Five ways to slay the beast of 2009

As if the start of January wasn't depressing enough, this year is predicted to be tougher than most because of the looming recession. To help lift the gloom, we asked five commentators to each contribute an original, simple idea to boost the feelgood factor.

With post-Christmas blues and three months of dark evenings looming, January is never the happiest of months.

But this year there is the added anxiety that we keep being told what a difficult year it is going to be.

So how to combat the depression enveloping the nation? We asked five experts to offer their advice.

GO TO A CHURCH CONCERT

"There are plenty of ways to explore the non-material aspects of life," says philosopher Mark Vernon, author of Wellbeing.

"There are plenty of concerts that people can go to for free, and many churches have them. At an evensong in a cathedral you will get real quality music and it will open you up to a new dimension in life.

No-one really understands how music works. It seems to have this direct line to the soul Mark Vernon

"Music takes you beyond words and it speaks straight to your heart and your emotions, something powerfully human, and religious music particularly points you to the transcendental. Whether or not you believe in God it is taking you beyond your material concerns and can even be a relief from them."

Music has transcendental possibilities because it takes you out of yourself, says Mr Vernon, and takes you out of the minutiae of your own life, out of the preoccupation with your own successes and failures.

"It's not a matter of turning your back on the material but realising that the material is not enough and even if all the material concerns were met, you would realise there's more.

"No-one really understands how music works. It seems to have this direct line to the soul. That's why it's popular. What's good about church music is that it's free and it's directed at human wellbeing.

"There are very few words sang at an evensong, therefore you are not forced to hear things you don't believe and you can just sit back and enjoy it, in a beautiful building."

PLANT A BRASSICA

Growing your own food will be the perfect tonic in the new year, says celebrity gardener Diarmuid Gavin.

"In January you can go through the seed catalogues and get ready to grow fruit and vegetable seeds.

Life gets a bit slower and the rewards are huge Diarmuid Gavin

"Or you can plant a few things inside, like early lettuce or cabbage. Start planting potatoes in March.

"And you can prepare the soil by digging it very fine and bringing in new soil and farmyard manure. Or create raised beds if the soil isn't good."

There has been a huge resurgence in growing fruit and vegetables, he says, and last year was the first time in living memory that they overtook flower seeds.

"It's about bringing down your ambitions and doing the simple things, so you nurture and create it yourself rather than going to the garden centre. Life gets a bit slower and the rewards are huge.

Digging does the soul good, says Gavin

"If you're growing tomatoes, cabbage or potatoes, you see them develop over a period of time. You know what's in them and you're not going to the shops where they are vacuum-packed in lots of plastic."

Excess produce can be shared around and you don't need a garden, just a window-box, grow bag or a recycled tyre. And being self-sufficient can be fun.

"When you get out and start to dig, it's like going for a run, you forget everything else and there's nothing better than working the soil and it's a great time to escape everything. It's very simple. You can do it on your own terms and in your own time."

GET BOXING

Exercise makes you happy, says celebrity personal trainer Paul Connolly. And boxing connects to our primeval survival instincts, releasing anxiety and improving fitness.

"My clients come in from the City stressed and angry and down in the dumps but then you get them on the pads and bashing the bags and they are transformed.

Step out of the ring and there's a sense of achievement Paul Connolly

"Whatever makes you happy releases serotonin in the brain. Eating chocolate is a short-lived high whereas boxing is long-lasting.

"It goes back to when we lived in caves. We are too civilised now, sitting in chairs in offices, but boxing is how we survived. The adrenalin is pumping. There's a massive high and it takes longer to come down than eating a bar of chocolate.

"Step out of the ring and there's a sense of achievement. You know your fitness levels have improved. That hormone is released through sex, laughter or the love of your children or your partner, but also through exercise."

You can buy focus pads, boxing gloves and straps for between