How to beat Blue Monday like a Yogi

What about Blue Monday...

Today has been labelled Blue Monday, the day we're most likely to feel down, frustrated and a bit beaten by the new year already. Well, here's how we can tackle it like yogis, and choose to implement another mindset to our Monday.  

1. Noticing that inner chatter

That monkey mind of yours will have been picking up on the down in the dump mood of those around you, the wintery weather, and marketing that’s thrown at us from all directions. So the odds are ‘he’ (my monkey mind is always a ‘he’ for some reason) is running rife with a negative commentary. But you know you have the power to override this chatter and take control. 

So when you notice that your monkey mind is focused on the rain, the grumpy mood or the desire to be mad at something you really don’t need to be mad at, change the dialog to something more positive. 


2. Use your positive affirmations

Our brain loves things on repeat. We repeat something over and over and it becomes a habit or a belief or a very ingrained neural pathway. Our brains also love the easiest path, which are our habits and our beliefs. 

Instead of relying on the old beliefs (that we should be down in the dumps about January), let’s create new beliefs with positive affirmations. The more you repeat your new affirmation the more of a truth it becomes. 

So choose how you’d like to feel this month: 

“January is an exciting time for new beginnings”,
“I’ve got all the time I need to do what I need to do”,
“I’m on a journey to discover my best self.”


You can make up your own, but remember to make it all about you, and embrace the feeling you want to bring into your January. 

I recommend writing your affirmation down each morning and each evening. Then repeat it over in your mind, especially when you notice that internal chitter chatter of your negative monkey brain. 


3. If you’re struggling to notice the monkey mind, meditate. 

Meditation is the key to being able to notice what’s going on in our minds, and not let them take control. 

As a yogi, you know that the sitting quietly is as important as the physical practice. 

It allows you to differentiate between you and your monkey mind, and without this ability we can find ourselves spiralling. 

Try to find 2 minutes each day to sit and notice the breath, if you can do longer, go for it. The simple technique of noticing when the mind has wandered and then coming back to the breath transfers into every day life. We create the ability to use this tool all the time and keep our mind where we want it to be, rather than down a rabbit hole about the fact it’s Blue Monday therefore we MUST be in bad mood.

If you’re lost with meditation, or fancy a little structure, come along to my Online Meditation Workshop on the 2nd February at 7pm. You won’t regret it. 

Love and Light 

A x