• 1 in 20 Brits suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, with 1 in 5 feeling the milder winter blues. 

• Just 4 hours away Cyprus delivers x3 more hours of sunshine in January than the UK. 

• First Choice breaks combine natural daylight, unique experiences, and great value to beat January blues. 

10th December 2025: After the Christmas comedown, darker mornings and longer nights earn January the title of the bleakest month of the year.  

The UK endures some of the dimmest winter light in Europe, with around 41- 62 hours of sunshine in total in a typical January.  

That’s roughly 1.5-2 hours per day.  

Many experts argue this level is far too low to maintain mood, circadian rhythm regulation, and healthy sleep, and in fact 1 in 2 Brits experience. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) around this time, with as many as 20% experiencing milder winter blues.  

That’s over 14 million people who begin the year running low on energy, motivation, and sleep.  

One of the biggest reasons Brits struggle so much in winter is the sheer lack of UVB light.  

Scientists refer to it as ‘vitamin D winter’, and the UK sits in the thick of it for almost half the year, with London seeing 149 days of UVB levels too weak for the body to produce vitamin D. 

But only 4 hours away, is a holiday hotspot where travellers can experience more than three times the sunshine of a typical UK January – all for as low as £171pp*.  

Cyprus enjoys around 3,400 hours of sunshine each year, with daytime highs of 18-20°C in January.  

Even mid-winter the island averages around 5-6 hours of bright sunshine per day, and with 380% more UVB doses than Northern Europe it delivers way more of the light our bodies rely on to stabilise energy, sleep and mood-boost.  

From flamingo filled salt lakes to mountainous hikes and 4×4 tours of the Akamas Peninsula, the island offers a range of outdoor adventurous activities that give a healthy dose of daylight even in the depths of winter.  

Winter wellness is top of the also top of the agenda in Cyprus. 

The Ayia Napa Winter Swimmers Festival (17-20th January) invites participants to dive into the Mediterranean for a 30-minute cold-water swim, which is known to lead to improved mood and heightened alertness. While for those on land there is Tai Chi and sand art sessions to boost mindfulness and creativity.  

While at-home wellness breaks can help with mindfulness and unwinding, costs can stack up, with a typical spa weekend costing anywhere between £150 – £500. Meanwhile a quick trip somewhere like Louis Phaethon Beach offers all of Cyprus’ sunny charm from only £337*​​*.  

“January in the UK can be pretty bleak, and we know that holidays are a huge driver of relaxation, mood boosting and wellbeing. Picking a short break somewhere like Cyprus is a great hack for finding a few days of brightness that gives people the boost they need to shape the rest of their winter.” Kevin Nelson, Managing Director at First Choice. 

For those struggling with January blues, before reaching for the SAD lamp or supplements, why not consider a mini break with guaranteed sun. It’s a natural pick me up that can make the rest of the UK winter months much more manageable.