Above is a view from a hill in Exmouth, that I can go to after seeing clients at a local low-cost counselling service called Quiet Mind, the vista of blue sea and blue sky feels expansive and restorative. Blue has positive connections here, but in terms of mental health to feel 'blue' is to feel down or low. So I was not surprised when one of the hardest days of the year for people in the UK emotionally was coined 'Blue Monday'.

At the start of this week, when the Monday in question came around it threw up some social media feeds that I was concerned about. A few retail companies were using the possibility of people's low mood to sell products at a vulnerable time. 

It is a tough bit of the year, when the grey weather is more common, the post-christmas bills come in, colds and flu hit and the dark mornings make getting up a little harder. However, on those cold but clear days it is worth filling up a travel mug with a hot brew, pulling on a thick sweater and getting out for some sunshine in a natural setting to help lift your mood and keep you feeling physically healthier. 

The benefits of this behaviour over so called 'retail therapy' is not only financially free but may have a longer lasting impact over all.