Brew Monday

Today is “Brew Monday. “ This means opening up about your feelings, catching up with friends, and checking in one loved ones over a hot, cozy drink.Whether it’s a tea, a coffee, or you want to treat yourself to a hot chocolate exploding with sprinkles and whipped cream… now is the time.

January is seen as the dreaded month. Maybe you’ve given up on your New Year’s resolutions before the month is even over. Or maybe the snug winter wardrobe has lost its charm and you just want to be warm in the sun again. The festive season has finished and it may seem like a while until there is something to look forward to again, but Brew Monday is all about changing that narrative

This day was set up by the charity Samaritans to combat that Blue Monday feeling. But why do we dread it so much? What needs to change? That feeling of impending doom when you’re back at work and life’s stresses seem to be leaking in again: it’s something many of us feel and you are not alone. On Brew Monday, it’s all about being honest with these emotions and welcoming the New Year in a way that means you have something to look forward to… even if that something is just having a chat with a friend over a cuppa.

In the UK, winter can really bring us down without us realising. The sun seems like it’s hibernating and as a result, our vitamin D levels plummet. This can really affect one’s mental health and you are not wrong in thinking that the PMA (positive mental attitude) is a little harder to find during January.

In a West Midlands NHS report, it said the ‘winter blues’ is estimated to effect 17% of the population and 7% have a more severe case of this: Seasonal Affective Disorder. During the winter months, it’s so important to make sure you are looking after your happiness and finding the sun in different ways; and on Brew Monday, talking about your emotions is a start to finding summer on a cloudy day.