Vanessa Sampson, Head of People and Culture at Locale Group, asks whether we really need to dread ‘Blue Monday?'
We’re just about back at work trying not to drown in the ‘new year new us’ floods, when, according to google, ‘the most depressing day of the year’ is now upon us; the aptly (if uncreatively) named ‘Blue Monday’.
‘Blue Monday’ was long believed to be a scientifically ascertained and verified day when our depression levels are said to be at their highest, taking things like weather, short days, Christmas spending debt and failing resolutions into account. Quickly a chicken and egg situation developed: did we already feel at our lowest and then had a name to put to it, or did we learn of the name and promptly aligned our emotions accordingly? Like the best truths, this one probably lies somewhere between the two; especially when we realise that ‘Blue Monday’ was actually a PR stunt curated by a travel company, which makes the science feel like pseudoscience, and us like we’ve been had.
There’s no doubt January is a challenging month. The Christmas period can leave us with varying degrees of physical, mental, financial and emotional bruising, which we end up carrying around with us into the new year. Yet, for many, January is actually a time of new beginnings, a time to reflect and learn, to grow and find contentment; putting a downer on something so positive is not very helpful.
I know we’ve all caught ourselves on the sofa in elasticated bottoms, feet up, telly on with adverts telling us that the only life worth living is the thin or sunny or successful or popular or happy one – whilst we have a mince pie in one hand, and a phone in the other scrolling through apps that will help us ‘lose a stone in a day’, ‘do hot yoga from the comfort of your bed’, and ‘become the new you without changing a thing’. So much of what we watch and hear tells us that we are not enough; and ‘Blue Monday’ very cleverly positioned itself in the middle of that vulnerability.
The thing is, nothing changes if nothing changes; nature teaches us that daily.
It’s dark and drizzly? Go for a walk anyway. You want to hide away and feel morose? Fine, invite a friend to hide away and be morose with you. Regretting all the delicious food and drink you consumed? Why?! Be grateful for your blessings. Adverts telling you that you are not enough? Change what, and who, you listen to.
Mental health has rightfully become a key element in the wellbeing conversation, in and out of the workplace. We don’t just struggle on a Blue Monday in January – equally, we aren’t the best versions of ourselves on a Yellow Thursday in June (don’t google that, I just made it up). We are who we are on any given day of the week, and if we are struggling – reach out and seek help. If we see someone struggling – reach out and give help.
It turns out, Blue Monday isn’t blue at all – it’s just Monday.