Eleanor Milner
Marketing Assistant
January 16, 2023
As this year’s Blue Monday arrives, we’ve focussed on the benefits technology can have on improving and helping your mental wellbeing.
What is Blue Monday?
The third Monday of January is deemed the most depressing day of the year, earning the name ‘Blue Monday’. A combination of winter weather, post-Christmas spirit, lack of motivation combined with new year’s pressure can make this time of year particularly difficult for many of us.
While at DTP we focus on ways technology can help improve workflows and end-user experience, we recognise technology also plays a large role in our mental wellbeing. Afterall, the vast majority of us spend a lot of our working lives in the digital world, so here’s 5 ways to use technology to combat those January blues.
1. Discover online Mindfulness resources
What is mindfulness? Mindfulness is all about calming the mind and paying attention to whatever is in front of us at any particular moment. Mindfulness has shown to help people manage stress, cope with illnesses and reducing anxiousness. Additionally, it was found people who practice mindfulness report an increased ability to relax, greater enthusiasm and self-esteem.
So how can technology help with mindfulness? There are a numerous apps available that can help. For instance Calm, Headspace or Buddhify or if you prefer something more creative and hands on, there are many mindfulness colouring apps you can interact with. Technology allows these mindfulness tools to be readily available for you when and where you need them.
Equally, there are plenty of videos online that can be used to help concentration and focus, such as soundscapes or calming music. This can help boost productivity on days when focusing seems difficult.
2.Stay organised
The saying “a tidy space a tidy mind” applies to your digital space too. Staying on top of workloads, plans and documents can reduce stress and help keep a clear head. Utilising online calendars and storage can help save space while avoiding feelings of being overwhelmed. It has been found that having an organised space helps increase concentration and avoid distractions.
Aside from work, you can use digital calendars to intentionally fit in time for yourself, to make sure you take time out of your day to look after yourself. Some examples of this might be setting time aside to do some type of movement, social time, call a friend or enjoy your hobby.
When is the last time you had digital detox? Maybe it is time to organise your online files or emails, add those dates into your calendar. Staying on top of your online space by using digital organisation tools can help make your work life easier and help free that extra space in your mind.
3. Keep a schedule
One way we can help protect our mental health is through being more intentional with our time. Using an online schedule or reminders to plan your day out means you can access wherever you are in your day. Utilise schedule templates to intentionally fit in time to look after yourself.
Another good use of schedules to help our wellbeing if through meal planning your week. Scheduling time to have a drink of water or a snack break could help you regulate your mood through the day and keep you energised. It has been proven that eating regularly, staying hydrated and having a balanced diet with all food groups can not only benefit your health, but can help you feel motivated, increase concentration and stay alert. You could try setting digital reminders to drink plenty of water or to stretch.
4. Join digital communities
It has been found that technology can be an especially useful tool against loneliness. This can be particularly beneficial at this time of year when the cold weather and dark evenings make many of opt to spend more time indoors. By combatting loneliness, technology helps thus prevent the knock on effects of this such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, stress and even sleep problems.
Social networking provides the opportunity to reach out to like minded individuals who perhaps share similar interests, while video chatting apps allow us to be face to face when we might not be able to see someone physically. Equally, social media messaging gives us the opportunity to reach out to those who we might be concerned about.
5. Keep motivated
We have a mass amount of information at the touch of our finger tips; giving access to a variety of content that can keep us motivated and inspired. How can technology motivate you? Why not try watching some videos, access some new online training, watch some tutorials, try a new application or develop your interests and hobbies further.
Staying motivated is good for your mental health? Setting ourselves goals and tasks can help keep us driven and excited, avoiding feelings of sadness or as some studies show even depression. Try keeping yourself busy this January by improving your existing skills online to keep yourself enthusiastic and inspired to boost moral and positivity in your everyday life. The digital world gives you the opportunity to try something new from the comfort of your home, from classes to online book clubs.
At DTP we are responsive, genuine and value everyone involved in the organisation, acting as one team to ensure our customers receive exceptional service, every time. But to do this, we all need to make sure we take care of our own, and others mental wellbeing. If you need additional support this January, here are a number of services who are able to help.
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