10 Tips for Beating the January Blues in 2024 

1) Make Sure You Get Plenty of Sleep

With the sun rising so late and setting so early, you’re naturally going to feel like curling up in bed more. Giving yourself permission to just that can have a positive impact on your mental health. 

According to the national sleep foundation, adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep every night to stay healthy. Anything below this can have a negative impact on your mood and contribute to you feeling low at this time of year. 

So don’t be too hard on yourself if you find it difficult to get up in the morning. Allow yourself that bit of extra time in bed if you can. Or if you feel like an early night or an after-work snooze, then go for it! One of our favourite things about our range of hypoallergenic stainless steel studs and hoops is that they’re perfectly safe to sleep in so you can be nap-ready whenever the mood takes you. 

If you’re finding that the quality of your sleep is an issue, then get into a good habit of reducing screen time before bed to help your brain wind down from the day. Speaking of which…

2) Take a Break from Tech 

Tech-free time does wonders for your mental health. It’s been proven that spending too much time on our devices can cause physical and emotional damage as it contributes to symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as headaches and vision problems. 

Social media especially can have a negative impact on our general wellbeing as you risk replacing genuine human interaction with a false sense of connection online. Don’t get us wrong. We love keeping up with our bestie’s Insta stories. But it’s no replacement for seeing them in real life! And too much time scrolling means we have less time to pursue our passions and interests. 

If you’re finding it difficult to stop reaching for your phone, fidget rings are a great way to keep your hands busy and focus your brain on something else. Our fidget rings have spinning outer bands or spinning flowers, suns and other designs that you can play with to distract your mind from bad habits like doom scrolling! 

Phones aren’t the only culprit either – too much gaming and TV can also leave us feeling disconnected. After all, our bodies are made to move, not stare at a screen. We also need chill out time to just be.

3) Make Space for Quiet Time

It’s easy to feel like modern day life is all go go go. Especially with packed diaries, hectic social lives and never ending “to do” lists. But it’s important to allow yourself some space to relax and unwind without time pressure or the thought of needing to be somewhere. 

This could be reading a book or taking a relaxing bath or shower. You can elevate your bathing routine by adding in some calming eucalyptus. You may choose to hang fresh leaves or get the same effect by using Naturally Tribal’s Oroma bodywash which includes the antioxidant properties of both eucalyptus and orange. You can find this and other products in our beauty section. 

Trying a spot of meditation using one of our Chakra necklaces is another great way to make space for quiet time. This can be daunting if you’ve never done it before but it’s one of the best things you can do to give yourself a moment to just be you. 

Find a quiet spot. Sit and focus on your breathing and imagine a light flooding your body from the top of your head to your toes. Wearing Chakra stones, like those on our heart chakra power stone necklace, will help you cleanse any feelings that are stopping you from feeling balanced in your mind or body. It might feel strange at first, but you’ll soon feel like you’ve been kissed by a breath of fresh air each time you do it. We also have some beautiful clarity stone beaded bracelets which are great to wear as a daily reminder to find some time for mindfulness in everyday life. 

4) Declutter Your Space and Mind 

You’ve probably heard the saying; “a tidy home is a tidy mind” Well there’s actually plenty of truth in it. Having a clear out can have a really positive impact on your mood as it comes with a feeling of space and freedom. 

Overhauling your whole home can feel overwhelming so start small and be methodical. Take each room at a time. Look through your cupboards and get rid of anything you’ve not used in a year or more. Be ruthless (do you really need 14 mugs?). Then it’s time to tackle that jumbled drawer of necklaces. Our range of super cute jewellery cases come in different styles and sizes so you can finally store all your gold stud earrings, gold rings and gold chain necklaces safely in one place without them getting lost or tangled.

Lastly, spend some time sorting out your wardrobe and accessories. That way you can make some space for any new additions in 2024. Once you’re done, you can either donate your unwanted items to charity, head to a clothes swap or sell them on for a bit of extra post-Christmas cash! 

5)Try Something New  

There’s no better feeling that the sense of achievement that comes with learning a new skill or trying something you’ve always wanted to do. It’s a real boost for both your confidence and your mood. 

So have a think. Is there something you’ve wanted to try for ages but never quite got round to it? Or something you once started but life got in the way?

Well now’s the perfect time to invite those passions into your life. It’s proven that getting creative can reduce your stress levels so why not get adventurous with your cooking, learn a new language, give a craft a go or take up a dance class.

