Today is Blue Monday. The most depressing day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. According to pretend, made up, pseudoscience. In other words ... the Internet.
The absolute HILARITY of declaring THIS as the most depressing day of what has already been an almost hysterically depressing succession of never-ending depressing days in itself is enough to put me in a good mood.
But to reiterate - today is Blue Monday, said to be the most depressing day of the year.
And here is how it started.
How Blue Monday Began.
In 2005, the television station Sky Travel sent out a press release that was a little loosey goosey in the fact checking department. According to a bit of pseudoscience they came upon, they wrote up and sent out a press release declaring the third Monday in January as the most depressing day of the year.
As a travel channel that also sold holidays, they were looking to make people so acutely aware of their depression that they'd clamour to book a weekend jaunt somewhere.
Sky Travel went out of business 5 years later, on what the same pseudoscience named "The happiest day of the year.", June 24th.
The whole Blue Monday thing was based on some report done by some guy. Actually Cliff Arnall is his name. He is the one who developed a formula for predicting the most dismal of all days.
The equation he developed for determining the most depressing day of the year included information on weather conditions, debt level, time since Christmas, time since failing your New Year’s resolutions, and low motivation levels.
He kind of thought of his research as an upbeat piece of literature. Motivational even!
NO ONE ELSE THOUGHT THAT.
The idea of "Blue Monday" was instantly shared relentlessly on the Internet with people flapping their arms warning about the impending doom of the day to come.
Cliff Arnall actually went so far as to apologize for his research saying he didn't want anyone to focus on being sad or depressed in January. Everyone should be happy! See it as a chance to try new things. Wear funny hats or something.
He's since taken part in a January campaign called "Screw it, Let's Do It." with Virgin Airlines encouraging people to yup ... take whirlwind vacations.
I'll let that just sit with you for a moment.
Even though I don't believe this is in fact the most depressing day of the year, or that such a thing exists, (unless you count those days you get all the way to the grocery store before remembering you don't have a mask ) I can attest to the fact that January really can be kind of icky. And dull and lacklustre and yes, a little bit depressing.
You don't need a vacation to boost your Blue Monday mood though. I've done some research and come up with 10 things you can do TODAY, maybe even right now, to fool yourself into thinking today is as happy a day as ... June 24th.
How to Boost Your Mood on Blue Monday
- DECLUTTER
Getting rid of junk and especially making your office or bedroom more organized is scientifically proven to put you in a good mood. Real science. Not Internet science.
2. COMPLIMENT SOMEONE
This is one of those weird things where you're doing something for someone else but it makes you feel good. Like when you give a really good present. Only this doesn't cost any money and make the person feel better about their day too.
Go out into the world and compliment a random stranger. If you think their hair is nice tell them, if you think it was admirable they picked garbage up off the street and put it in the trash tell them, if you think they have the loveliest accent you've ever heard, say it out loud. Easy, right??
3. PAY FOR SOMEONE'S COFFEE
This is along the same lines as complimenting someone but it involves coffee. And no compliment. If you're in the drive through or in line for a coffee today pay for a coffee for someone. The person in front of you, behind you, it doesn't matter. Just maybe try not to get the guy placing an order for his entire office building 'cause a $3.50 favour will enhance your mood, a $35 one might not.
4. BUY YOURSELF FLOWERS OR A PLANT
Researchers at Rutgers University found that:
"simply being in the presence of flowers was found to elevate mood significantly, measurably increase feelings of life satisfaction, and promote positive social behavior."
In fact flowers are so effective at making some people feel happy that they're a viable treatment for mild depression, anxiety and stress.
5. GET OUTSIDE IN THE (HOPEFULLY, EVEN JUST A TINY SLIVER OF IT) SUN.
I don't think I have to explain this one to you. The sun is good for you. It makes you feel betterrrrrrrr. Now if you're in the Northern Hemisphere you probably won't be relaxing in a chair watering your vegetable garden but you can get outside to take a walk around your garden. Or even just walk around the block. The point is get outside and if the sun is out even better.
In the fall and winter you can get your Vitamin D from supplements. The recommended dosage is to take 1,000 IU a day during the fall and winter to supplement the loss of sunlight.
6. EXERCISE
There are two ways that exercise makes you feel great. Three if you think you look good in your exercise outfit! Firstly, exercise increases endorphins, those little hormones that give you a high in the same vein as morphine. Secondly, exercise gives you a feeling of ass kicking accomplishment.
7. EAT MOOD BOOSTING FOODS
Like you need an excuse to eat cheese. Ha! -Tryptophan which you probably know as the ingredient in turkey that makes you tired is really making you relaxed. It's also found in proteins like fish, chicken, cottage cheese, nuts, cheeeeeeese, eggs, and beans.
Walnuts, kiwi, bananas, sour cherries, pineapple, tomatoes, and plums are all naturally high in serotonin which is a hormone (or neurotransmitter - the jury is still out on WHAT it is exactly) that makes you feel good.
