Every year, the month of January puts our mental health to the test. Winter blues linked to the gray weather and lack of light, bank accounts at their worst after the Christmas holidays, cessation of good resolutions at the start of the year… All of this would be at the origin of “Blue Monday”. Behind this concept lies a theory according to which the third Monday of the year, which falls on Monday January 15, 2024, is the most depressing day of the year. Much more than a classic Monday marked by depression, this date would thus present the worst situation for a human being: cold, gray, lack of light, finances at half mast after the holidays, and a phase of discouragement in the face of our good resolutions. But what is it really?
When is Blue Monday in 2024?
Every year, Blue Monday falls on the third Monday in January. In 2024, it falls on Monday January 15.
Why is the 3rd Monday in January depressing?
The third Monday in January occurs in the middle of winter and during the period of seasonal depression. Several negative parameters can put a strain on mental health, including:
- Short days and lack of light;
- The cold and gray weather;
- The post-Christmas period;
- The poor state of finances;
- Monday, which generally represents the end of the weekend and the return to work.
All of these parameters can have an impact on mood, particularly due to changes in circadian rhythms: even if no scientific study has yet confirmed this statement, it can be completely normal to feel more depressed. and less motivated on this date in January.
Blue Monday: what is the origin of the most depressing day of the year?
Winter depression is a common and recognized phenomenon. But in reality, “Blue Monday” was invented from scratch to serve a communication campaign.
In 2005, Dr. Cliff Arnall, a psychologist in the United Kingdom, was hired as a consultant by the English travel channel Sky Travel: “I was asked to think about the best day to book summer vacation. When I started thinking about it, there was some evidence that the third Monday in January was particularly depressing. But it’s almost a self-fulfilling prophecy.”he confessed to Telegraph in 2010.
According to Ben Goldacre, a British science writer, medical doctor and psychiatrist, Sky Travel invented a mathematical formula to determine the most depressing day of the year and offered to pay Dr. Cliff Arnall to associate his name.
The mathematical formula is as follows: [W = (D-d)] x TQ: M x Na. The “W” for the weather, “Dd” for the difference in debts linked to Christmas expenses with the effective repayment capacity before the next payday, the “T” for the time elapsed since Christmas, the “Q” for the period elapsed since the resolutions at the beginning of the year, the “M” for motivation and the “Na” for the need to act.
Blue Monday: reality or marketing stunt?
The objective? Encourage people to book vacations. A formula which would therefore have no scientific value, as Ben Goldacre explained to the British daily The Guardian in 2006 : “It’s no surprise that these equations are so stupid, because they come out of PR companies almost fully formed and ready to have your name attached to them.”
It is also the same scientist, Dr Cliff Arnall who is also at the origin of the “happiest day of the year”, which falls on the third Friday of the month of June. But this time, the study he had carried out was on behalf of an… ice cream brand.
Dr Cliff Arnall has since spoken out about making the third Monday in January the most depressing day of the year. In 2018, in the columns of The Independenthe clarified that he actually wanted Blue Monday to encourage people to make bold decisions rather than highlighting the sadness of the day. “Whether it’s launching a new career, meeting new friends, taking up a new hobby, or booking a new adventure, January is actually a great time to make those big decisions for the coming year”, he explained. However, the idea of this depressing day persists on social networks despite the confession.
How to fight Blue Monday?
January can be a particularly tough time for one’s mental health. Here are some tips for coping with feelings of sadness and depression:
- Take care of yourself and do activities that promote your well-being: physical activity, meditation, hobbies…
- Set your goals as achievable to avoid feeling overwhelmed;
- Limit stressors;
- Contact friends, family or a mental health professional;
- Acknowledge your emotions: It’s normal to feel sad sometimes.
Read also :
⋙ Low morale, depression: how to react and who to consult for help?
⋙ Anti-depression: 5 podcasts to boost your morale
⋙ Shortening days, seasonal depression… My program to stay in great shape this fall