The third Monday in January has become known as Blue Monday.

Today is Blue Monday. Apparently, the most depressing day of the year. A time when we’re all supposedly feeling guilty for spending and eating too much over the festive break. Combine this with the new stresses of the work year, our slowly-failing new year’s resolutions and a good two weeks until payday and we’re looking at a recipe for gloom.

Now, we all know the Winter months can have an impact on our moods. Cold weather, shorter days, poor eating habits across the festive period – it all adds up. Many people can be impacted by what is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), symptoms of depression that come and go in a seasonal pattern, usually more prominent in the colder, darker months of the year. While SAD is a recognised disorder that can have a real impact on people, there is no statistical evidence to suggest Blue Monday is actually real. But for people who find the Winter period more of a struggle, Blue Monday - and all the hype that comes with it, could trigger negative feelings.

Let's keep a sense of perspective regarding this ‘most depressing day of the year’ business. We have 5 top tips on how to kick the Monday blues, ignore the PR nonsense and focus on getting on with business as usual.



1. Go against the grain. With a day like Blue Monday, it’s easy to feel a bit negative. With news articles, social media channels and friends and family jumping on the bandwagon, you could be forgiven for just accepting that this is your fate. However, it’s important that you try and combat this onslaught of sadness and keep a positive mindset. Stay upbeat, think positively, go against the grain. If you convince yourself that Monday will be bad day… it’s likely going to be a bad day.
   
   
2. Switch off from social media. We’re all undoubtedly going to see social media posts about how bad people’s days are going. How they ‘woke up in a bad mood’, how ‘traffic was awful’, how the ‘bus was late’. A constant barrage of people using Blue Monday to have a moan about life’s small inconveniences. Unfortunately, we live in a society where negativity and bad news makes more of a splash than good news does. People like to cash in on new fads and trends, so expect to see everyone with their ‘Blue Monday’ hats on! If constant negative content on your feed is going to impact your day, simply switch off. Focus on the here and now. Spend your evening reading, go for a run, or try a touch of yoga. Try to avoid slumping onto your sofa and spending 3 hours scrolling through negative online content. You’ll not only have a bad evening, but you may set yourself up for a bad week.
   
   
3. Practice self-care. A tip not just for Blue Monday, but one you should use every day. Why not substitute your usual morning coffee and pack of biscuits for something more healthy and nourishing? Could you walk to work in the morning instead? Is a fast food burger really the lunch that your body is screaming out for? Work on small, positive change throughout the day to combat the negativity. Try and carry this through to every day of your week and you’ll soon notice the difference in your mood come Friday night.
   
   
4. Treat yourself. If you know you’re someone who is going to struggle with the day, why not plan a treat for yourself? If you can stay positive and upbeat all week, reward yourself come Friday. And if not... reward yourself anyway! A trip to the cinema, dinner and drinks with friends. Something to look forward to all week, to keep yourself on-track. If you can plan something with friends or family, then you all have a common goal to work towards and can help each other stay positive.
   
   
5. It’s ok to talk! Arguably our most important tip, but if we’d put this at number 1 you wouldn’t have read this far! Although we don’t buy into the hype of Blue Monday, we do believe that it can offer a useful opportunity. It opens up avenues for people to talk about their current mindset and be honest with how they’re feeling. If you’re anxious, stressed or generally feeling low then this can be a good time to share this with others. It is a time of year when you’re likely to find others who may be feeling just like you. Friends, family, online forums; there are plenty of routes for you to share how you’re feeling. It’s also important to remember … it’s ok to not always feel ok! 
   

For anyone looking for support, here are some great UK-based services and online platforms - click for links:

MIND

Wellbeing NHS

Young Minds 

Bonus Tip!

Sometimes, all you need to combat the Monday blue’s is a few minutes of relaxation and mindfulness exercise. The Moodlapse app is a perfect ‘on-the-go’ tool that can improve your mood and reduce stress and anxiety. Just a few minutes a day can focus the mind, help to silence distractions and re-energise.

Download for free from the App Store

* From Friday I’m in love... by The Cure