Is there a Blue Monday?

If you wake up tomorrow morning (January 21st) feeling a little low, don’t worry. You’ve got a good excuse!

Back in 2005, Life Coach Cliff Arnall at Cardiff University, said he had developed a formula that proved that the first Monday of the third week of January was the most depressing day of the year.

Blue Monday’s calculation is based on factors such as weather conditions, debt levels, time since Christmas and time since failing our new yea’s resolutions.

 

The “Blue Monday” theory has been derided by scientists who said the equation made no sense.Though it’s been said that the theory isn’t completely off because mental health is affected by the environment, things like seasonal affective disorder.

 

The truth is that, for a lot of people, it really does feel like a grim day-and for good reason. The holidays are truly over, the weather is less than awesome, and there’s still so much more winter to come. Many folks have already abandoned their New Year’s resolutions, so motivation levels are low. Being between paydays doesn’t help.

But we don’t have to let any of that get us down. The truth is that, even on this bleakest of days, there’s plenty we can do to give our brain a happiness boost. Exercise is a great weapon against depression, getting outside for some additional vitamin D is a massive bonus…

Blue Arnall himself said he was dismayed to find that so many people responded to the Monday theory by giving themselves an excuse to wallow in misery instead of seeing it as a call-to-action for beating the winter blues. He told folks that:

“Whether embarking on a new career, meeting new friends, taking up a new hobby or booking a new adventure, January is acually a great time to make those big decisions for the year ahead.”

So..let’s kick that sadness to the curb and be proactive!