Harrison: Blue Monday in West Carleton

By mid-January, many of us feel a noticeable shift.

The spark of a fresh start begins to dim. Resolutions lose steam. The mornings are dark, the evenings are long, and energy doesn’t always match our expectations.

This is the experience behind ‘Blue Monday,’ a term often used to describe the hardest day of the year. While it’s not rooted in strong science, the emotion behind it is familiar, especially across West Carleton.

January brings a different pace:
• The holidays are past
• Routines resume
• Bills arrive
• Snow piles up
• And winter stretches ahead

For many, motivation sinks, moods soften, and the nervous system downshifts into energy-saving mode.
That is not failure, it is biology.

Instead of pushing harder or expecting ourselves to be in full stride, this season can be an invitation to slow down and lean into connection, community and small anchors that remind us we belong.

And in West Carleton, we are lucky to have those anchors close by.

Warm up with a conversation and coffee at the Skylark Café in Carp; sometimes 30 minutes with a friend can lift an entire week. Stop at Stonecrest Acres and experience the honour-system farm stand — proof that trust still lives here.

Get outside, even briefly, for daylight and fresh air along the Carp River or village sidewalks, where you can get anywhere in the village in 15 minutes.

Look forward to local traditions returning like the Carp Bonspiel, where community gathers around the curling ice with laughter, and the Constance Bay Legion, where winter events open doors and keep neighbours connected.

These small, local touchpoints make short days feel lighter and long seasons feel shared.

Blue Monday, in that sense, is not a warning, it’s a reminder.

A reminder that:
• Winter rhythms are slower
• Change takes time
• Progress is rarely linear
• And connection is medicine

So, this month give yourself permission to adjust goals, soften routines and rely on community as part of your well-being, not just your schedule.

Not every season is meant to be productive. Some are meant to be grounding.

And sometimes, simply continuing with compassion, warmth and the company of neighbours is more than enough.

Christine Harrison is a registered psychotherapist, founder and clinical director of Focus Forward Therapy Group, and a dedicated community leader with more than 15 years of experience serving West Carleton. She previously held a leadership role in mental health programming at the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre (WOCRC) and currently serves as a director with Carp Health Access, where she works to bridge clinical care with grassroots support. Through her work, Christine has championed accessible, evidence-based therapy and advocated for holistic wellness across rural communities. A committed volunteer, healthcare innovator, and proud mom of three, Christine is passionate about building stronger, more resilient communities through collaboration, compassion, and forward-thinking care.

To read all Christine Harrison’s columns, click here.