Beat the January Blues Together
After the hustle and bustle of Christmas and New Year, January arrives and snaps us back to a harsh dose of reality. Low levels of sunlight, cold temperatures and taking down Christmas decorations – it’s not difficult to understand why January is commonly known as the most depressing month of the year, with "Blue Monday" commonly known as the most depressing day of the year (hang in there and keep reading… we’ll perk up in the next paragraph, we promise!).
But rather than wallow in the pity of the January Blues, we thought we’d highlight some happy and positive ways that you and your pets can team up and flip the narrative on Blue Monday – with a little help from exercise, nutrition and (best of all) cuddles!
Exercise
It’s common knowledge that exercise contributes to more positive moods. The levels of chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin and endorphins (the happy chemicals), change when you exercise. But you don’t need to slave away for hours in the gym to reap the mood-boosting benefits of movement. Research shows that just 10 minutes of brisk outdoor walking can contribute to our mental alertness, energy levels and positive mood. This is great news for both pups and parents, as the daily dog walk (come rain or shine) is not only good for the physical health of everyone involved, but also for mental health as well.
Want to up your exercise game outside of your dog walks? Consider ‘pet yoga’ as a way to incorporate mood-boosting movement into your role as a pet owner. There are new outlets popping up all over the country offering devoted pet owners the opportunity to get involved with some heartwarming pet-and-parent yoga classes.
Nutrition
Forget the restrictive crash diets that flood our social media feeds come January 1st: we’re talking about real nutrition here. A healthy, balanced diet, packed with natural nutrients, is essential for good mental health. Nutrients that are specifically helpful for boosting your mood are:
- Omega-3s – our brains need healthy fats to function well and manage our moods. A great source of omega-3 fatty acids is salmon, which can be enjoyed by both you and your pets. For your pets, you can find salmon in a variety of Nutriment meals, including our Salmon with Turkey formula.
- Magnesium is an important mineral that helps maintain a healthy mood. It is often found in leafy greens and vegetables, such as curly kale and broccoli. Add as a side to chicken for yourself, and choose a recipe such as our Chicken formula for your four-legged friend.
- B-Vitamins play a role in producing brain chemicals that affect mood and other brain functions. Try eating foods rich in B-vitamins, such as beef, liver and chicken. Opt for our Just Offal recipe for a serious B-vitamin boost for your pup.
And even better - our products are super easy to use! Perfectly balanced meals, just defrost and dish up!
Bonding
The happy hormone oxytocin, otherwise known as the love hormone, is released and boosts our mood when we bond and connect with others, such as giving our pets cuddles. Both animal and owner will benefit from this and it is a guaranteed way to make you both feel a little happier.
Similarly, playing games together, such as hide and seek, will also release happy hormones for you both, meaning you can help each other stay out of the blue zone this Blue Monday!
