Blue Monday? There's no such thing
Source: Matthew Henry on Unsplash
Blue Monday: Why it's a 'load of rubbish'
Christmas is over, it's cold and dark outside and that summer holiday seems like a world away.Blue Monday - also known as the most depressing day of the year - has been trending on Twitter all day.
Coined by psychologist Cliff Arnall in 2004, it falls on the third Monday in January every year.
He came up with it after a holiday company asked him for a "scientific formula" for the January blues.
Unsurprisingly, there was nothing scientific about it.
Sophie Edwards, from Kent, has suffered with panic attacks and anxiety since the age of seven.
She thinks labelling one day a year can be damaging for people dealing with their mental health issues.
"I think Blue Monday is a load of rubbish to be honest - it's just a label on an ordinary day but it puts a lot of pressure on people who already have a mental illness to overcome it," Sophie told Radio 1 Newsbeat.
"It adds a lot of anxiety to the day and people get worried about the build up of it.
"I like to plan ahead - so if I look at a day and see that it's labelled the most depressing day of the year I'll get anxious about that and think that I need to be happy on that day."
But she also thinks the day can open up a conversation about mental health.
"I've seen a lot of people online saying things like 'Today is just another day, but if you do need someone to talk to I'm here'.
"It's raising awareness that there is a massive support network both on and offline."
Dr Philip Clarke, a lecturer in psychology at the University of Derby, agrees.
"I started speaking out against Blue Monday when I saw companies were trying to use it as an excuse to sell things," he said.
"I can understand why people would feel down in January, you've just come off Christmas - spending a lot of time with family, overindulging and it's a lot darker outside.
"The key thing to remember is that Blue Monday isn't scientifically proven - there's not even proof January sees a rise in mental health referrals although it may seem that way," he adds.
"But Blue Monday is getting people having those difficult conversations about depression and anxiety and what you can actually do to help with that.
"I think that's a really strong benefit that comes with it."
Top Tips
Although Dr Clarke thinks it's important not to confuse feeling low with depression, he has tips everyone can use for better mental health.
Exercise
"Exercise is a fantastic thing people can be doing as it releases happy endorphins and chemicals. It doesn't have to be exercise in the gym because that can be off-putting for some people.
"It just about increasing your physical activity."
Assess your New Year's resolutions
"A lot of people fail their New Year's resolutions within two or three weeks.
"But if you have failed, look at why and use that as a learning experience.
"This gives people hope that they can still work towards a goal for the year and not beat themselves up about it."
Volunteering
"One reason people love Christmas isn't necessarily the receiving, but the pleasure they get from helping people.
"This can be a good way to get a happy boost with no financial implications."
Check out the post "I don't like Mondays".
Comments
In my opinion, it is a creation of people who want to sell us rubbish or smoke. It´s like horoscope which is a lie. In the past, people felt superstition as it was true, but it was another lie. If you think that it´s better thing to begin the day with the right foot you invent an obligation for you but it serves for nothing. Monday is a day like the rest of week and if you were on holiday, when you didn´t know what day of week was, you didn´t fell what difference was among every day of week.
Generally speaking, I agree with Mr. Clarke. This is one more thing of the load of rubbish. There it is nothing scientific. It´s an excuse to sell things. Any way, this is an information from the BBC Newsbeat and the English like much this sort of things. When there are not things to read in the newspaper, some journalists invent rubbish.
In this case, the newspaper gives tips, as if we believe them. They said that is good do exercise, but this is what everybody knows that it is good for everything. Another tip is "Assess your New Year´s resolutions", but this is necessary to live better, on the contrary, it would be a scatterbrain and, finally, "Volunteering". As you can see everything is smoke.
It can be harmful for sick people instead help them. There are people who overcome for this cliché. There is not necessary raise awareness about it, but whether must overindulge people who have mental illness. This kind of people worries about the build up of it. I want to speak out against, from this blog, this rubbish.
Another thing, and I finish it, people said that they need to be happy and, I think, who thinks in this way makes a big mistake. People are not here to be happy, it´s wrong, people must build the world and the Universe and then people will be happy. To be continued.
See you.
I agree. Blue Monday, like many other days, is a load of RUBBISH!
In my opinion, it is a creation of people who want to sell us rubbish or smoke. It´s like the horoscope which is a lie. In the past, people believed in superstitions as if they were true, but it was another lie. If you think that it´s better to begin the day with the right foot, you invent an obligation for yourself but it is pointless. Monday is a day like any other and if you were on holiday, when you didn´t know what day of the week it was, you wouldn''t be able to tell the difference.
Generally speaking, I agree with Mr. Clarke. This is one more thing of the load of rubbish. There is nothing scientific. It´s an excuse to sell things. Any way, this is information (uncountable) from BBC Newsbeat and the English really like this sort of things. When there is nothing to read in the newspaper, some journalists invent rubbish.
In this case, the newspaper gives tips, as if we believe them. They said that it is good to do exercise, but everybody knows that it is good for everything. Another tip is "Assess your New Year´s resolutions", but this is necessary to live better, on the contrary, it would be confusing and, finally, "Volunteering". As you can see everything is smoke.
It can be harmful for sick people instead of helping them. There are people who overcome their problems because of this cliché. It is not necessary to raise awareness about it, but whether to overwhelm people who have a mental illness. This kind of people worry about the build up of it. I want to speak out against, from this blog, this rubbish.
Another thing, and I'll finish, people said that they need to be happy and, I think, those who think this way make a big mistake. People are not here to be happy, it´s wrong, people must build the world and the Universe and then people will be happy. To be continued.