WORCESTER, Mass. - The holidays are over. It’s now cold and snowy here in Massachusetts, and some of us might be feeling more down than normal.

If you are, you're not alone. Experts said the 'January blues' are a real thing.

With the holidays in the rearview mirror and the month of January seeming to last forever, it can have an impact on your mental health. Thriveworks clinician Courtney Council said it’s common to feel sad this month. She tells us the best way to stay grounded is by sticking to hobbies that make you feel good.

“I would say read, meditate. I would say journal. That doesn't have to look like, 'well today I feel.' It can look just like words on a piece of paper," she said. "You can literally just write words, all of these, just whatever you feel. Or you can bullet journal. Or you can make it an art, you can get crafty.

“I really say to give yourself things that feel good to you. The brain is a muscle, and so the same way we tone our arms or we tone our legs, we are toning our brain when we set mental health goals.”

Thriveworks has locations locally in Worcester, Westborough and West Springfield. Council said to seek help if day-to-day tasks become too challenging.