Blue Monday: Why is Monday the most depressing day of the year?

The most depressing day of the year would be a Monday. So far no real surprises! But do you know which Monday? It was in 2005 that Cliff Arnall, a psychologist from Cardiff University, launched the idea that the third Monday of the year would be the most depressing day of the year. Baptized “Blue Monday”, this day would combine several factors conducive to depression (over the weekend, freezing temperatures, debts of Christmas gifts, distant holidays, demotivation at work, etc.). All in all, nothing very encouraging.

Blue Monday: the depression equation

It is through this clever calculation that he would have made this observation. For explanation, the W refers to “Weather” (weather), (Dd) to “debt” (difference of debts incurred during the holiday season with the ability to repay before the next payday), T to “Time” (weather elapsed since Christmas), Q (time elapsed since our New Year’s resolutions), M (lack of motivation), and finally Na corresponds to our “need to act”. Could there be a reason? In any case, when it comes to the weather, nature seems to agree with the psychologist this year because if the weather has been rather mild in recent days, the forecasts announce a return of cold weather accompanied by an icy wind. As far as the social and political climate is concerned, nothing is optimistic, with strikes and mobilizations continuing across the country. But nevertheless, the figures may well agree France seems to resist again and again to the call!

Blue Monday, originally the name of an advertising campaign

In reality, “Blue Monday” is above all the name of an advertising campaign, launched in 2005, by the British television channel Sky Travel. The goal: to encourage viewers to book their plane tickets during the month of January to fight against depression thanks to the famous calculation of the psychologist. Cliff Arnall would, in fact, have been paid to sign this formula with his name! Be that as it may, even if it is a clever marketing move, the winter period, and all the more so the month of January, is conducive to seasonal depression, in particular because of the lack of sun and of natural light. And the cold snap that hit France this Monday did nothing to help matters.

Blue Monday: how not to sink into depression?

Come on, courage, tomorrow is Tuesday and in two weeks February will be smiling at us! In the meantime, here are some tips to fight against the winter blues which is very real to him:

• Test it light therapy : the lights which diffuse a brightness similar to the intensity of the day would have proven scientifically their beneficial effect in 50% of the cases against the winter blues.
• Play sports : physical activity helps to fight against depression, promotes better sleep and helps keep the line so hop we put a little session of 30 minutes at least 3 times a week and it’s good.

• Alternative medicine to the rescue : St. John’s wort flowers are rich in melatonin, a component that helps regulate mood, infusion, tincture, food supplements take the test.
• Get up at dawn: Just thinking about it depresses you more than anything else? However, taking advantage of the first rays of the sun activates the secretion of cortisol, a hormone responsible for sleep cycles that should help fight against insomnia and sleep problems that weigh on morale. And then the more we take advantage of the sunny weather, the less we get depressed, it’s proven!