Beating The Blues This Blue Monday

Many of us dread Monday mornings and the return to schools, colleges, work and settling back into routines after what is usually a relaxing weekend. Pair that with the subsiding comfort of the winter break and the dying down of holiday festivities and seemingly this particular Monday, seems a lot more unbearable, right? Well, that’s what we’ve been conditioned to believe.

Did you know that there’s a formula for what is supposedly the most depressing day of the year? Cliff Arnall, a psychologist, derived an equation from research into various factors, such as weather, debt, monthly salary, how long it’s been since Christmas and since failing new year’s resolutions, as well as low motivational levels and the feeling of a need to take action. In 2005, he proposed his theory, coining the annual event as Blue Monday, which takes place on the third Monday of every January.

So, why does this day actually exist? Well, on behalf of UK travel company, Sky Travel, Chris used this concept as a marketing gimmick to promote winter deals. The gloom and doom that his theory put forth is used to encourage the public to jet off during the winter, in the hopes of escaping the ‘January blues.’ Since then, many other travel companies and seasonal campaigns have also used this to their advantage, to lure in people to indulge in their winter getaway deals.

With the focus on this day increasing each year, it has brought about a lot of conversation surrounding mental health and for some, it sets out the expectation that the day isn’t going to pan out so well. However, it’s really important to remember that we all have our good and bad days and that the calendar does not decide that for us.

There are many reasons why the concept of Blue Monday shouldn’t alarm us, but it’s important that we recognise the damaging effects that the day can have on people. For some people, it could put a label on what should otherwise be another ordinary day and pressure those who face mental illnesses to overcome them. It sets out an unrealistic expectation that we should be happy, disregarding the individual struggles and worries that many could be facing. However, that being said, it does also provide the opportunity to speak up about mental health and have those difficult conversations surrounding emotional well-being, as well as where to access help if needed. During the winter season, there’s a lot of emphasis on gifts and presents, as Christmas and New Year is when we tend to get together. While it’s nice to receive presents, giving can be equally as rewarding, boosting our mood, happiness and productivity, as well as cheering up those around us or providing them with things that they need.

Something I did last winter with NCS was creating gift packs for the homeless and vulnerable families around my local area, which was not only a way to do something for the greater good, but I made a bunch of new friends too. It was such an amazing time together, fundraising for food, sweets, cards and small toys for children to play with. It really warmed my heart knowing that our collective effort had helped people less fortunate than ourselves to find some comfort during the winter season.

Another thing that we’ve done, is at my school, we pick a mental health organisation every year and on Blue Monday, we fundraise by coming in bright, sparkly and shiny clothing to create an uplifting atmosphere around school. So, instead of accepting the day as it is, we turn it into something positive, spreading awareness about mental health. The proceeds go towards supporting others struggling with mental health, funding training and creating resources to make these platforms and services available for users to access the care that they need.

Some other ideas that organisations have come up with is Brew Monday by the Samaritans. This initiative has been started to encourage people to start conversations over a cup of tea (or any other favourite beverages) and reach out to friends, family and connect with our loved ones. It’s a great way to create a relaxed and comfortable environment for a catch up or a mental health check in. The aim is to be out with the blues and in with the brews!

With the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health has affected many. From young children unable to see their friends, to teenagers struggling with the lack of freedom. From adults having to work from home, to the elderly facing loneliness as they shield from the virus. As we move into the beginning of this year and cases are on the rise, this Blue Monday is more important than ever, because with uncertainty surrounding lockdowns and self-isolating, it creates barriers for people reaching out to get the help that they need. That’s why it’s important to check in with those around us where possible, provide them with a comfortable space to talk about how they feel and help break down the stigma surrounding mental health. The more we normalise this, the easier it will be to support those around us, because mental health is every day, not just Blue Monday.