fracas

Blue Monday.

Apparently today is known as Blue Monday, and we’re encouraged to follow a ten point plan to help us combat the blues and make it past the most depressing day of the year, January 21, 2008. I’ve decided to share with you all ten points, and then let you know what I’m doing for each one.

1. Try something new
   Be creative, or learn something new to get your brain active and start thinking of new things instead of dwelling on the old.
   • I plan on spending a significant portion of the day exploring Joey Green’s “Wacky Uses for Common Products“ site.
2. Get physical
   By changing your physical state, from a simple shoulder-shake at your desk to a full work-out at the gym, you can change the way you feel.
   • Does opening up a can of whup-ass on someone count? I’d like to do that today. It would make me happy.
3. Contact a friend or relative
   Get in touch with someone you have not heard from in a while; thinking of someone else takes your mind off you.
   • I did this one already. I’ve emailed someone. No, I’m not telling you who it was. I’m not sure I want to take my mind off of me though. I like me. I want to keep my mind on me. It’s thinking of everyone else instead of me that gets me depressed. Sheesh… who wrote these? Not a mom I bet. Hello… Ian… can we talk?
4. Take a break
   Go somewhere different, whether it’s a coffee bar you have never been into, or a faraway luxury holiday; by changing your physical location, you change your perspective on the world.
   • I’d like a faraway luxury holiday, but I’ll probably settle for heading over to the nearest home improvement outlet and sampling all the soaker tubs. Do you think they’d throw me out if I went in my robe?
5. Be nice to a stranger
   Do a random act of kindness; doing good for others is the best form of self-satisfaction.
   • I’m going to go to the supermarket (the one where you need a dollar coin to free up a shopping cart for use) and tape dollar coins to the lockbox, with a note that says, “Surprise… it’s beatbluemonday, this cart is on me!”
6. Help the planet
   Be a good ancestor in some way; the planet will be here long after you are gone.
   • I’ll be saving tons of energy by not using the vaccuum cleaner today. Or the oven. Or the washing machine, dryer, blender, or even the mixer. The coffeemaker stays though folks. Touch my coffee maker and I’ll be beating something that’s not Monday.
7. 7. Pamper yourself
   Spoil yourself, from a small indulgence to a luxury you have been promising yourself. You can even dye your hair blue to create a stunning eye-catching change. 
   • Umm, although dying one’s hair blue kind of defeats the whole “saving the environment” thing in #6, I could live with that. I may just do that. After all, my daughter has blue hair. Given that I might end up looking like Marge Simpson though, I’ve reconsidered and think I should pamper myself and just buy shoes. Remember the first time those shoes appeared int the fraccy blog? It was special, wasn’t it?
8. Plan something new
   Whether it’s planning a holiday for later in the year or deciding what to do at the weekend, looking forward to something new or different can be uplifting and refreshing.
   • There are so many options, but as soon as I got to “uplifting” there was no need to consider anything else. See… I bet I beatbluemonday for some of you just by posting that picture!
9. Create your own carnival or go to the beach
   By turning a bit of your home or office into a carnival or a beach you can pretend you’re somewhere relaxing and help us create world’s biggest virtual beach party!
   • Now, I know that over at Ian Green’s blog, they’re showing photos of the office beach party. I however, will end up the one to clean up the sand. I think I’m going to go for eating crackers in bed and when crumbs get into my underwear I’ll pretend it’s sand instead. I won’t be posting photos of the exciting “event” though… you’ll just have to trust me. Feel free to imagine the fraccy beach party all you like though. I bet I get more attention for mine than Ian does for his!
10. Share you thoughts
    A problem shared is a problem halved. Visit the Blue Monday blog to see what ideas people have come up with for dealing with life’s little problems.
    • Ok, no offense to anyone, but I happen to think the smartest thing anyone can do to deal with life’s little problems, is to visit fracas. If you don’t think so, I refer you to #2.