Shake off the January Blues!

It is official – 24th January is the most depressing day of the year, so Make plans! Experts have pinpointed January 24th as the most depressing day of the year. In fact, they warn us not to take it personally if friends, family and colleagues seem particularly grumpy on that day. Try to avoid these blues by focussing on planning a holiday (very cheap bargains to be had at this time of year) or meeting up with friends.

Think of some reasons to be cheerful, here are some to think about!
1 The sales are still on
2 The days are getting slightly longer and spring is around the corner
3 Celebrity Big Brother is almost over!
4. It is almost pay day

Many people find January an anti-climax and a bleak month. The very cold & very wet weather, mounting debt and failing resolutions can leave many of us feeling low when going back to work. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

The British Council for Offices estimates that a well-designed and quality office can stimulate staff, boost your performance by as much as 25 per cent and reduce absenteeism … so it doesn’t have to be quite so blue at work. Here are some ideas to beat the January ‘blues’ and improve your workspace.

* Clear your desk - There you go. Every square inch on your office desk is precious. You should be able to see approximately 80% of your desk at the end of the day. Tip for filing: Never let the file pile rise higher than four inches! Tip for emails: Try to end your day with no emails in your inbox. It is possible! Make use of 'tasks' and 'calendar'. A well-organised desk can lead to clear thinking and helps to reduce stress.

* Add some colour to affect your mood – Employees have revealed they get depressed when they work in an office that is painted blue. Yellow offices made staff feel happy, energised and more focused on their work. Employees said they felt angrier and more passionate if there was more red than any other colour, while black made them feel "tougher." The research by Konica Minolta also found that grey offices made workers feel "dull." A spokesman from the company said: "This study shows that it is not just Monday mornings, the rush hour or having to work late that can affect the office environment - colour has a huge impact."Consider adding something to your desk or office that you will be drawn to such as a holiday snap of the sea or some colorful flowers.

* Lighting – Not all of us can get the recommended ’30 minute walk in Daylight’ a day to boost our mood, reduce tension and increase our energy. However, studies suggest that natural light can increase productivity by as much as 20 per cent and cut absenteeism by 15 per cent by reducing fatigue and stress – so make sure you open the blinds in the morning.
Plants can help too – not just by brightening up your desk or office area, they can also clean the air of pollutants by adding oxygen and humidity to the indoor environment.