'Blue Monday': Reason to Be Cheerless?
Feeling a little out of sorts today? Here's a (cod) theory: Cliff Arnall, once of the University of Cardiff, calculated that the third Monday in January the most depressing in the working year.
You're not kidding, Cliff.
Rubbish weather, debt, Christmas and new year hangover and work are all part of his formula for misery, variously expressed to take into account the weather, days till next Bank Holiday and since last payday and so on.
1/8W+(D-d) 3/8xTQ MxNA. Where:
- W: Weather
- D: Debt
- d: Money due in January pay
- T: Time since Christmas
- Q: Time since failed quit attempt
- M: General motivational levels
- NA: The need to take action
Research shows that the key to wellbeing is a good circle of friends. Great. I just signed up to a new website which promptly told me "you have no friends". Thank you very much.
Food is also a great comfort, but I just stepped on the scales and found them to be faulty, and all my clothes have undergone their annual shrinkage. I would go on a diet, but this is also the day of the year when most new year's resolutions are broken, most accidents happen and we are most likely to throw a sickie.
Perhaps we ought to count our blessings and be grateful. I don't live in Haiti; I don't study gloom in Cardiff; I can get food, water and shelter.
I may have no virtual friends but I think I have a few real ones. I am not hitting my head against a brick wall, much. The days are getting longer. And I am left with the conclusion that life is like a rose -- prickly, and you feel like death in winter.
So if you're feeling gloomy, at least don't be paranoid as well. It isn't just you, the world really is out to get you and the rest of us in the northern hemisphere.
A few more links on Blue Monday:
- Cliff Arnall tells everyone to use today to 'get some perspective'
- It's all about PR (for the sceptics)
- Beat Blue Monday (for the true believers)
(Photo: Mel B, CC.2.0)