"BLUE MONDAY" - 16 January 2012

16 January 2012:

Gloomy weather, post-holiday debt and low motivation have earned the third Monday in January the nickname "Blue Monday."

Today, the so-called ‘Blue Monday’, is supposed to be the most depressing day of the year

It’s been suggested that today, the so-called ‘Blue Monday’, is the most depressing day of the year. If people do find themselves feeling low during the winter months, there are a number of steps that they can take to improve how they feel.
Blue Monday is a name given to a date stated, as part of a publicity campaign by Sky Travel, to be the most depressing day of the year.

This date allegedly falls on the Monday of the last full week of January. The date was declared by Arnall to be 24 January in 2005, 23 January in 2006, 22 January in 2007, 21 January in 2008, 19 January in 2009,18 January in 2010. In 2011 there has been confusion about the correct date. Some claimed it was on 17 January 2011 while others say blue Monday was on 24 January 2011.

According to a press release by a mental health charity, the formula is:

where weather=W, debt=d, time since Christmas=T, time since failing our new year’s resolutions=Q, low motivational levels=M and the feeling of a need to take action=N_a. 'D' is not defined in the release, nor are units.

The day was chosen in 2005 by Cardiff University lecturer and psychologist Cliff Arnall, who was asked to identify the most depressing day of the year for U.K.’s Sky Travel as a way to market vacations.
Arnall based the date on a calculation that included gloomy weather, post-holiday debt and low motivational levels. He admitted in 2010 that the calculation is meaningless. But the practice of marking the day continues, partly because it can’t be denied that the cold, damp January weather really affects people.

 

Part of why people feel so down at this time of year is because of the sense of loss that comes with the dissipation of feelings of good cheer, excitement and hope during the post-Christmas period. In addition, that holiday overspending finally comes home to roost during the month of January. “This is a very difficult time of year. It’s hard to get motivated and, on top of that, we all have to tighten our belts, both financially and physically,” said Laurie Campbell, executive director of Credit Canada.
Mid-January until March is the busiest time of year for the credit consulting agency for this very reason, she said.
Financial issues can trigger stress, depression, marital problems, addiction problems, and health problems in individuals, said Campbell.
“So to say that financial issues can cause this to be an even more difficult time of year is certainly valid,” added Campbell.
Maintaining relationships with family and friends beyond the holidays is the best way to deal with January winter blues, said Berber.
Exercising, having sex and going to the theatre may also help boost your mood, according to a recent U.K. study, conducted by Apple and the London School of Economics. The study, called the Mappiness project, asked 45,000 smart phone users to record their levels of happiness and location throughout 2011. After studying the three million responses, the happiest day was determined to be April 29, the day Prince William married Catherine Middleton. The lowest day, was 8 p.m. on Jan. 31, which was, of course, a Monday. (Toronto Star)