According to a survey of over 1,000 business owners carried out by Lloyds TSB, a third of the country’s four million small businesses cite fear of failure and personal financial loss as the main concerns giving them the January blues this year.

As part of a campaign to improve people’s morale and raise awareness and funds for Samaritans, the emotional health charity is encouraging people to reach out for help before problems escalate and stave off seasonal depression by following eight key tips:

Try something new – Be creative, or learn something new to get your brain active and start thinking of new things instead of dwelling on the old.

Get physical – 
By changing your physical state, from a simple shoulder-shake at your desk to a full work-out at the gym, you can change the way you feel.

Contact a friend or relative – 
Get in touch with someone you have not heard from in a while; thinking of someone else takes your mind off you.

Take a break – 
Go somewhere different, whether it’s a coffee bar you have never been into, or a faraway luxury holiday; by changing your physical location, you change your perspective on the world.

Be nice to a stranger – 
Do a random act of kindness; doing good for others is the best form of self-satisfaction.

Pamper yourself – Enjoy either a small indulgence or a luxury you have been promising yourself.

Plan something new – Whether it’s planning a holiday for later in the year or deciding what to do at the weekend, looking forward to something new or different can be uplifting and refreshing.

Share your thoughts – 
A problem shared is a problem halved. If you feel you need to talk, contact Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 or email jo@samaritans.org.