Blue Monday

Blue Monday falls on Monday January 20, 2020 and is supposedly the most depressing day of the year. Some argue that Blue Monday is bogus because people experience depression everyday of the year but, many use the day as an opportunity to spread awareness about depression.

What is Blue Monday

The term "Blue Monday" was first used in a 2005 press release by Sky Travel. The day was marketed as the perfect day to book a vacation. Blue Monday was created by Dr. Cliff Arnall, who developed a formula for the January blues. He used many factors to figure out the most depressing day including, days since Christmas, the weather and levels of motivation to work out. He came to the conclusion that the third Monday in January is the worst day of the year.

Dr. Arnall told the Daily Telegraph in 2013:

"I was originally asked to come up with what I thought was the best day to book a summer vacation, but when I started thinking about the reasons for a vacation book, thinking of what thousands has told me during stress management or happiness workshops, there were these factors that indicated on the third Monday in January as particularly depressing."

PR companies and organizations use the day to spread awareness about mental health and more specifically depression. Most are using the hashtag #BlueMonday to promote the day.

Ways To Beat Blue Monday

Rest

If you are feeling overwhelmed, you should take is as a sign that you need to rest. You might have a lot on your plate but you still need to take the time to rest between tasks to build up your resilience reserves. Divide your tasks into small chunks and take breaks after you accomplish each task. Stretch, take a short walk or read a little of your favorite book. Anything that you find relaxing, spend five to ten minutes doing that.

Get Creative

When we are busy it's easy to drop things that we love to do. Most often your creative outlets are the first to go and you start to forget parts of yourself. When you take the time to connect to your creativity, you are able to tap into joy. Being creative opens up you mind and body and sparks your heart and senses. Make creativity a priority in your day. Start writing, get out those old paintbrushes or pick up your guitar. Creativity is an easy way to sooth the soul.

Don't Dwell

Dwelling on the negative will have a huge impact on your mental health. Try to find the silver lining by keeping a gratitude journal. Write down three things that you are grateful for everyday. This simple practice will help to train your brain to look for the positive things in your daily life instead of focusing on the negative.

Get Active

Exercise is so important for you overall well-being and has been proven to boost happiness. To reap the benefits of exercise you don't have to do a crazy long workout. Start slow and simple with a brisk walk or gentle yoga practice. A little goes a long way. And if you keep your exercise routine manageable, you are more likely to stick with it on a daily basis.

Remember that you can choose to be happy. Don't deprive yourself the time to just be present with your thoughts, to recognize and accept patterns and to dismiss your negative beliefs. Learning how to recognize when you are spiraling down into a grumpy or depressed mood can sometimes help you to prevent it.

If you or someone you know is suffering from depression and needs help you can contact the NAMI Hotline at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Frida, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST.

If you or someone you know is depressed and/or is experiencing a crisis here are some other helpful contacts:

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK

NAMI Crisis Text Line: Text NAMI to 741-741

The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE

The National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE