Why is Blue Monday considered the most depressing day of the year? Is it really?

Today, 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 has been around for almost 20 years, and since then, scientists have debunked the idea that this particular day is the saddest. Many of them have stated there is absolutely no basis to mark this day as such.

Why has Blue Monday been called the most depressing day of the year?

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.

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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.

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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: