Although this Monday, the third in January, has been dubbed 2021’s Blue Monday, Sefton Council is highlighting a few way people can beat the blues.
Blue Monday is rumoured to have got its name owing to the combination of post-Christmas blues, cold weather, dark nights and the arrival of the month’s bills. Others claim it was a stunt by a travel company to encourage people to look ahead and book a holiday.
Whatever its origins, ongoing national lockdown restrictions means this year’s Blue Monday could be seen as bluer than usual, which is why Sefton Council wants to remind people across the Borough of some things that will help cheer them up.
Keeping active can have a positive effect on our physical and mental wellbeing and Active Sefton is promoting the free ‘MOVE-IT’ programme.
Consisting of up to six sessions, ‘MOVE-it’ is designed to help families to adopt a healthy lifestyle through offering healthy eating advice along with ideas and ways to increase physical activity targeted at children in different age groups, from 5 to 16.
More information is available at www.activelifestyles-sefton.co.uk/move-it/.
Active Sefton is also supporting a range of activities such as free, games and circuits YouTube workouts to help children. And for those adults who are looking to get healthy, there’s also 10 minute Abs workout, plus yoga, kettlebell and HIIT workouts led by the Active Sefton Team. Details are at www.activeseftonfitness.co.uk.
People can find about these and other activities by following Active Sefton on social media or visiting www.sefton.gov.uk/sport-leisure.
The Council’s Green Sefton teams is also reminding people across the Borough that they have some incredible spaces on their doorsteps where they can get outdoors for their daily local exercise and fresh air. Sefton residents can find out more about what their Borough has to offer at www.sefton.gov.uk/around-sefton/
Visiting Sefton’s Parks, Coast and other Greenspaces under the current national lockdown
Overall, our sites remain freely open and accessible for exercise. You can exercise in a local public outdoor place:
– by yourself
– with the people you live with
– with your support bubble (if you are legally permitted to form one)
– in a childcare bubble where providing childcare
– or, when on your own, with one person from another household
Additionally, if people find that Monday is blue because they are frustrated or lonely or are worried about their health finances and other aspect of their lives, the Council has pulled together a directory of services available to residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. These can be found at www.sefton.gov.uk/healthandwellbeing
For those people who want to help take the blues out of others’ Mondays and every day, Sefton Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) is currently supporting the recruitment of volunteers for the NHS COVID-19 Vaccine Team. Roles include welcoming patients, marshalling at test venues, logistical support and help in recovery areas. To find out what they can do, people should visit www.volunteeringsefton.org.uk/vaccination-volunteer
Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said:
“This is a time of year when some people can feel at a low point and the lockdown isn’t helping but we want to ensure people know that the Council is there to provide support as well as inspiration for things we can all do to boost our physical and mental health while following the restrictions.
“And, looking to the future, if we all stick to the requirements to minimise transmission of the COVID-19 virus and we take the opportunity to get vaccinated when we’re offered it, we will hopefully be seeing some aspects of all our lives returning to some level of normality over the coming weeks and months.
“By looking after ourselves and each other, we can get from a Blue Monday to Terrific Tuesdays, Wonderful Wednesdays, Thrilling Thursdays Fab Fridays and Super Saturdays and Sundays.”