So plan on a lunch or dinner that includes these ingredients!
8. MEDITATE OR BOOK A YOGA CLASS (virtual of course)
Meditate your blues away. It's true. It helps. Don't know how to meditate or think it's for hippie weirdos? Try taking a yoga class today. Yoga will help your mood too.
9. GET A MASSAGE
The benefits of massage are twofold. Human touch like massage and hugs naturally make you feel good. But even just massaging your own shoulders and neck can make you happy.
10. SMILE
Even a fake smile, like my ode to Brooke Shields in grade 6, can fool your brain into thinking you're actually happy. So even if you don't feel happy a fake flash of teeth can make it true.
Now that you've perused this photo I'm going to assume you're genuinely smiling. Or laughing hysterically. Either way you're well on your way to a Happy Monday.
** coming soon! If you liked this, you're going to love my new project. ** coming soon!
Kim
1. You on a chicken. YASSSSSSSSS QUEEN. I am here for it.
2. The pic of you at the end really did make me smile.
3. I used to find January depressing too. My whole life. That is until I told my bff this fact, assuming that she also found January depressing. But she told me: no! January is a great month! A new beginning! A time to start fresh! That was 8 or so years ago. And it was like a switch went off in my brain. I thought January WAS depressing. It turned out that was just my perception of it. Now I go with her perception. It's a brand new fresh slate. And I always go with your first suggest and declutter the hell out of it.
3. Daily meditation is absolutely life changing. It has literally changed my brain and my life. Five star recommendation.
4. I've read cheese is addictive. By people who think I shouldn't eat cheese. Makes me want to rub it in their faces that yes I continue to eat cheese and OMIGOSH it's my FAVOURITE addiction EVER.
5. Thanks for all the tips. They are good ones.
Diane from Jordan
I have a huge chunk of Brie every morning with my French roast black coffee. Simply DELICIOUS!
Kim
That's how you live right!!!!
Diane from Jordan
Absa-f.....g-luetly.......along with Red wine in the evening of course😬
Jan in Waterdown
When I was a kid, we weren't "allowed" to be grumpy or blue. My mom said that nobody wants to see your cranky face so slap on a smile and get over it. I thought she was the worst mother in the world but, after all these years, I think she was right. Just smiling has a positive affect not only on others but yourself too..... thanks mom 😇
Joanne Mercieca
haha Jan, your mom must have a British background. In my house it was if you haven't got anything nice to say talk about the weather...and when my kids were small, if they used the 'bored' word, they got extra chores to keep them busy.
But smiling does work, and I bought some flowers the other day, which make me smile :)
Karen, glad you're back!!
Jan in Waterdown
Hey there Joanne, I’m just reading your reply after 2 years! Yep, you’re right... British heritage. We wouldn’t have dared say the word “bored” in our house! Think I’ll treat myself to some tulips tomorrow... cheers!
Jacquie Gariano
I love your list, already do a few things on it every day (or try to). I do get the declutter bug in Jan and make a big mess before it gets cleaner. Drives my son-in-law nuts when this goes on. But he is usually happy with the results if I leave "his" things alone. LOL
I am usually in "sunny" Sacramento, CA this time of year but due to family matters am in VT. Today it is snowing and there hasn't been sun for several days, but every time we get a sunny day I go out and take "snow" picts. Brightens my day. Thanks for your insight and thoughts. They always brighten my day.
Marna
Wonderful list! I really love the one with you on the chicken! :)
Linda Wade
I'm so glad you created this. I look forward to your emails and Instagrams and they always make me smile. Sometimes I laugh out loud. Thank you and may you continue posting. I've learned a lot from your posts.
Sherri
Have you been watching the Marie Kondo series on Netflix or have you always filled your drawers with folded clothes like your photo? My son tossed a few clean, but ratty t-shirts my way to add to my rag bag. Before I took my scissors to them, I thanked them for serving my son so well. I'm a Kondo believer!
Kristin Ferguson
I live in Pasadena, California, so the sun is shining almost every day (in fact, when it rained all of last week, we were ridiculously excited.) I recently redid my living and dining rooms and I'm super jazzed about them. I painted the living room pale yellow, and put a chair rail in the dining room and painted/papered the walls soft pink and weird Swedish design wallpaper. Then I made a great feather pendant lamp and some concrete table lamps and candle holders. I have bowls of roses and plants in each room and a warm cat on my lap. The sun is shining on the mountains, the chickens are happily clucking in the back yard, the dishes are done, and we just installed a new kitchen faucet ourselves (this involved 3 different trips to Home Depot within 24 hours, though.) Ooh ooh! And my daughter just sent me a picture of the daffodils in stock at Trader Joe's for $1.49 for ten stems, so for the next many weeks I'll have daffodils galore! I wholeheartedly agree that tidying up is a huge mood booster--which is why going into my garage makes me very, very blue.
Karen
$1.49 for 10 stems???! Wow. That'd be enough to put me in a good mood right there, lol. ~ karen!
margaret
American, don't forget...!
susang
i want to see the wallpaper and the feather lamp please!
