Coping With the January Blues - by Lorraine Murray

This time of year can be a challenge on so many levels. To start with if you don't have a fabulous 'new year' or something goes wrong then it may seem like the year is downhill from here!

Or perhaps not knowing what to do with your year ahead or what the future holds... are you a glass half full or half empty kind of person? To help with setting your year off to a good (or better) start – try these tips...

• Keep it Simple - choose to do one thing and try let yourself focus on that. The Boots Campaign is really quite clever as success is more likely when we just try to change one thing that change everything all at once - remember our longest journey starts with a single step.

• Gratitude - an underestimated but powerful, powerful influence on your mind, emotions and your life. I've got through some of the toughest experiences I've had but focusing on even the smallest things I had to be grateful for - a warm and safe bed, clean water to drink, being able to breath. Slightly American style (you know what I'm saying) but quite effective are Louise Hay books and tapes - which I have used with great effect in the past.

  " Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful." Buddha

• Routine - sounds boring doesn't it! But having a simple routine can provide stability and a sense of security. This is why people who practise meditation or other regular techniques tend to choose a specific time of the day/day of the week to practise as it helps to build a sense of steadyness in their life which then provides the ground to focus and become more self-disciplined in many other areas, but particularly in your thoughts.

• Think Pink - pink is (in energy terms) the colour of the heart centre and therefore is full of the good stuff - unconditional love. When people are driving us crazy (friends, family, work) then just imagine (feeling or seeing) that person is wearing pink from head to toe - or imagine them in a cloud of pink. I teach this in my meditation classes and although I get funny looks when I explain what to do, the results are always the same - positive and effective!

• Fresh Air - we are always full of good intentions about exercise and although going to the gym suits some lifestyles, one of the simplest ways to improve your sense of wellbeing is to go for a walk outside in the fresh air. If you can find a local park with a few trees then simply pop in during your lunch for a 5 minute stroll. Or if you travel by bus to work - then get off 2 stops earlier and walk the rest of the way.

Some useful links

• Boots - time to change website
• Daily Om - inspirational thoughts
• The Secret - the power of your thoughts
• Spokes - cycling and pathways for walking
• Hill walking
• Power of Gratitude

We offer a selection of classes, workshops, books and CDs to help you support 2008 to be your best year yet! Please browse our website for further details.