6 Ideal tips to help you beat the January blues

1.Have a laugh

"Your body doesn’t know the difference between real or fake laughter – as long as you are willing to laugh you will release the feel good hormones that lift your mood."

Try starting each day with a smile and a stretch. Before you even get out of bed, stretch out to your fingers and toes and then smile for 20 seconds. "This sends a message to the brain that you are feeling happy and you’ll start to feel better," adds Julie.

2.Be more social

Do you try to steer clear of Facebook because you’re worried all those happy posts from friends will just make you feel even worse? Not so. A new study has found that social media can improve our wellbeing because all the uplifting news, pictures and positive posts actually make us feel happier.

Likewise, don’t turn down invitations to go out or avoid meeting up with friends just because you just don’t feel up to socialising. "Staying at home can make those feelings of being fed up, bored or depressed even worse," says life coach Léa Vendrami. "Organise social gatherings, invite friends around, cook dinners together and have fun." You’ll feel a whole lot more cheerful for it.

3.Try a different kind of happy pill

There’s been a 25% rise in prescriptions for antidepressants in the last three years. But there’s

plenty of research to show that they aren’t the only answer to boost your mood, so rather than

being a slave to them, why not try some alternatives?

"Omega supplements have been successfully used to treat mental health and mood disorders such as depression," comments life coach Léa Vendrami. And a recent study on the effects of silexan, extract of lavender taken in pill form, found that it can be as effective as antidepressants without the side effects.

4.Try light therapy

Research from the University of Copenhagen reveals that the winter blues aren’t all in our heads – lack of sunlight can change how our brains work, leaving us feeling miserable and, at worst, depressed. They also found 10 to 15% of us suffer from changes in mood due to the dark winter months.

"Getting outside and breathing the fresh air can boost your mood. It’s good for you!" says Dr Martin Yelling, founder of the new year fitness challenge Jantastic.

5.Listen to music

Music can be therapeutic

 When you’re feeling down in the dumps, music can help pick you up. "Brain imaging studies have shown that music works at a very deep level within the brain, stimulating not only those regions responsible for processing sound but also ones associated with emotions," comments stress specialist Dr David Lewis, author of One Minute Stress Manager.

Classical and meditative sounds seem to be particularly uplifting, whereas heavy metal and techno can actually make depressive symptoms worse. Try listening to electronic track Weightless, by

Marconi Union. It’s topped a scientific list of the most relaxing pieces of music of all time, with the research suggesting the therapeutic sounds in the track can slow the heart rate, reduce blood pressure and decrease cortisone levels.

6.Get moving

Exercise releases endorphins

 Curling up under the duvet might be tempting but studies have shown that getting up and putting your body through regular workouts can make you feel happier. "Exercise in any form is nature’s antidepressant," says Jacqui Cleaver, Senior Lifestyle Coach at New You Boot Camp.

"When you exercise, whether it be running, gardening or dancing, your body releases endorphins, which are the happy drug that runs through our bodies and makes us smile. Just 15 minutes of exercise a day will make all the difference to your mood and lift your spirits."

-Do something you find fun and you’ll be more likely to stick at it. If you loved Strictly, then why not give ballroom dancing a go yourself?