This Monday is Blue Monday, supposedly the most depressing day of the year.

While there is no research to support this claim, there are plenty of reasons why January might be a depressing month.

It follows the holiday season, bills from the holidays are rolling in, and you might struggle with your New Year's resolutions.

Combine that with long, dark and gloomy winter days, and you have a recipe for melancholy.

Bruce Krentz, Health Promotion Co-ordinator with the Northern Health Region, has a few tips for beating the blues.

“If you have stairs in your house or your apartment, you can easily get some really great exercise just doing stairs. Doing a bit of dancing is great, even just using your own body weight to do different exercises, lots of things you can do to stay healthy and keep your mind busy.”

Other suggestions include hobbies like knitting, crocheting, doing puzzles, or cooking together with family and friends.

If you feel you need help with your mental health, go to the Northern Health Region website or facebook page or contact the Canadian Mental Health Association for resources.