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Blogs by Dr Ben

January 2025.

Dr Ben writes a new Blog at the start of every month for our Man Shed section.

Beware the January Blues

I hope you all enjoyed a very Merry Christmas. My home has been filled with relatives over the holiday period, an experience I always find both demanding and enjoyable in equal measure.

As you can imagine, it was a comfort for me to be able to slip away occasionally to my Man Shed and show off to my brother-in-law my prized collection of woodworking tools.  

With January now upon us, I wonder if you feel, like many people, that you need a holiday to recover from the holiday! The aftermath of the festive period is always an interesting time of year. You may feel, like me, that you ate and drank too much and need a de-tox.

It's a long time till payday at the end of the month and already the media is flagging up the perils of the January Blues. I tend to combat these by setting my New Year Resolutions the previous April! None of us are of sound mind in January. And it’s never a good idea to set your resolutions if you’re feeling a bit jaded on New Year’s Day. 

If you’re suffering from an increase in perimenopause symptoms at this time, cutting back on alcohol, caffeine and sugar may well help restore the balance - and at the same time, I’d recommend prioritising light exercise, such as brisk walking at lunchtime or at least once a day.

Try to soak in whatever sunlight is available for improved Circadian rhythms, better sleep and optimal mood at one of the darkest times of the year. I would advise trying to avoid getting injured by suddenly taking up sports or vigorous activities that you’ve never done before or maybe haven’t done for a while. A friend of mine recently returned to the gym for the first time in ages and, trying to pick up their previous weightlifting routine, promptly fell over and cracked some ribs.

Instead, focus on core strength, joint stability and flexibility. You may find it helpful to investigate some Pilates or other similar classes, which are widely available online or in-person.

Be kind to yourself if you don’t have any grand plans or resolutions this year. Prioritising a consistent routine will help you to make incremental gains throughout this month and the year, rather than going for a ‘boom-bust’ volcanic effort, which rapidly fades away and leaves you feeling disappointed.

On the mental wellbeing side, you might like to purchase a journal, if you have not already been gifted one by a thoughtful relative. Regular gratitude journalling, picking one item per day and describing why you feel grateful for this, is proven to lift your mood and improve your outlook.

Often the lion’s share of work in hosting and delivering Christmas will fall to the female of the household, despite the best efforts of their partners. So, a word of advice to any man visiting my Man Shed today would just be to say now is the time to support your hard-working other half. Perhaps a spa day or massage voucher would help her feel pampered and restored after the monumental effort of the holidays.

Little gestures like this can go a long way towards beating the January Blues. They’re relatively easy to organise and are always hugely appreciated, in my own experience!

Good luck to all my visitors to the Man Shed in getting through January – and now’s the time to get your thinking caps on for celebrating love on Valentine’s Day, which is just around the corner!


If you’ve got a question for Our Man in The Man Shed Dr Ben Sinclair, you can email him on [email protected]


Dr Ben

Welcome to The Man Shed and I’m delighted to be your man in it!

My name is Dr Ben Sinclair (please just call me ‘Dr Ben’, everyone does), and I’ve been a GP for nearly 20 years. Bear with me a sec while I shift these spare paint tins and get my laptop set up…


If you’ve got a question for Our Man in The Man Shed, Dr Ben Sinclair, you can email him on:
[email protected]
.



Dr Ben's Blog Posts

  1. Valentine’s Day - February 2025
  2. Beware the January Blues - January 2025
  3. Don’t forget HRT in early surgical menopause - December 2024
  4. Decisions on HRT: Men, it’s time to deploy your supportive listening skills - October 2024
  5. Welcome: compassion-focused therapy - September 2024

» Go back to the Blog Index

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