Blue Monday: Most Depressing Day Of The Year

Do you have a case of the Mondays?

You may not be alone: a British psychologist has dubbed the third Monday in January “Blue Monday,” the most depressing day of the year.

Cliff Arnall, formerly of Cardiff University, came up with the term for this time of year. The glow of Christmas has faded, yet you’re still paying for the festivities; New Year’s resolutions have fallen by the wayside; and yes, the weather is terrible.

All of those factors led to this being, conclusively, the worst day of the year – at least according to Arnall’s mathematical equation.

[W + (D-d)] x T^Q

M x N_a

According to Britain’s Mental Health Foundation, the model was broken down using six immediately identifiable factors:

• weather (W)
• debt (d)
• time since Christmas (T)
• time since failing our new year’s resolutions (Q)
• low motivational levels (M)
• the feeling of a need to take action (Na)

 

Luckily, the foundation issued a list of 10 ways to beat the winter blues:

• Keep active
• Eat well
• Keep in touch
• Care for others
• Do something you are good at
• Ask for help
• Accept who you are
• Talk about your feelings
• Take a break
• Drink sensibly