Or how about getting that nose piercing you’ve always dreamt of? Or experimenting with your style? Now could be the time to take the plunge and really express yourself.

Whether it’s a rock chick hypoallergenic cartilage stud or pair of glam gold threader earrings, an edgy gold choker necklace or some sophisticated huggie earrings, Solace has got what you need to embrace that fiercely 'you' style in 2024. 

6) Get Plenty of Exercise 

Whilst we’re on the subject of trying something new, taking up a sport or exercising more is another great way to beat the January blues.

Regular exercise is proven to relieve stress and anxiety, improve energy levels and boost your self-esteem. This is because your brain releases endorphins during physical activity which contributes to feelings of happiness and wellbeing. 

For some people, regular exercise might be going to the gym or a fitness class. For others, it could be more gentle activities like swimming, yoga or even a short lunchtime walk.

However you choose to get up and move, we have the ideal accessories to match. All our stainless-steel jewellery (including our 3-piece everyday earring set that’s perfect for working out) is 100% sweat proof and waterproof. So you can look good and feel good at the same time. 

7) Nourish Yourself

What you eat can make a big difference to your mood. When we feel down, we’re more likely to dive into the snack cupboard for something sugary.

Enjoying treats is absolutely essential, but you can improve how you feel by eating a varied diet that includes things high in vitamins like oily fish and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables in between those more indulgent snacks!

8) Make Time For Self-Care 

Once Christmas is over, we often find it harder to find space to practise self-care but designating some time to take care of ourselves is essential to improving our mood.  You don’t need to splash out on expensive spas when you can recreate the experience at home. 

Think surrounding yourselves by scented candles, brewing herbal teas and investing in some quality pamper products.

And there’s quick and easy ways to add self-care to your daily routine too. Try adopting a three step routine of cleanse, tone and moisturise - keeping it short and simple makes prioritising a few moments to look after yourself super easy. You’ll have glowing skin in no time by doing this for 5 minutes in the morning and again before bed.

Enjoy your me-time!

9) Spend Time with Family and Friends. 

When the buzz of Christmas is over and you’re feeling a little deflated, make plans to surround yourself with people who lift you up. Whether it’s family or friends, why not suggest grabbing a coffee and taking a walk round the park or simply inviting them round for a catch up?

And whether you’ll be dressing up or down for the occasion, our everyday hoop earrings or ultra glam teardrop pendant necklaces have got your back. 

Don’t forget about loved ones further afield either. You could arrange a zoom call or pick up the phone. Or if you’re suffering from digital fatigue, how about sending a letter accompanied by a small gesture such as one of our £4 initial pendants to show you’re thinking about them. Doing something kind for others gives ourselves a boost too. 

We know it’s easier said than done when you’re caught up in the demands of everyday life, but finding time for those connections will ease feelings of isolation and make yourself and others feel loved.  

That said, be aware of stretching yourself too thin. It’s ok to say no to plans if you need some time off. Like turning down after work drinks if it means you’ll have more energy to meet up with your besties at the weekend. Find the right balance for you. 

10) Let The Light in and Add Some Colour! 

One of the main reasons that people suffer from the January Blues is the lack of daylight. Not getting enough sunlight and that all important Vitamin D has been shown to impact our mood and leaves us feeling low.

So, make sure to maximise your exposure to natural light as much as possible where you can. Sit by the window whilst you’re working, take a lunchtime stroll round your neighbourhood or plan a weekend nature walk. 

And who says you’ve got to pack away those cosy fairly lights that have been bringing you so much cheer over Christmas? It doesn’t need to be dark and dreary just because the festive season is over. Keep a bit of twinkly magic going as long as you like and even bring it into your wardrobe with some sparkly CZ jewellery or celestial inspired pieces like our sparkle star pendant necklace. 

Make up for the lack of sunshine in other ways too like dressing in bright and vibrant colours. Find fun and funky things to wear that make you feel good and bring a smile to you face like our sweetie hypoallergenic gold bracelet or colourful daisy huggies. Or how about our golden sun stainless steel studs? These hypoallergenic gold earrings are a reminder that some glorious spring sunshine will be with us again soon. 

So, there you have our top 10 tips for beating the January blues. Just remember to take each day as it comes. Listen to your head and your heart to find out what you need. And find time to be proud of yourself for each small thing you do to get 2024 off to a positive start.