Orange Monday: 5 things to do today to make yourself feel happier

by Zoe K

Blue Monday, the most depressing day of the year.

So they say.

Did you know the term ‘Blue Monday’ was coined by Sky Travel in 2005 as part of a marketing stunt to sell more holidays?

Apparently, they used a ‘secret equation’ to work it out.

Scientists have since dismissed it as a load of nonsense.

That’s why, at Epix, we’re tossing it out the window and officially (kind of) renaming it to…

(Drum roll please!)

Orange Monday!

So if you’re feeling a little down, we’ve got 5 things you can do today to give you a burst of positive energy.

 

1. Smile

Did you know, it takes 43 muscles in your face to frown and only 17 to smile?

OK, that might be a bit of ‘bro science’ and not technically true. But smiling does make you feel better than frowning.

For a start, not screwing your face up into a frown means you’ll get less wrinkles. But more than that, when you smile your brain releases;
1. Endorphins, which are proven to act as a mild pain reliever, and
2. Serotonin, which is an antidepressant
Even better, a smile is infectious, so your shiny bright smile will lift the moods of everyone around you. When you smile, others smile. It’s like catching a yawn, only happier!

 

2. Give Somone a Hug For At Least 6 Seconds

(Not your boss though, that would be inappropriate…)

Go hug someone you care about, like a friend, partner, your kids or even your dog. But do it for at least 6 seconds.

6 seconds of hugging releases a chemical called Oxytocin, (also known as ‘The Cuddle Hormone’) which makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Awww!

 

3. Listen to Our Epix Orange Monday Playlist

We made this for the team in the office but sharing is caring.

So here’s the link to our very own Spotify Playlist, packed full of songs to make you feel that little bit happier.

Listen to Our Orange Monday Playlist on Spotify

 

4. Visit TheUselessWeb.com and Have Some Fun

You could waste hours of your life at www.theuselessweb.com but we guarantee you’ll have a laugh doing it.

So technically it wouldn’t be a waste of time at all!

Like smiling, laughing releases endorphins which makes you feel better and reduces stress.

And we’re all about that!

www.theuselessweb.com

 

5. Give Someone a Helping Hand

There’s nothing like doing something for someone else to give you an immediate pick-me-up.

Studies show that giving support to others activates a neural pathway in our brains that boosts wellbeing. And that makes us feel better.

You’ll get bonus feel good feelings when it’s completely random and not expected of you too.

So go help someone!

 

And There We Have it…

5 things to do today to make yourself happier.

What will you do? Drop us a message and let us know.

Ready to get started?

Our team of creatives work together in a wide range of disciplines, meaning we’re able to craft beautifully bespoke creative that will produce results you’ll love!

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