Life has secrets that can be easy to unwrap.

It is Blue Monday today. Traditionally the 3rd Monday in January gets this title! Blue because the credit cards bills are rolling in; it is dark out there – particularly north of the Mason Dixon line and New Year’s resolutions might have been broken, smashed and forgotten, and the quilt is seeping down to the kneecaps. It is a real feeling that a huge percentage of Americans are feeling now. So, meet it head on. Here are 3 dozen winning thoughts on how to climb up from the blues.

Don’t borrow trouble~ If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn’t happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.

1. *Talk to a trusted individual.

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won’t fit into your time schedule or that will compromise your mental health. (Notice this is high on the list…so you aren’t the only one over loaded!)

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and un-clutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don’t lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, TALK* to someone, and let go of the anxiety. If you can’t do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don’t use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. Sing. Sing in the shower, in the car, as you exercise.

15. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

16. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19. Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life. There is truth to the saying “What you put in your head, you put into your life.”

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone. (This is not a selfish goal!)

23. Having problems? Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don’t wait until it’s time to go to bed.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite poems, proverbs and sayings on hand.

26. Laugh.

27. Laugh some more!

28. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

29. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can)

30. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

31. Sit on your ego.

32. Talk less; listen more.

33. Pick up your young one, and walk around the house, holding him/her close
– this is an exercise of love and good health.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you’re grateful for that you’ve never been grateful for before.

* When your spouse is TDY, or deployed this is the REALLY the time when you need to be in a support group: a spouse club, Squadron, battalion, group, fleet, ombudsman meeting. Contact the Family Readiness, Fleet and Family folks on station; they can hook you up with others who know exactly what you are facing!

Tell us the name of your military family related support group. Let’s get the word out to all spouses, that there is no need to do it on your own! We are stronger as a unit – and it doesn’t hurt as much.