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0 / 30 Fotos
It's easy to feel down around this time - The holiday cheer has faded and you're cranky, bored, and left with a bloated belly, an irregular sleep pattern, and an all-too-distant payday. Weirdly enough, there's a holiday for that.
© iStock
1 / 30 Fotos
The birth of the Blue
- The day of depression was first coined by Dr. Cliff Arnall, a lecturer at the University of Cardiff in South Wales, in 2005. He claimed to have discovered it using an equation.
© Shutterstock
2 / 30 Fotos
The formula - It factors in weather conditions, debt levels (paired with ability to pay it off), time since Christmas, average levels of motivation, having to return to work, time since failing our New Year's resolutions, and the need to take action.
© Shutterstock
3 / 30 Fotos
Deep breaths...
- Fortune reports that Arnall's algorithm looks like this: [W + (D-d)] x Tq ÷ [M x Na]. How one uses the algorithm, however, remains unclear to academics.
© Shutterstock
4 / 30 Fotos
Does the formula work? - It has been rendered meaningless mathematically, particularly since the units of measurements aren't defined. This 'pseudoscience' does, however, hold some weight for those who feel all those factors aligning in a very saddening way around this time of year.
© Shutterstock
5 / 30 Fotos
It's highly controversial - The Achilles heel in Arnall's theory lies in the fact that he was reportedly commissioned to pick the most miserable day of the year by British vacation company Sky Travel, according to Coastal Living.
© Shutterstock
6 / 30 Fotos
It's highly controversial - Under this lens, the holiday seems to be just another opportunity for companies to capitalize on products and experiences that combat the winter blues.
© Shutterstock
7 / 30 Fotos
The formula is flawed - Since it takes into account weather conditions, it only applies to the Northern Hemisphere. That, and the lack of scientific evidence or even proof of Arnall having surveyed a large group of people, discounts his theory for many.
© Shutterstock
8 / 30 Fotos
But Arnall says most people have got it wrong - In 2018, Arnall told The Independent newspaper that it was "never his intention to make the day sound negative." So, what was his intention exactly?
© Shutterstock
9 / 30 Fotos
He wanted the opposite
- It was rather "to inspire people to take action and make bold life decisions" and to encourage a positive outlook as an opportunity for new beginnings.
© Shutterstock
10 / 30 Fotos
The creator of Blue Monday is very optimistic
- Arnall apparently believes this is the best time to make big decisions for the year ahead, whether that means embarking on a new career path, meeting new people, or booking a new adventure.
© Shutterstock
11 / 30 Fotos
He even started a hashtag - His Twitter account labels him as a psychologist, life coach, and happiness consultant, as well as an “activist to #StopBlueMonday.” It would seem he is now determined to stop the very thing he started.
© Shutterstock
12 / 30 Fotos
There's a reason it became so popular - The reality of the situation is that a lot of people do feel immensely blue at this time of year, precisely because of factors mentioned in Arnall's equation.
© Shutterstock
13 / 30 Fotos
Seasonal Affective Disorder is real - SAD is a type of depression that occurs this time of year, and though you can feel it in the summer as well, January's weather in certain parts of the world and the resulting short window of sunlight doesn't help.
© Shutterstock
14 / 30 Fotos
Actual research proves that people aren't happy - According to The Weather Channel, findings of a survey of 2,000 people show that just 5% are at their happiest during this time of year.
© Shutterstock
15 / 30 Fotos
Blue Monday might be real for you - If all of the equation's factors happen to fall heavily on your shoulders this Monday, there are ways to beat it!
© Shutterstock
16 / 30 Fotos
Skip it! - Blow off your to-do list and just take it easy. Catch up on some reading or watch some Netflix instead of forcing yourself to do things that don't make you happy.
© Shutterstock
17 / 30 Fotos
Do something nice for someone else - The best and most sustainable form of happiness is when you share it with someone else.
© Shutterstock
18 / 30 Fotos
Hop on one of those vacation deals - In 2018, Arnall actually partnered with Virgin Holidays to launch their "Screw It, Let's Do It" campaign, offering flight and holiday deals throughout January to encourage people to forget the Blue Monday mentality.
© Shutterstock
19 / 30 Fotos
Get it on
- There are so many benefits to having sex in the winter, one of the most important being the endorphins that are created in your body that can serve as an excellent defense against depression.
