January 18: The Most Depressing Day of the Year

Have a case of the Mondays today? They don’t call it Blue Monday for nothing.

According to a British psychologist, today is the most depressing day of the year. The date was chosen by way of a pseudo-mathematical equation that involves the weather, debt, motivational levels and time elapsed since Christmas.

The day, dubbed Blue Monday, combines the gloominess of winter with other downers such as debt from the holidays, new year’s resolutions that have already been broken, and more. Unfortunately, what was originally created for a travel campaign to encourage clients to book a getaway, has turned into a self-fulfilling prophecy. Even Arnall has admitted that the equation is "not particularly helpful" because of this, and encourages people to seek happiness throughout the year.

As this gloomy day also happens to fall on the day we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, I encourage you to do something good for others. Shovel snow from someone’s driveway, commit a random act of kindness or even just hold the door open for a stranger. Who knows, it might just chase away those winter blues.

Teresa McPherson was the former Editor of Adhesives & Sealants Industry. She has held several editorial positions during her more than 20 years with BNP Media. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and journalism from Eastern Michigan University.