Monday 19 January 2015

Day 18 - Blue Monday......

The sun is shining fit to bust this morning, gradually creeping across the garden, banishing shade and melting the hard frost.

However, despite appearances to the contrary, apparently today is statistically the most depressing day of the year.  Some academic with way too much time on their hands has calculated that the third Monday in January is the worst day in the calendar, due to a combination of factors - festive anti-climax, Christmas bills landing on the doormat with a weighty thud, miserable grey damp weather, long dark evenings and a seemingly endless wait for spring.

And in case you think I'm making all this up.....


Blue Monday was first identified by Cliff Arnall, formerly of Cardiff University, marking the symbolic time in January when people suffer from a series of combined depressive effects.

Blue Monday was devised using the following mathematical formula:
the-equation-2.png
The model was broken down using six immediately identifiable factors; weather (W), debt (d), time since Christmas (T), time since failing our new year’s resolutions (Q), low motivational levels (M) and the feeling of a need to take action (Na).
The formula calculates that Monday 19 January 2015 is the worst day of the year, when the Christmas glow has faded away, New Year’s resolutions have been broken, cold Winter weather has set in and credit card bills will be landing on doormats across the land – whilst the January pay-cheque is still some way away.
 
Incidentally, if any of you can explain in simple, layman's terms, how that formula = 3rd Monday in January do let me know.  I'm severely algebraically challenged.

4 comments:

Jennifer said...

I was feeling fine but by the time I've read through that lot about the formula I'm definitely feeling like it's a blue Monday ;)

Love the porch makeover btw.


Sandra Morris said...

Jennifer....
Ludicrous isn't it? Mind you, I've been banishing the Blue Monday blues with a spot of miniature retail therapy today ;)

rosanna said...

Tv news talked about this...but here there was a brilliant blue sky, lovely sunshine and although a have a flue I cannot feel blue at all :o))
Hope your mini retail therapy worked good on you
Rosanna

The grandmommy said...

Since I am always different and the opposite of everyone else, I guess it makes sense that I am feeling rejuvenated!~ LOL