© Shutterstock
20 / 30 Fotos
Refresh your home
- There's nothing that says new beginnings and fresh starts like throwing away everything that no longer gives you joy.
© Shutterstock
21 / 30 Fotos
Make healthier choices - Eat foods that will combat your bloating, boost your mood, and help you hit those New Year's resolutions.
© Shutterstock
22 / 30 Fotos
Keep up an active routine - It's easy to hibernate indoors when it's cold outside, but forcing yourself to get some exercise will make you happier in the long run. It doesn't have to be much—even dancing around your home works!
© Shutterstock
23 / 30 Fotos
Take up all those non-summer activities - Remember when you ditched projects to go enjoy the sun outside? Now's the time to do those creative indoor activities.
© Shutterstock
24 / 30 Fotos
See your friends and family - Just because the holiday season is over doesn't mean you can't enjoy company, even if it's on Zoom or other apps.
© Shutterstock
25 / 30 Fotos
Make sure you're getting enough light - Lack of exposure to sunlight is linked to mood changes, so get outside for a short brisk walk or invest in a special SAD lamp that gives off bright light to make up for the lost sunny hours.
© Shutterstock
26 / 30 Fotos
Meditate - Slowing down and tuning in can be the perfect way to sort out the chaotic mess running through your head. Meditation can help you focus your goals and stay in the moment, cutting out needless and futile worrying.
© Shutterstock
27 / 30 Fotos
Talk to a professional - If this Monday feels a bit darker than blue, and if it's not just on Monday, speaking to someone like a doctor about your feelings can both lighten your load and direct you in the right direction.
© Shutterstock
28 / 30 Fotos
Look forward to the happiest day of the year
- Arnall has also identified the happiest day of the year, with calculations based on outdoor activity, nature, social interaction, childhood summers, positive memories, temperature, and holidays. It falls sometime in June each year, so you have something to look forward to!
© Shutterstock
29 / 30 Fotos
© Shutterstock
0 / 30 Fotos
It's easy to feel down around this time - The holiday cheer has faded and you're cranky, bored, and left with a bloated belly, an irregular sleep pattern, and an all-too-distant payday. Weirdly enough, there's a holiday for that.
© iStock
1 / 30 Fotos
The birth of the Blue
- The day of depression was first coined by Dr. Cliff Arnall, a lecturer at the University of Cardiff in South Wales, in 2005. He claimed to have discovered it using an equation.
© Shutterstock
2 / 30 Fotos
The formula - It factors in weather conditions, debt levels (paired with ability to pay it off), time since Christmas, average levels of motivation, having to return to work, time since failing our New Year's resolutions, and the need to take action.
© Shutterstock
3 / 30 Fotos
Deep breaths...
- Fortune reports that Arnall's algorithm looks like this: [W + (D-d)] x Tq ÷ [M x Na]. How one uses the algorithm, however, remains unclear to academics.
© Shutterstock
4 / 30 Fotos
Does the formula work? - It has been rendered meaningless mathematically, particularly since the units of measurements aren't defined. This 'pseudoscience' does, however, hold some weight for those who feel all those factors aligning in a very saddening way around this time of year.
© Shutterstock
5 / 30 Fotos
It's highly controversial - The Achilles heel in Arnall's theory lies in the fact that he was reportedly commissioned to pick the most miserable day of the year by British vacation company Sky Travel, according to Coastal Living.
© Shutterstock
6 / 30 Fotos
It's highly controversial - Under this lens, the holiday seems to be just another opportunity for companies to capitalize on products and experiences that combat the winter blues.
© Shutterstock
7 / 30 Fotos
The formula is flawed - Since it takes into account weather conditions, it only applies to the Northern Hemisphere. That, and the lack of scientific evidence or even proof of Arnall having surveyed a large group of people, discounts his theory for many.
© Shutterstock
8 / 30 Fotos
But Arnall says most people have got it wrong - In 2018, Arnall told The Independent newspaper that it was "never his intention to make the day sound negative." So, what was his intention exactly?
© Shutterstock
9 / 30 Fotos
He wanted the opposite
- It was rather "to inspire people to take action and make bold life decisions" and to encourage a positive outlook as an opportunity for new beginnings.
© Shutterstock
10 / 30 Fotos
The creator of Blue Monday is very optimistic
- Arnall apparently believes this is the best time to make big decisions for the year ahead, whether that means embarking on a new career path, meeting new people, or booking a new adventure.
