Blue Monday is the phrase on everyone’s lips as we enter the third week of January. Infamously dubbed the most depressing day of the year, this Monday typically shoulders post-holiday melancholy, collective apathy, and moody weather. 

But here at Fight for Peace, with our roots firmly in sport, we see first hand how powerful movement is for young people during these darker months. Our Academy in east London doesn’t just keep bodies healthy, but breaks the cycle of isolation by forging friendships, calming a busy mind and building community.

With initiatives such as Rise Every Day (RED January) empowering us all to move for our mental health, we at Fight for Peace set about to discover how our young members remain motivated to keep the blues at bay. 

It’s lunchtime on a rainy Wednesday and the gym is buzzing. Through the shuffling of weights, laughter between exhales, and words of encouragement at the end of a set, three young members – Amina, Lubna, and Javic – offered their wisdom.

Amina begins by recommending how “starting a challenge” related to movement and exercise can inspire you to keep motivated throughout January. Challenges come in all shapes and sizes, it could be hitting a step goal every week, experimenting with a new combat sport, or signing up to an event. 

If starting a challenge feels overwhelming, Amina suggests “practice steps before you take your first steps.” Preparing and taking small steps within your comfort zone is a great foundation for building confidence towards a larger goal. Here, Javic adds that even showing up and participating in “a sport you enjoy” is enough, this in itself is an achievement. 

Lubna chimes in with “remember the grace of failure, who’s going to get it right the first time?” These strong words are a humble reminder that failure is part of the process, and that setbacks are also opportunities for growth. Can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs, right? 

Time constraints and the busyness that is life is a common obstacle when finding a moment for movement too, but Amina suggests that “a 15 minute walk with a friend, even if that means just a trip to Nisa, is a quick way to lift your mood.”

However you choose to keep active, be kind to yourself. As Lubna puts it, “don’t put yourself in a box, and don’t be hard on yourself.” When you start setting boundaries and tough targets, the guilt of not reaching or completing your goals can be disheartening. Yet it’s important to remember, we are only human and all we can do is our best. 

Amina echoes this sentiment by sharing that you must have a “foundation of trial and error” – a period where learning new skills, returning to old ones, or keeping consistent with those familiar may encounter hurdles, but it’s important to “just keep going, even when you mess up!” 

Javic and Amina also speak about the importance of third spaces. As Amina describes, “for many young people, school or work and home spaces dominate everyday life, but you need a third space that’s away from these.” A space “where you don’t have to think, where you don’t have to stress.” 

It’s clear, here in this gym and through a combination of boxing, muay thai and weights training, that these friends have found community, solace and a third space. 

The final piece of wisdom from our trio is to take time for relationships. “Be your own outreach group” says Amina. Especially when gloomy weather leads us to shelter more inside, being your own outreach group means intentionally making time to connect with friends and family. 

This is a brilliant approach to ease the sense of isolation and loneliness that can build during these harder months. Whether that’s a quick phone call, a gym session on a rainy Wednesday, or a short walk with a pal, there are many small but meaningful ways to brighten the day. 

Our Academy in North Woolwich is open Monday to Friday with free combat sports sessions available for all young people aged 7-25. Check out our timetable here: https://fightforpeace.net/timetable/

We also have incredible Youth Mentors on hand throughout the week, in case you’re feeling blue, there is always someone to listen.