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Jan. 17 is (statistically) the most depressing day of the year

Depressed? Blame Blue Monday. The third Monday after the new year begins is traditionally the saddest day of the year.

By Katherine ButlerTue, Jan 11 2011 at 9:26 AM EST
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sad, tired-looking polar bear Photo: gliuoo/Flickr
The holidays are over, new year’s resolutions have been broken, and you can’t seem to shake your cold. To top it off, 2011 is off to a rocky start with horrific headlines like the shooting of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 19 others in Arizona. Tired and overwhelmed, or just downright depressed? You're not alone. National acts of violence aside, Blue Monday — the third Monday of the new year — is called the most depressing day on the calendar.
 
Started as part of a publicity campaign by Sky Travel, this notable date was first published in a press release by psychologist Dr. Cliff Arnall, who at the time worked at the Centre for Lifelong Learning, part of Cardiff University in Wales. Arnall devised a literal mathematical formula to arrive at the Blue Monday theory. It factors in weather, debt, and time since Christmas, timing of new year’s resolutions, low motivational levels, and the urgent feeling that you need to take action. It also reflects that Monday is regarded as the worst day of the week with many dreading the prospect of returning to work.
 
But the third Monday in January may be redeemed in some eyes. The Guardian calls Arnall's mathematical formula "arguably hokey." As The Guardian reports, "This dubious bit of math was used to give academic weight to a press release put out by Sky Travel to encourage people to cheer themselves up with a holiday."
 
How to combat the blues on Blue Monday? Arnall advises via the Daily Mail: people can "use the day as a springboard for a higher quality life. For example keeping Christmas spending to a strict budget next year will make you less depressed in the last week of January."
 
Conversely, the happiest day of the year falls around midsummer. On the upside? There are some Blue Monday enthusiasts who believe it actually falls on the Monday of the last full week in January — which would mean we'd celebrate it next week. So now you have time to prepare.

 

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anonymous
Lori 01/18/2011 11:59 AM

I totally agree! Yesterday was very gloomy. I felt bad physically and emotionally. I couldn't wait to be home and in the bed with my p.j.s on!

anonymous
Art 01/17/2011 20:15 PM

It's not the third monday in January. From the wiki of Blue Monday- "This date falls on the Monday of the last full week of January". Thus, this year is January 24. you have a whole week to psych yourself up.

anonymous
Rich 01/17/2011 15:28 PM

I don't make new year's resolutions because i think it's stupid to decide to do something good at the beginning of the year then give up on it a few weeks later like most people do.

The polar bear doesn't look depressed. He's taking a nap.

anonymous
James 01/17/2011 15:15 PM

1st week of December, or day after Superbowl are the most depressing times for me.

anonymous
Katie 01/17/2011 14:42 PM

It's my birthday!! I Don't think it's depressing at all!

anonymous
toy117 02/01/2011 14:42 PM

I agree! It was my b-day as well! I never go with what society says about anything, they're just speculations!

anonymous
haverwench 01/17/2011 13:53 PM

Luckily, here in the US the third Monday in January generally coincides with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so we get to cheer ourselves up with a day off from work.

anonymous
alex 01/17/2011 10:46 AM

i don't think so... found online Using the Farmers' Almanac definition of blue moon (meaning the third full moon in a season of four full moons), blue moons occur

November 21, 2010
August 21, 2013
May 21, 2016
wikipidia

anonymous
hshld6 01/17/2011 11:19 AM

I was surprised to hear this since when I was in college, we were told that our "Spring Break" was in February due to that time of the year having the highest suicide rate. The thought being to give students a break during that time and to release some steam. Maybe suicide doesn't have a direct correlation with depression, but seems like a pretty strong argument to me.

bluewatertravel
bluewatertravel 01/13/2011 12:41 PM

How can January 17th be the most depressing day of the year? When you look at the calander the 17th is not the shortest in terms of daylight nor is it the coldest on record. Get a grip - think of the alternatives...

thanks

anonymous
Harry Butz 01/13/2011 00:11 AM

Its time for my annual skinny dip in the river and streak through the wood to combat those winter blues.

anonymous
Stonedoggie 01/13/2011 00:01 AM

my birthday is on jan 17..... explains alot actually

anonymous
Moe 01/12/2011 23:05 PM

So is that why people leave up their Christmas lights & decoration... until February???

That polar bear is chill'n.

anonymous
timsvengali 01/18/2010 18:15 PM

"The most depressing day" was invented by a PR company to make us buy more stuff we don't need. Story here: http://wp.me/pmzBS-fA

Which is depressing in itself. This "formula" has no basis in science. It helps only lazy journalists and consumer PR agencies.

anonymous
Guest 01/18/2010 11:46 AM

Wales is not in England. Wales and England, along with Scotland make up Great Britain. Add Northern Ireland and you get the United Kingdom. A common mistake on the warmer side of the Atlantic but still needs pointing out.

bcohen
bcohen 01/18/2010 15:04 PM

The text has now been updated. Thanks.

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