Blue Monday: ‘the most depressing day of the year’

Blue Monday is the term given to the ‘most depressing day of the year’, typically the third Monday in January. Some believe it’s a myth, some genuinely feel as though their mental state drops a little on this day. It is supposedly calculated via a range of factors, including: the weather, debt level, the amount of time since Christmas, time since failing our New Year’s resolutions, low motivational levels and the feeling of a need to take charge of the situation.  This year, Blue Monday was Monday 20th January (coincidentally, the same day that first-year law students received their  grades for the Modern English Legal System module!) and, now that the day has officially ended, I have decided to share my opinions on the infamous Blue Monday. 

1. Mondays always seem to suck

It’s no surprise that the ‘most depressing day of the year’ is a Monday. The weekend is over. You’re back to work / school. You see five long days ahead of you and the upcoming two-day weekend is too far away to look forward to. But now imagine that Monday wasn’t the beginning of the week. When I lived in Dubai, I had to get used to the fact that Sunday to Thursday was the working week and Friday and Saturday were the weekend. What I realised is that although the thought of a Monday made me want to roll over and go back to sleep, it’s not the day itself that sucks, it’s our lack of preparation for the week. Take Sunday night to prepare yourself for the week ahead, make sure you get enough sleep, and I promise you that Monday won’t feel as fatal.  

2. Expecting a bad day = a bad day

Blue Monday, like most Mondays, has a very bad reputation. But what you may find is that if you start every day by telling yourself ‘this day will be depressing’, or ‘I’m going to have an awful day’, you will most likely have a bad day. Instead, try your best to tell yourself that you are going to have a great day, from the minute you wake up. Say it out loud. Write it down. Tell your friends. Tell your mom. Go in with a positive mindset and hope to reap positive benefits!

3. However, five bad minutes ≠ a bad day

We can all say we have had a ‘bad day’. But what does this really mean? Did we have a five-minute argument with someone then think about it for hours? Did we express some road rage at a bad driver this morning? Did we spill coffee on our jeans before going to class (which we felt self-conscious about but literally nobody else noticed)? Sometimes, we can focus on one single bad event in the day and convince ourselves that the whole day was ruined. But ask yourself this – if those five minutes of ‘bad’ didn’t happen, how would you describe your day?

4. Little ways to improve mood & wellbeing 

So, if you are feeling the effects of Blue Monday, or just feeling a little down on any day of the week, what can you do to lift your spirits? Here are some cute infographics (with respective instagrams tagged) for some inspiration! 

@hayleydrewthis

@jessrachelsharp