Oh January... not everybody's favourite month.
It's that time of year when people look to recharge themselves, to work off the holiday weight, and reset their minds after the busy Christmas period. It's also a month when it's still relatively dark, with Mother Nature keeping our skies a little grey.
But alas, it doesn't have to be all doom and gloom. There are plenty of ways to power through the January blues!
Have a read of our blog below and see what you can do to make the most out of January 2025.
Keep Active
While exercise isn't everybody's favourite pastime, the benefits are too good to miss. Exercising not only keeps you fit; it also enables endorphins to get going in your brain, which will in turn leave you feeling good, even during the darker days.
The great thing about exercising too is that there are so many ways to do it. You can do biking, or go to the gym, or even enjoy a brisk walk. Your options are plentiful!
Many individuals now share the common goal of getting their 10,000 steps in each day, something which you can achieve in many different places, including a garden centre! Spending time in nature specifically will help you to relax and reduce stress, as well as boost serotonin and cortisol in your brain, both of which regulate stress response in your body. What's more, immersing yourself within a beautiful display of green specimens will also inspire you to perhaps grow your own plants, thus ensuring a great sense of accomplishment in the future, something which will only leave you feeling satisfied.
Invest in Houseplants
It's no secret that houseplants have magic powers when it comes to improving mental and physical well-being.
Research has shown that houseplants can reduce stress, strengthen low moods, and provide a calmer environment at home and in the workplace. They can also improve air quality, which can help better our physical health too.
Taking responsibility for houseplants, no matter how big or small, is also beneficial because it helps keep your mind occupied and provides you with a strong sense of accomplishment once your plants start to thrive. There is no pressure to start off with anything too complicated; being a plant parent can happen at any age, and there is a great variety of gorgeous indoor plants that require low maintenance should you be nervous about how to look after them.
To read more about the benefits, check out our blog all about houseplant advantages for your well-being.
Eat Healthy
No judgement here; we've all taken a trip to chocolate town this past Christmas (if you're like me, you might've also stopped at the neighbouring cheese and wine county). So we've all got to get back on the horse when it comes to dieting.
But it doesn't have to feel so daunting. There are many ways you can spice up healthy dishes, with even something as simple as adding a few extra ingredients to a plain old house salad. Certainly, it can be just as tasty as any high-carb dish with fewer calories and more benefits to your physical and mental well-being. With the colder weather, and so greater exposure to nasty colds, you can combat it all more easily by eating food that helps support your immune system. You'll also be giving your body ammunition to combat potential health issues like heart disease and type two diabetes.
It's all about finding the right recipes and exploring new flavours. If you're looking for a new hobby this year, then why not take up cooking? Not only will you make some fabulous dishes, you'll be learning to develop a skill that'll really get your creative juices flowing.
Our kitchen team at Langton Greenhouse Cafe has made it their mission to provide customers with distinctive dishes that are both healthy and delectable. Our breakfast menu, for example, offers various different healthier food options like breakfast granola and avocado on toast, while our lunch menu provides dishes like homemade soup of the day, as well as salad bowls that include toppings like falafel and hummus, tuna mayonnaise, and grilled halloumi and chilli jam (bye-bye takeaways!). It's really never been easier to be healthy. Check out our menus at: https://www.langtongreenhouse.co.uk/pages/menus.
Hang out with Friends and Family
Social interaction is a basic human need. Engaging with friends and family has proven time and time again that having each other is super important when it comes to managing our emotional well-being.
Scheduling time to meet up with friends and family will help boost your mood and leave you feeling more jovial. Talking to each other about not only your strifes but also achievements will remind you that everyone is facing a battle, but it is through the support of others that we can power through. Socialising with friends and family can also inspire you to try new things and learn more; you might have never thought to watch that new movie, or venture on another countryside walk, or even indulge in the latest food trends.
Community can be found pretty much anywhere. At Langton Greenhouse and Garden Centre, nothing brings a smile to our faces more than when we see people get together, having a good old catch-up, whether in our cafe over a coffee or on a walk around our garden centre. It's a harmonious feeling that only makes you embrace what's around you more.
Spend Time with Pets
Pets, such as cats and dogs, are the best for a reason. They have so much love to give (well, maybe more dogs than cats, ha ha).
Like people, our furry friends can do wonders when it comes to boosting our moods. They're pretty flexible; you don't have to wait a few days or a week to catch up with them because they'll see you whenever. It's one of their favourite things!
Just the simple act of giving them a cuddle and making them happy can reduce your levels of anxiety as your body is able to release more prolactin and serotonin in the brain.
Spending time with pets also helps you maintain a routine with feeding, walking, and keeping them entertained. Walking your dog, for example, makes exercise seem less of a chore; after all, nothing is better than seeing your poochie absolutely delighted at exploring all the new scents available in the big wide world.
With more places like garden centres and cafes becoming dog-friendly, you can take your canine companions with you, being able to socialise with them more. It also creates more opportunity for your pooch to get used to other dogs and be less anxious around them. Furthermore, taking your dog out also helps them get more steps in, thus keeping them fitter than if they just sat at home. Honestly, we adore them, and if they drop by our front tills, they might get a little snack from our till crew!
And that's all for now folks. We thank you for joining us this week!
See you again soon.