If, like me, you are one of those people who the big black dog likes to visit, winter with its early dusks and late mornings can be extra hard. Add COVID and TRUMP and other worries and it can be a real struggle.

Each person must do their own thing to get through it but these things help me:
1. Actively make the effort to talk to people - family friends, or on social media so that I don’t crawl into lonely isolation
2. Do some activity. Don’t allow myself to dwell or over-analyse

3. Identify 3 things that I want to improve or change in my life. Not huge things, little attainable things. Tidying my desk is always there
4. Identify things that you are grateful for and which make you pleased or glad or happy.
5. Have a cuppa! Always helps me

6. If I am angry/upset about something, allow myself to be angry but ask myself WHY am I really angry? I can be honest with myself - it’s for my consumption, nobody else’s. If I am trying to kid myself I can recognise that without embarrassment

7. My inner monologue is always self-critical. It’s exhausting & self-defeating. I force myself to identify & acknowledge one positive in any situation or, if there is none, one positive step forward I can take
8. If none of the above helps, it’s time to speak to a professional