Blue Monday: As a Trans Man or Trans Woman, How to Prepare for the Saddest Day of the Year
Christmas has come and gone. Perhaps you worked hard to keep a smile on your face during family gatherings and holiday parties. Maybe as a transgender man or transgender woman, you didn’t feel quite at ease with your family of origin. Despite what the media would have us believe, this time of the year can leave you feeling a bit blue. And this is why “Blue Monday” was established.
On the third Monday in January, Blue Monday is considered by many to be the saddest day of the year. For some, the holidays may leave you feeling depleted. For others, the cold and bleak landscape outside highlights how you feel as you open your credit card bills, wondering if all those gifts were such a good idea. Perhaps you have already begun breaking your New Year’s resolutions and are preparing to go back to work after office parties and time off.
If you tend to be someone who feels a bit sad during the weeks following the holidays, here are some suggestions to help lift your mood.
Plan a Vacation
Studies have conclusively shown that having something to look forward to can lift our spirits. If you can’t afford to take a long vacation, plan a weekend away with your partner or a friend. Or perhaps you are ready for some time by yourself. You can even make this a yearly event where every Blue Monday, you get the maps out and plan a new adventure.
Plan a Blue Monday Party
Why not get a group of friends together who are all feeling a bit blue and make some fun of your own? Make it blue-themed where everyone must dress all in blue, have blue food and blue cocktails.
Take Up a New Hobby
Studies show that people who take up hobbies typically have less stress and a better mood. Learning a new skill can bring a sense of accomplishment and joy. So think about taking a cooking class or learning to play an instrument or anything else that grabs your imagination.
Seek Out a Therapist
While this blue period will lift for many people, it may not for everyone. Some individuals may be struggling with seasonal affective disorder or depression that has been brought on by something else. If you feel you are dealing with something more than just the post-holiday blues, please consider speaking with someone.
My name is Lisabeth Wotherspoon, and I specialize in working with the transgender and LGBTQIA+ communities. If it feels like the sadness or depression isn’t lifting, please reach out for a free 20 minute consultation call to explore how I might be able to help. My clients say I offer a combination of genuine support and caring with tangible, real-world skills to help you begin to feel better. I would like nothing more than to help you start to feel better. Feel free to call or text me at 603-994-0114. You deserve this!