Today is Blue Monday, the most depressing day of the year. It is believed today is when the post christmas struggles reach their peak. The Christmas memories are fading, we have a hammered bank account, a bulge around the waist, gloomy weather and a return to work after weeks of partying.
These factors all come together in a perfect storm for a single day believed to be the most depressing of the year which has been dubbed 'Blue Monday'.
It is calculated using a series of factors in a (not particularly scientific) mathematical formula. The factors are: the weather, debt level (specifically, the difference between debt and our ability to pay), the amount of time since Christmas, time since failing our new year's resolutions, low motivational levels and the feeling of a need to take charge of the situation.
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There are plenty of methods out there to help avoid being hit by “Blue Monday”. Exercise, starting an activity you've wanted to do for ages and enjoying time with friends and family all help to banish the winter blues.
If you don't feel like getting active on the day itself you may want to book something to take your mind off it, even if it's something as simple as a trip to the cinema. However, if you are struggling with feelings of depression over a long period you should speak to your doctor, or a trusted family member or friend.
