Blue Monday Is a Story. Teal Tuesday Is a Better One.

I propose a brand-new holiday: Teal Tuesday.

How about if from now on, we celebrate the day after Blue Monday as Teal Tuesday? If Blue Monday is the emotional low-point of the year, then Teal Tuesday is an emotional springboard because things can only go up from here.

Hey, but Blue Monday was just a marketing term made up to sell more travel packages!

If the travel industry can make up significant days, I can too. Instead of selling you travel packages, I am selling you an idea that can take up space in your brain rent-free. Unlike Blue Monday which makes you sadder through a self-fulfilling prophecy, I will do the opposite and set you on a happiness trajectory!

Today we can celebrate that we have made it through the darkest weeks of winter and the hours of daylight are getting longer. Perhaps it has been a tough season for you or maybe things are feeling heavy because of the state of the world around you. Take some time to acknowledge what you have been through lately and prioritize self-care and connection with others.

Ways to celebrate:

• Write down something you are looking forward to in the near future. Having something to look forward to can brighten your mood, improve sleep quality and boost daytime energy, which is fantastic when we feel crummy and tired.
• Enjoy a simple pleasure today. What is something that you absolutely love doing that is within reach today? For me, I absolutely love drinking out of champagne glasses. Enjoying a little flavoured bubbly water takes my day from blah to fancy.
• Plan an uplifting social date. Even if you don’t want to go outside, you can book a call with a friend or put on some upbeat music and dance around your apartment with your pets.
• Break out of your routine. Wear a different outfit, work in a different room, drive a different route to the grocery store – anything to get you out of feeling stale.
• Name what’s over: Write down one thing from the past season you’re done carrying. Naming it creates space to feel relief and closure builds momentum in a new direction.
• Go on a fantasy vacation. I love watching videos on YouTube recorded by drones flying over exotic destinations. If you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, they are having their 25th anniversary and it’s a great excuse to take in views of gorgeous New Zealand. 
• Create a “teal win.” Do one small task you’ve been avoiding to remind you that you are capable.

Teal isn’t a giant leap away from blue. We just add a little green to remind us of the fresh buds that spring will bring. Teal Tuesday isn’t a way to gaslight ourselves or paint the world with positive thinking. It’s a subtle shift that acknowledges where we have been while reminding us of the possibility of an optimistic future. Customize today and the season ahead to care for yourself, connect with others and have some fun.

Say it with me – I declare that from now on, the day after Blue Monday is Teal Tuesday!

How will you be celebrating?