With Christmas and New Year celebrations rapidly fading from memory, it’s only natural to feel somewhat deflated at this time of year. Maybe you’re finding the chilly mornings and long dark evenings a challenge, or spring, summer and sunny holidays seem a long way off. Or maybe you’re already struggling to keep those New Year’s resolutions. The early part of a year is also peak period for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), whose symptoms include persistently low mood and tiredness.
Of course, there are things you can do, including:
· Understanding that ‘the January blues’ are entirely normal
· Getting as much natural light as you can
· Staying active
· Sleeping properly
· Ensuring that your New Year’s resolutions are realistic
· Eating well and healthily, balancing carb cravings with lots of fresh fruit and veg
Another tip is to have something to look forward to. How about a brunch gathering at The Palm House, either to mark a birthday or other occasion or because you didn’t have time to get together with some of your friends or family members over Christmas – or for no particular reason at all?
After all, it’s more affordable and lower-key than a full-on celebration and doesn’t have to involve indulging in excessive calories or alcohol if you’re doing Dry January or getting 2025 underway on a health kick. (Although if you do fancy a glass of fizz, feel free!)
What’s more, if you meet for brunch, you’ll then have at least most of the afternoon and all evening free to spend as you choose, so it’s pretty time-efficient if you’re busy.
And as well as being a welcome treat, a brunch can help cheer up winter simply by being a novel way to socialise if you’ve not done it before.
Brunch: a brief history
Brunch may sound like an American practice and perhaps a relatively modern one, and it’s been popularised in recent decades by shows such as US hit comedy Sex and the City. In fact, the meal, an amalgamation of ‘breakfast’ and ‘lunch’, is believed to have its origins in England in the late 1800s, and became sought-after in London in the early twentieth century.
The word itself was first used in an 1895 essay in Punch magazine by one Guy Beringer. The concept became popular among the elite as a leisurely post-hunt meal which didn’t involve an early start. (Indeed, one theory has it that brunching stems from hearty hunt breakfasts, involving meat hunted that day, plus eggs, stews, fruits and sweets.)
The custom became more common from the 1950s onwards as cafés and restaurants started introducing brunch menus, while the rise of gastropubs in later decades made it even more popular. The notion became a staple of American life and eating habits during the 1970s.
Brunch is often a Sunday treat, and typically served from 10am, although you can enjoy it on a weekday too.
Brunch at The Palm House
At The Palm House, based in the Surrey Hills near Farnham, we make brunch and breakfast delightful occasions which set you up for the day.
We believe in sourcing the finest ingredients, plus our versatile brunch menu caters for all tastes, with everything from healthy options to classic favourites and more. So you’ll be happy whether you’re after a bowl of flavour-packed granola or fluffy pancakes with maple syrup, smoked salmon on sourdough or a full English. Whatever you choose, enjoy it with our expertly crafted coffees and range of zingy juices. Browse the full menu.
And since we’re right next to The Packhouse, you can enjoy a unique shopping experience there before or after your brunch. It’s set in a 400-year-old former hop kiln where you can browse an eclectic range of fashions and homeware.
We serve breakfast and brunch in the downstairs area of our elegant restaurant between 930am and 1130am daily, with last orders just before 1115am. If there are more than 10 of you, please pre-order your food.
Get in touch today to make your booking – and banish the January blues!
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