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Mental Health

Today is the saddest day of the year: This is the reason why Blue Monday is considered depressing

The third Monday of January has been touted by some as Blue Monday, the most depressing day of the year. But why?

Blue Monday: cuándo es y origen del ‘Día más triste del año’

Today, Monday, January 20, the third Monday of January, is known by some as Blue Monday, or what is supposedly the most depressing day of the year.

The term ‘Blue Monday’ has been around for almost 20 years, and has become well-known to many of us trying to shake off the last stages of our post-Christmas and New Year hangover. Mondays are Mondays, and Januarys are Januarys, cold and wet across much of the globe, so it all makes sense, doesn’t it?

Is ‘Blue Monday’ a real concept?

However, scientists have debunked the idea that this particular day is the saddest, many stating there is absolutely no basis to mark this day as such.

Now-defunct travel agency Sky Travel first issued a press release in 2005 observing the third Monday of January as Blue Monday. The company had approached British psychologist Cliff Arnall to come up with a formula which would come up with the saddest day of the year. Based on his computation, the third Monday of the new year would be the most depressing.

After Arnall came up with his mathematical equation, the travel firm used Blue Monday as a springboard for a campaign to urge people to travel to alleviate the depression that is associated with this period.

Blue Monday: sales, not science

The psychologist’s formula has been roundly criticized by scientists and the academic community. Experts say that January may bring with it some winter blues due to the weather and the end of holiday activities, but there is no scientific evidence that suggests that Blue Monday is the most depressing day of the year.

The concept lacks scientific validity and is largely considered a marketing gimmick rather than a genuine reflection of people’s moods. The creation of this day thus came about due to an advertising campaign, and not as a result of scientific investigation.

Arnall’s formula tried to provide an explanation for the special day of sadness by computing a wide variety of factors such as the weather, salary, and failed New Year’s resolutions.

Here are the variables that appear in his mathematical formula:

Factors in Arnall's equation

  • Weather
  • Debt
  • Monthly salary
  • Time elapsed since Christmas
  • Time since the failure of new year’s resolutions
  • Low motivational levels
  • The feeling of a need to take action.

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