Linda J Howes-Smyth
My water pipes froze today. :-( They are thawed now though :-) Great ideas, did my best to cover some of them successfully, some of it involved the pipes.
Lesley
Blue Monday? News to me - spent a couple blisteringly cold but beautifully sunny hours at the dog park with borrowed puppers, so a good day all around.
That's in contrast to last Thursday when my mother, distraught that I hadn't reported in on the state of my cold for (counts on fingers) 21 hours, called my neighbour (whom she barely knows, but knows has a key to my house) away from her grocery trip with a request to let herself into my house to see if I had died. I was running a bath, wearing pyjamas and a gallon of Vicks, and sporting madwoman in the attic hair, when I heard my front door open and stepped into the hallway to WTF?!??
Just thought I'd share that.
Karen
Hahahahahahah!!!!!! omg, that's GREAT, lol!!! ~ karen (I mean, you know, from my perspective, lol)
Elen
Hahahaha. Exercise for the win! I'm going with #7. There is some sour cherry cobbler downstairs now calling my name. And I had never heard of Blue Monday until I saw your Insta this morning. I truly live under a rock.
judy
your recipe for sour cherry cobbler? Or I could probably be at your door,tout de suite!
I'll bring ice cream-should we all come?
Bonnie Goodrich-Wilcoxson
I needed this. I’m in northern Idaho (‘nuff said).
Sue G.
It's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr day in the U.S. Sooo...a day off from work is good, too. :)
Heather
Loved that photo of you! It's fun to see school photo of people we "meet" when we're adults.
Jackie
Love your post Karen - as always. Very on spot for Missouri this Winter. We have seen very little sunshine for about 2 weeks. Lots of snow, clouds and cold & we're getting pretty tired of it. It's been so bad here that our cat took to sleeping in my office chair all day - every day - for over a week & I had very little access to my computer. Even if I was in the chair he would come in & claw at the seat & stare at me (he has only one eye & very little sight in that one), like he was using his ESP to tell me to get my ass out of his chair. So I did, & let him have it. I got so bored that I cleaned out a hall closet, a kitchen cabinet & my pantry. Got rid of a lot of stuff we don't need anymore. However, #4 is my favorite - buy flowers. A few years ago we were at a grocery store & I when we were done, I had to wait on my husband for some reason & went to the floral shop. As I was walking around & looking, a worker asked if she could help me. I told her no, it was just so cold & dreary outside that I wanted to just wonder around some flowers for a while. It made me feel better just seeing all the colors & smelling the flowers, knowing that Spring would soon be here. Maybe I'll buy some flowers on this weeks trip to the store. Thanks for all the tips.
judy
I used to pass by the costco flowers thinking nah too much-however when we put our house up for sale an article said put flowers out,it puts people in a good mood. I bit the bullet and brought home a bunch and much to my surprise(not having anything large enough to accommodate the thing) I started separating it into every vase I had-I think I wound up with something in every room-tiny twosomes on nightstands to larger on dining room table. The agent informed that everyone commented on the flowers and where buyers are cranky cause finding what you want for the price you want is frustrating she found they were smiling. One actually pinched them thinking they were artificial - they lasted for a really long time-changed the water and snipping off the ends works well
Idaho Girl
My random thoughts on some of the items on the list that resonated with me:
1) Everyone, please take the Vitamin D3 suggestion seriously. There is an epidemic of people who are deficient in that department, and it's almost impossible to get what you need through just food in the winter, so find yourself a good supplement and give it a try--it can be a game changer.
2) I've often wondered what the saddle was for in your room photos, so thanks for clearing that up.
3) Beautiful cheese tray - any day with cheese just can't be a sad day.
P.S. I'm one of those who love January - I ascribe to the notion it's a great time to start fresh and new, so make the most of it - get rid of old stuff, negative thoughts, and anything that's holding you back.
JoElle
I always get a kick out of your blog posts. They've actually encouraged me to write more in my true voice in my blog. Thanks for your humor, honesty and guaranteed good start to the day.
Jean Elizabeth Nock
Stepped into the dreaded home office. Had to first put my pith helmet and boots on to navigate the clutter on the floor! Totally got the work blues. Garbage bag in hand I'm carefully stepping into the dreaded paper swamp......
Send help if you don't hear back from me by dark....giggle.
Delroy Chung
Hi Karen I am curious and was wondering if you could post a picture of yourself giving someone the stink eye? I am not sure if I ever saw one and maybe as such been ignoring the protocol
Thanks
Delroy
Agnes
Yes! Pleeease post a sink-eye picture, or three. That would really help with January blues. LOL!
Cheryl
Excellent! you brightened my day! Love the chicken jockey! What I want to know is how do you fold the t shirts to get them to look that way. You have probably got a link to a post, that I must have missed, so can you post it for all of us with drawer envy!
linda in illinois
you rock. thanks Karen