93% of parents admit to battling the January blues - and nature is named as the remedy
January has a way of weighing heavily on families. After the sparkle and whirlwind of Christmas, parents tell us they feel the pressure as routines snap back into place, the mornings stay dark, and the to-do list somehow grows longer. In our latest research, over 9 in 10 UK parents admit to feeling stressed or low during January - a feeling so many of us know all too well.
The ‘January Blues’ bring together all the usual challenges of winter, such as the cold, the dark days – with the unique stresses of the month - the exhaustion following the festive high, the pressure to start the year on the right note, and the financial strain following big spending over Christmas.
However, the research has revealed a simple cure for those struggling with the January Blues – mother nature.
Here at Feather Down, we have always believed that nature has an incredible ability to restore us. And the families who took part in our research agree. Nearly three quarters (73%) shared that reconnecting with nature — whether that’s a muddy wander through the woods, a stroll across a frosty field, or gathering the kids for a breath of fresh air — helps clear the fog of the ‘January Blues’. Time spent outdoors helps to alleviate the low mood and fatigue that comes with January.
Parents with bigger broods feel this most. As the number of children in a household goes up, so too does the strain, with 69% of parents with three or more children feeling overwhelmed. But it’s in these busy, noisy, full-of-life families that nature seems to work its magic most powerfully.
Isobel, a 38-year-old mum-of-two from Leeds, said of the January Blues: “January can feel like the hardest month of the year as a mum but being outside with my family, even for a simple walk, makes such a difference. It helps us all reset but it also forces us to physically walk away and take a break from the space that might be stressing us out, whether that’s a pile of toys that haven’t been put away or last night’s dishes.
“It’s a reminder that sometimes the simplest things – fresh air, being together – can have the biggest impact.”
Vicki Baggott, Group Marketing Director at Feather Down, commented:
“The research highlights just how crucial it is for families to take time to reconnect and recharge, with spending time in nature offering a simple, yet effective way to alleviate stress, while creating meaningful moments with loved ones.”
Professor Sam Wass, a leading Child Psychologist, commented: “Evidence shows that spending more time outdoors associates with lower stress, anxiety and depression, and improved mood - even in babies as young as 12 months. The effects of nature are also immediate. One study found that even a 20-minute walk in a natural environment, led to improvements in attention and learning in children.”
We see this time and time again on our farms. Families arrive carrying the weight of daily life, and over the course of a few days, you can almost see the stress lift. The slower pace, the crackle of the log fire, the smell of the farm, the sky full of stars — these small moments give parents space to breathe, reconnect, and feel human again.
January will probably always come with its challenges. But we hope to remind families of something reassuring: that the antidote doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, it’s as simple as stepping outside and letting nature do what it does best — helping us recharge, reconnect, and remember what matters.
