Henry & James

7th January 2019

Best ways to beat the January blues

The New Year is upon us. There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic. It’s a time full of hope and promise. Yet Blue Monday, the gloomiest day of the year, is approaching on January 21. We kick-off 2019 with our new survival guide to beat the January blues.

New Year – new you: Grace Belgravia, West Halkin Street, London SW1X

January is the month when all those New Year’s Resolutions come into play. Research carried out by Gretchen Reynolds in her book ‘The first 20 minutes’ shows that 20 minutes of exercise in the morning, not only improves your heart, it also releases endorphins, boosting your mood. Sign up for Grace Belgravia’s Body Revolution on Motcomb Street to prepare for the year ahead.

Discover more:

https://www.gracebelgravia.com/cleanse-and-weight-optimisation-programmes/body-revolution/

Judith Blacklock Flower School, Kinnerton Street, London SW1X

Fragrance is the secret weapon in your mind-boosting armour. There’s something magical about floral fragrances and the natural essential oils that they contain. Head over to Judith Blacklock on Kinnerton Street for a one-day flower arranging course and enjoy those scents to lift your mood (£198, 17 January).

Discover more: https://www.judithblacklock.com/main/product.php?r=25

The right ingredients: Good Life Eatery, Motcomb Street, London SW1X

Did you know that Bananas are a super food? Eating bananas increases serotonin, the happy hormone, according to nutritionist Zoe Bingley-Pullin. The Good Life Eatery on Motcomb Street makes delicious Love Toast with almond butter, banana and strawberry slices (£6.95).

Discover more: http://www.goodlifeeatery.com/eat/#lunch

On the starting blocks: run in Hyde Park, London W2

Why not head into the wide, open spaces of Hyde Park to join the thousands of people who regularly run through the park? It’s a vast natural gym and depending on the time of day you venture out, you may not meet many other runners. And the best thing about it? It’s free.

Discover more: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/media-centre/news-archive/1434-running-in-the-royal-parks

Turn over a new leaf: read a good book

Visit your local bookshop to find countless new novels to read.

John Sandoe Books is a hidden gem on Blacklands Terrace, London, SW3 (a short walk from Sloane Square). It was established in 1957 and is as popular as ever. This bookshop is full of character, charm and stretches over three-floors within a beautiful white stucco-building.

Discover more: https://www.johnsandoe.com/

Food glorious food: treat yourself to a night out

There is nothing better than a good night out to raise the spirits. Belgravia is full of the capital’s best restaurants to refuel for the coming year. Try Mosimann’s on West Halkin Street in a beautiful former church, Petrus on Kinnerton Street or Amaya in the Halkin Arcade. Food, fun and friends: all the right ingredients to help beat the blues.

Discover more:

https://www.mosimann.com,

https://www.gordonramsayrestaurants.com/petrus or http://www.amaya.biz

Lights, cameras, Netflix

Laughter is often said to be the best medicine. It lifts spirit and energises the soul. Netflix is always releasing block-buster dramas, thrillers and comedies. Look out for “The Last Laugh” starring Chevy Chase, Andie MacDowell and Richard Dreyfus, starting on 11 January (www.netflix.com).

Take a vacation: The Ice Hotel, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden

Here is something completely different: Sweden’s Ice Hotel is the ideal place to escape the January blues. There are high-tech thermal sleeping bags, hot chocolate and camp-fires for warmth and relaxation (£1,876 for a weekend). Alternatively, closer to home, visit Jimmy’s Lodge on London’s South Bank for the Alpine Snow Globes. They offer private-dining, while gazing across the capital’s skyline (£250 per ticket).

Discover more: www.icehotel.com or https://jimmyslodge.com/

Sweet dreams: aim for an extra hour’s sleep

And finally, few things are better than a good night’s sleep. It’s a chance to recharge and re-energise for whatever the day promises. A recent study by the Harvard Medical School, Berkeley, and the University of California revealed how sleep deprivation can impact on the emotional side of the brain. Their investigation showed two groups of people, one had normal sleep, the other hadn’t slept for 35 hours and their brains showed higher levels of anxiety than those who had slept normally. The message is clear: if you want to stay happier, sleep longer.