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January is the worst month of the year. The holidays are over, friends and family have returned to their lives, the adrenaline rush has subsided. There are no greeting cards or free glazed hams from well wishers in January. The worst movies come out in January. The worst actor on Mad Men is named January. It’s a month with few positives.

Over the years, an endless number of “cure the winter doldrums” articles have been printed. Most are the same: Get more sunlight, don’t stay cooped up in the house, eat healthy, etc. These are excellent tips, but they’re known to most people. We scoured the halls of the Mavo Clinic, and found Dr. Melvin Faqu, a leading expert in behavioral sciences. He’s provided a list of lesser known tips that will help you and your loved ones make it through this difficult season.


Good health starts from within. It’s always important to stay hydrated, but this is especially true in the wintertime. A good rule of thumb is to drink your body weight in ounces per day. For instance, a 150-pound person should drink 150 ounces of water per day.

Kissing improves your mood, and you don’t even have to kiss a person! It could be a dog, cat, or even a turtle. Sadly, most employers don’t allow pets in the office, so we recommend taking an old pillow (great for cuddling!) and drawing a face on it. Some people even use a dab of glue and pet hair they find in the carpet to make the pillow into a fun art project. Each kiss should last a minimum of 4-6 seconds, and occur 6-8 times per day. Treat yourself!

Multivitamins are a great way to keep your energy up, but most vitamins and minerals work better when absorbed directly into the skin. Believe it or not, dog shampoo has a whole array of vitamins and minerals not found in people shampoo, and both kinds are safe for people and pets. Next time you’re at the grocery store, pick up some dog shampoo. Make the switch for a month and you may find yourself more energized and upbeat.

Wear lots of mesh. Studies have shown that mesh helps the body increase its serotonin production, a necessity to keeping one’s spirits up in these dark winter months. For those days when you need a mental boost, throw on a mesh tank top, some motorcycle pants and a mesh hat (just like celebrity Ashton Kutcher!). Remember that mixing other fabrics with mesh may hinder its effectiveness, so just wear mesh items without undergarments or other cotton materials interfering. Share it with your co-workers and you may just start a new trend in your workplace!

An apple juice bath a day keeps the doctor away. Apple juice has a lot of nutrients, but also has a lot of sugar. A great way to absorb the nutrients without taking in the sugar is to rub apple juice on your skin. You could even take a bath in apple juice if you were so inclined!

Colors affect your mood. Bold colors are especially potent at jump starting a person’s mood. If possible, paint the inside walls of your home or apartment neon pink or neon green. These are the two boldest colors, and are therefore best suited to fight depression and improve one’s mental attitude. Change is good, especially interesting changes!

Try this little exercise at work: Hold your breath as long as possible, until you can’t hold it anymore. When you finally breathe in with loud, gasping breaths, you’ll feel an overwhelming rush of endorphins and sense of relief. This effect can improve your mental state. Do it regularly for maximum relief. This same benefit can also be achieved by not using the restroom until you absolutely, positively can’t hold it in anymore, and have to run to make it in time. It sounds silly, but it works!

Raw garlic is a hidden gem. Dogged for years because of its amusing ties to vampire stories, this charming vegetable is actually quite beneficial when eaten raw. It lichens your blood cells, protecting you against illness and other unknown dangers. Even the odor helps with illness (in the same way Vick’s VapoRub helps with colds). So for those of us who are a bit bolder with our fashion choices, wearing a clove or two as a necklace is a unique and interesting option.

Smoking is usually bad for your health, but in the wintertime this nasty habit can actually be beneficial. It gives you something to focus on - a constant task to look forward to and keep you busy. Many people use cold winters as an excuse to drink more, but alcohol is a depressant. Smoking is both a stimulant AND a depressant, so the two effects cancel each other out, ironically making smoking a healthy choice in the winter. Just make sure to quit in the spring, because the heat from cigarettes will make you sweat more in the summer.