Knowing January Blues, the Sad Feeling that Comes at the Beginning of the Year

JAKARTA - New year moments are often greeted with new spirit and hope. However, some people actually feel sad or sad in January.

This condition is known as January Blues. Quoted from Independent UK, on Thursday, January 8, 2026, January Blues generally appear after the euphoria of the Christmas and New Year's holidays ends.

"January Blues refers to feelings of sadness, lack of motivation, loneliness, and low energy that often arise after the festive season," said psychologist, Dr. Lalitaa Suglani.

The causes of January Blues are as follows.

1. Change the routine

The sense of sadness that arises is common when we have to switch from a festive, warm, and festive holiday atmosphere to the beginning of the year, which is again busy with various activities that have been structured before starting the holiday.

"Holiday routines, such as staying up late and irregular eating patterns, disrupt our circadian rhythms, making it more difficult to return to a structured routine," he said.

2. Dopamine decrease

A drastic decrease in dopamine also occurs at the beginning of the year, causing the January Blues. The festive season often brings an increase in dopamine, which gives happiness, and when January arrives, the happiness seems to disappear.

"When this stimulation ends, dopamine levels can drop drastically, making people feel sluggish," said Suglani.

3. Feelings of being unable to

The pressure felt in the new year also causes feelings of inadequacy, so that it feels sad. For example, in the new year, people will usually be faced with new targets in their work.

For those of you who experience these various symptoms, then you should immediately overcome the January Blues that you feel so that it does not linger. The first thing that can be done is to face January more relaxed, and do not rush to pursue big resolutions.

Try to get exposure to sunlight every day. This is because natural light can increase serotonin and improve the mood of the day.

In addition, improve sleep patterns by maintaining a consistent sleep schedule to keep the body's circadian rhythm stable. Instead of making resolutions that are too ambitious, focus on more realistic intentions and in line with your life values so that you don't burden yourself too much and make yourself sad when your expectations are not met.