The sexily-smart voice of Heart FM’s breakfast show, Natalie Besbrode, asked me to share some ‘January Blues Buster’ tips with her listeners. From counting blessings to smiling at strangers to giving yourself license to try something new without commiting to keep it going here’s a one-a-day prescription to make your January rosier. Share them with other women you work or play with…

1. Go for a brisk 20 minutes walk. The Queen was extolling the benefits of exercise in her Christmas address to the nation in 2010 and many doctors agree regular walking can be better than drugs for lifting depression. Of course you could always run instead!
2. Reflect on your highs (legal of course), your achievements and your happy memories of 2010 and share them with a friend and/or colleagues
3. Create an ‘alternative biscuit tin’ – write one simple pleasure per slip of paper, fold them up and put them in your biscuit tin instead of biscuits. When you feel like a nibble, grab one and do it.
4. Handwrite a note of thanks on cheerful postcards to people who made your 2010 special or gave you a Christmas gift.
5. Listen to a favourite album curled up in a comfy chair or stretched out beside a fire.
6. Smile at strangers, smile at colleagues, smile at everyone whether you feel like it or not.
7. Write down three good things that happened today and why. Psychologists have demonstrated this technique to have a lasting impact on self-reports of happiness.
8. Turn the TV off today and play the Christmas games you put to the back of the cupboard.
9. Do a litter pick in your local park and encourage others to join you. There’s nothing like the interaction of community spirit, doing good and fresh air to chase the blues away.
10. Make your own bowel-boosting, mood-enhancing muesli: sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, oats, barley, rye, chopped dried apricots and almonds. Soak 100g in cold camomile tea and serve with chopped apple and a couple of dollops of soya yoghurt.
11. Tackle something today that you’ve been putting off or make a start and plan when when you’ll do the rest.
12. Create a high energy playlist for your ipod to reinvigorate your daily walk, jog, run or commute.
13. Clear clutter from your bedroom and make it a desirable place for intimacy and peaceful sleep.
14. Surprise a friend or neighbour with a home-made foody treat.
15. Be generous with your thoughts towards other – look for the best possible interpretation of people’s behaviour.
16. Create a vision board of your ideal 2011 – cut and paste pictures from magazines, draw and doodle on a large sheet of paper and keep it someone where you’ll see it often.
17. Have a skill share evening with friends. They demo something, you demo something, you all learn together. Stitch and Bitch anyone?
18. Mend something that’s broken instead of giving up on it.
19. Give yourself license to have a go at something new without worrying whether you’ll stick at it.
20. Go the extra mile at work for your own satisfaction.
21. Plan a holiday for later in the year. Psychologists have shown people can get pleasure and health benefits from the anticipation of a break as well as the break itself.
22. Do something difficult and wallow in the glow of pride when you accomplish it.
23. Sing aloud in the shower, sing along to the kitchen radio, sing your heart out in the car. Research shows singing in a group improves immunity and boosts your mood. There may be a Rock Choir near you – no auditions, weekly rehearsals and guaranteed high during and afterwards.
24. Hone a personal goal in your mind and write it down on paper with a date for when you’ll accomplish it. The buzz from completing something stretching fires you up to get more of what you want in life.
25. Make a colleague’s day by praising them for their effort or accomplishment and the impact it’s had.
26. Treat yourself to something you consider indulgent but that doesn’t cost a penny.
27. Deal with a frustration you’ve been tolerating.
28. Have a news free day. No hourly bulletins, no papers, no newspaper websites. I swear the world won’t fall apart if you give the daily plethora of bad stories a miss.
29. Weed out mistakes from your wardrobe. If you haven’t worn it in the last 9 months or it doesn’t make you feel good, get rid to your nearest charity shop even if it cost you an arm and a leg. You never know, it might just help save another person’s arm or leg.
30. Feed your mind and your soul with a book of poetry from your local council library - always free to join. Go one step further and dabble yourself; anyone can write poetry.
31. Count your blessings one by one.

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