I am in self-imposed hibernation for the next 6 weeks- sympathies for my predicament are most welcome! I have an important exam coming up and so my usual activities (frequently reported via this forum) have been substituted for an alternative kind of soiree- evenings indoors with the heating on full blast in my Notting Hill flat with either my medical books to keep me company or my dedicated study partner. I have to admit to occasional procrastination (a wander down to the fabulous Marc by Marc Jacobs store in Mayfair today to purchase some birthday gifts; and the discovery of Australian “Come Dine With Me”- oh dear indeed) but overwhelmingly I have that feeling that many of you will empathise with, particularly in relation to exams: The Fear.
Whilst HG will continue to be a girl about town reporting from All Eyes On Her choice picks, I am afraid my musings will most probably be of the less travelled variety. I have sought solace in the realisation many members of my support network seem to be enforcing similar conditions on themselves. On a blog, which encourages new experiences, I shouldn’t be saying this- but January detox does seem to be in vogue. I personally am quite a fan of extremes, even though my dear parents have frequently uttered to me “everything in moderation” ; but if you do feel all puritanical in this already bleak month I say- go for it! I guess all that time and energy spent celebrating Christmas and then ushering in the New Year would inevitably result in credit cards, waistbands and liver function feeling the strain. In my day job I have also become acutely aware of a dip in mood that I am seeing in my patients. Is it the weather? Our minds reflecting our bodies – telling us we over did it during the festive season? Or simply the result of there not being enough daylight hours in the UK to maintain our serotonin levels over winter?
So, rather than just focussing on the physical aspects and attempting a toxin free zone or starting a new diet, think about some mind gym too. One of my patients was saying yesterday that taking stock over the festive season has made her think about things in her life she is unhappy with- to which I replied that January is a perfect month to address these. It is named after the God Janus who is usually depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions (below) – one into the future and one into the past. This viewpoint therefore means January is a great time for learning lessons from your past and applying them to the future.
A tutor from Cardiff University, Dr Cliff Arnall, has actually calculated that Monday 24th January is ‘the worst day of the year’ using six factors within a formula: weather, debt, time since Christmas, time since failing new year’s resolutions, low motivational levels and the feeling of a need to take action.
Now with my professional hat on, to combat all of this ,I should be recommending exercise and bibliotherapy in an attempt to beat the blues. However, in All Eyes On Her style I have an alternative suggestion. On Sunday 23rd January at the Royal Festival Hall attend the TS Eliot prize readings. You will hear a breadth of poetry from new voices like Sam Willets to Simon Armitage and Seamus Heaney, as they fight it out for this prestigious award of best poetry collection for 2010.
If you do go, please think of me…indoors at home…revising….
TS Eliot Prize Readings. www.poetrybooks.co.uk/projects/4
7pm. 23rd January 2011, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX
Tickets: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/find/literature-spoken-word/tickets/ts-eliot-prize-readings-55582