At this point, the January blues are probably feeling very real. Christmas is over. Your monthly budget is feeling stretched. Those New Year’s resolutions are getting tougher by the day. And to top it all off, the weather is miserable.
Thankfully, you can keep your mind occupied by focusing on one of the locations you spend most time in: your car.
Table of Contents
- What are January blues?
- Our top 8 tips to beating the January blues
- Tip #1 – Keep your cabin clean and tidy
- Tip #2 – Create a consistent morning routine
- Tip #3 – Prepare for every season
- Tip #4 – Prioritise your comfort
- Tip #5 – Assemble a feel-good playlist
- Tip #6 – Take the time to unwind
- Tip #7 – Embrace a change of scenery
- Tip #8 – Focus on the positives
- Beat the January blues with a brand-new car
In this article, we provide top tips on how you can take positive steps to beat the January blues by making your car the sanctuary you deserve.
Speak to a member of the teamWhat are January blues?
January blues (a term used interchangeably with ‘Blue January’) is a negative mood people often feel in January. Although this is temporary, it is often caused by external factors such as:
- The end of Christmas celebrations
- Cold weather and a lack of sunlight
- Financial stress
- Failing to stick to New Year’s resolutions
Due to this being brought on by seasonal factors, any low feelings should pass within a month or so. However, it is especially important to practice self-care during this time to keep your mind occupied and promote a more positive outlook.
Our top 8 tips to beating the January blues
When the January blues strikes, the best approach is to keep yourself busy and practice self-care. At Motorfinity, we suggest putting this positive energy into your car with a refreshing vehicle routine. We take the view that if you look after your car, your car will look after you!
Read on to see our top 10 tips to refresh your vehicle routine and improve your wellbeing.
Tip #1 - Keep your cabin clean and tidy
A good start is to prioritise the cabin. Your surroundings can quite often reflect your frame of mind and vice versa, so having a thorough clean of your cabin is a practical approach to a calm, stress-free mindset.
You can therefore create a calm environment within your car by:
- Removing clutter on a weekly basis
- Keeping only essentials in the glove compartment e.g. vehicle service book
- Opting for neutral air fresheners
How this supports your wellbeing
Creating a tidy space can significantly reduce cognitive overload which can help to avoid unnecessary stress.
Tip #2 – Create a consistent morning routine
Getting into a regular routine can create a sense of discipline, which enables you to start the day with a positive attitude.
Before you set off on a journey, try getting into the habit of conducting simple car maintenance that only takes a few minutes of your time. This can include:
- Checking key areas of your car (e.g. tyres and mirrors)
- Properly clear frost or debris
- Before starting the engine, think of a task you want to complete for the day
How this supports your wellbeing
Falling into a healthy routine can create a sense of readiness while reducing anxiety before the day begins.
Tip #3 – Prepare for every season
Each season can have its own unique way of contributing towards the wear and tear of your car.
As part of your routine, it would be wise to include additional actions to prepare for each season, such as:
- Swapping mats
- Checking tyres
- Adjusting emergency kit
- Updating windscreen supplies
- Testing heating or air conditioning
How this supports your wellbeing
Aligning preparedness with changing seasons can save potential car issues, saving both stress and expense!
Find out more about how to maintain your car during winter
Tip #4 – Prioritise your comfort
Given that we spend a significant amount of time driving, it’s crucial that comfort levels remain high. Before driving, you should prioritise your comfort by:
- Setting seat and steering position to suit you
- Consistently adjust temperature where required
- Keep a warm set of clothing in the car
How this supports your wellbeing
The body and the mind are very much interlinked. For this reason, physical comfort directly improves mood and patience.
Tip #5 – Assemble a feel-good playlist
Commuting can feel tedious, especially when unexpected delays strike.
You can help to overcome these inconveniences by blocking them out with your favourite tunes and avoiding potentially mood-lowering news stations.
An effective approach can be to create a dedicated playlist consisting of:
- Calm or uplifting tracks
- Same order (if you like routine)
- A different playlist for each day (if you like variety)
How this supports your wellbeing
Your favourite songs can absolutely impact your mood and can soothe the nervous system.
Tip #6 – Take the time to unwind
Often, we’re more concerned with our commute that we don’t take the required time to properly unwind once we arrive home.
Before switching off the engine, take a moment to do the following:
- Sit for 30 seconds and take deep breaths
- Reflect on your day and acknowledge something you did well
- Have a stretch outside your car or when you walk into your house
How this supports your wellbeing
Taking a moment to reflect and unwind can help prevent carrying stress from driving into your home life.
Tip #7 – Embrace a change of scenery
Your daily work commute can become repetitive, which can do little to help improve low mood.
You can help falling into this rut by taking a short drive once a week. Be sure to:
- Choose a scenic route
- Avoid any errands – instead, focus on the drive
- Accompany the drive with calming music
How this supports your wellbeing
New scenery can be mentally stimulating, which in turn can provide clarity that reduces stress.
Tip #8 – Focus on the positives
When feeling the impact of the January blues, you can quickly pick up the bad habit of focusing on what you perceive to be the negative aspects of your life.
Instead, take the time to acknowledge the positive impact that your car has, such as:
- Reliability
- Comfortable driving experience
- Economic on fuel
- Aesthetically pleasing to look at
- Happy road-trip memories
How this supports your wellbeing
Being kind to yourself by focusing on the positives can help you see the bigger picture – and help improve your mood quicker!
Beat the January blues with a brand-new car
Are you looking to start the year with a new car? At Motorfinity, we offer brand-new cars at a discounted price to eligible frontline workers.
Our friendly team are experts in matching you with your dream car at an unbeatable price – helping you in beating the January blues once and for all!
Speak to a member of the teamAre you eligible?
Our nation's Armed Forces, Veterans, Emergency Services, NHS, Police and Prison Services, Education and Social Care sectors and more form our eligible audience.
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