbeing through creating positive feelings through a sense of reward, giving us a sense of worth and supporting us to build positive connections. Some examples of how you can give to others every day include: asking someone how they are and really listening to the answer, spending time with friends or family who really need support, volunteering in your community, thanking others, or donating to local food or hygiene banks if you can afford to.
If you would like to learn more about a Memory Makers workshop for your community group or workplace, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Email: info@memorymakersni.com
For more information on 'Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing' please visit the following websites:
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