Beating the Blues This January
Blue Monday is imminent, and it looms on the UK workforce like a heavy, grey thundercloud. It preempts any negative emotions, and acts as an enabler for feeling down, demotivated, and distant. Following so soon after the hopeful ‘new year new me’ movement, blue monday sets the January blues into motion. At Pegasus Health, we’re committed to turning the blues on its head, and replacing them with a positive outlook on the forthcoming year.
We all know blue Monday is coming, and will likely be the talk of the office, exchanged frowns and shoulder shrugs being the accepted universal language that marks the day. We want to combat the January blues before they’ve even arrived, lead by example and set the tone for 2025 by focussing on employee engagement from the off.
Emotivally, blue is associated with sadness and depression. But on word association, when blue enters minds the first train of thought leads to the sky, an abyss of possibilities. Take this thinking into your own strategy for supporting employee wellbeing at the start of this year.
January is a month flooded with gym membership offers, it’s cliche but it works. Regular exercise is proven to aid those struggling with their mental health and see improvements in physical health too. Share local gym discounts with your team, encourage dual sign ups if employees don’t feel comfortable starting their gym journey alone. Lean into the new beginnings mantra and motivate employees to pick up wellbeing hobbies that keep them active, for their body and mind.
Turn towards your benefit plan, if you offer health assessments this is a perfect time to shout about it. A routine health assessment can give your employees the peace of mind they need to head into 2025 with the reassurance that they’re at full health, giving them the motivation to maintain it. The January blues can leave people feeling hopeless and helpless, providing them with a health assessment can alter their outlook. If the assessment reveals any areas for concern, these can be dealt with quickly reducing the impact on the employee’s wellbeing.
Whilst bringing bountiful positivity into the new year will no doubt have your team feeling optimistic about what’s to come, those still struggling must feel supported. If your wellbeing package includes tools that can help your employees manage their mental health, make sure that these resources are easily accessible. Your employees can use this support to open up about how they’re feeling, and seek professional guidance through the tough period to get them fighting fit for the year ahead.
Instead of allowing your workforce to fall victim to the January blues, use your catalogue of assets to motivate them to engage with their wellbeing. Start this year off how you intend to go on, by uplifting employees and maintaining health and wellbeing across the team.