© Shutterstock
11 / 30 Fotos
He even started a hashtag - His Twitter account labels him as a psychologist, life coach, and happiness consultant, as well as an “activist to #StopBlueMonday.” It would seem he is now determined to stop the very thing he started.
© Shutterstock
12 / 30 Fotos
There's a reason it became so popular - The reality of the situation is that a lot of people do feel immensely blue at this time of year, precisely because of factors mentioned in Arnall's equation.
© Shutterstock
13 / 30 Fotos
Seasonal Affective Disorder is real - SAD is a type of depression that occurs this time of year, and though you can feel it in the summer as well, January's weather in certain parts of the world and the resulting short window of sunlight doesn't help.
© Shutterstock
14 / 30 Fotos
Actual research proves that people aren't happy - According to The Weather Channel, findings of a survey of 2,000 people show that just 5% are at their happiest during this time of year.
© Shutterstock
15 / 30 Fotos
Blue Monday might be real for you - If all of the equation's factors happen to fall heavily on your shoulders this Monday, there are ways to beat it!
© Shutterstock
16 / 30 Fotos
Skip it! - Blow off your to-do list and just take it easy. Catch up on some reading or watch some Netflix instead of forcing yourself to do things that don't make you happy.
© Shutterstock
17 / 30 Fotos
Do something nice for someone else - The best and most sustainable form of happiness is when you share it with someone else.
© Shutterstock
18 / 30 Fotos
Hop on one of those vacation deals - In 2018, Arnall actually partnered with Virgin Holidays to launch their "Screw It, Let's Do It" campaign, offering flight and holiday deals throughout January to encourage people to forget the Blue Monday mentality.
© Shutterstock
19 / 30 Fotos
Get it on
- There are so many benefits to having sex in the winter, one of the most important being the endorphins that are created in your body that can serve as an excellent defense against depression.
© Shutterstock
20 / 30 Fotos
Refresh your home
- There's nothing that says new beginnings and fresh starts like throwing away everything that no longer gives you joy.
© Shutterstock
21 / 30 Fotos
Make healthier choices - Eat foods that will combat your bloating, boost your mood, and help you hit those New Year's resolutions.
© Shutterstock
22 / 30 Fotos
Keep up an active routine - It's easy to hibernate indoors when it's cold outside, but forcing yourself to get some exercise will make you happier in the long run. It doesn't have to be much—even dancing around your home works!
© Shutterstock
23 / 30 Fotos
Take up all those non-summer activities - Remember when you ditched projects to go enjoy the sun outside? Now's the time to do those creative indoor activities.
© Shutterstock
24 / 30 Fotos
See your friends and family - Just because the holiday season is over doesn't mean you can't enjoy company, even if it's on Zoom or other apps.
© Shutterstock
25 / 30 Fotos
Make sure you're getting enough light - Lack of exposure to sunlight is linked to mood changes, so get outside for a short brisk walk or invest in a special SAD lamp that gives off bright light to make up for the lost sunny hours.
© Shutterstock
26 / 30 Fotos
Meditate - Slowing down and tuning in can be the perfect way to sort out the chaotic mess running through your head. Meditation can help you focus your goals and stay in the moment, cutting out needless and futile worrying.
© Shutterstock
27 / 30 Fotos
Talk to a professional - If this Monday feels a bit darker than blue, and if it's not just on Monday, speaking to someone like a doctor about your feelings can both lighten your load and direct you in the right direction.
© Shutterstock
28 / 30 Fotos
Look forward to the happiest day of the year
- Arnall has also identified the happiest day of the year, with calculations based on outdoor activity, nature, social interaction, childhood summers, positive memories, temperature, and holidays. It falls sometime in June each year, so you have something to look forward to!
© Shutterstock
29 / 30 Fotos
It's Blue Monday, and here's how to beat it
The most depressing day of the year falls this January 20
© Shutterstock
Having a case of the Mondays is bad enough, but once a year there’s a Monday that is significantly more blue than the rest. This year, the most depressing date on the calendar falls on January 20. We are, of course, talking about Blue Monday.
Click through to find out everything you need to know about the peculiar tradition that has gripped the public for years, and learn the best ways to beat it. It turns out there's an unexpected tale lying beneath Blue Monday that might just change everything.
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