​Blue Monday: The Most Miserable Day of the Year (Or Is It?)

January is supposed to be the month of fresh starts, ambitious resolutions, and the guilt-fuelled transition from festive indulgence to kale smoothies and gym memberships. It’s also the month that brings us Blue Monday—allegedly the most depressing day of the year.

But is it really?

Let’s break it down.

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What Even Is Blue Monday?

In 2005, Sky Travel (yes, a travel company) decided to bless us with the concept of Blue Monday. Their idea? That a totally-not-made-up mathematical formula could determine the precise day when we hit peak misery. The equation factored in weather, post-Christmas debt, failing resolutions, and general existential dread.

Shockingly, the entire thing was a PR stunt to sell more holidays.

Yet here we are, nearly two decades later, still treating the third Monday of January like it’s the official day of sadness.

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How to Own Blue Monday (Instead of Letting It Own You)

Whether or not you buy into the concept of Blue Monday, January can be a tough month. The festive glow has faded, your inbox is overflowing, and your New Year’s resolutions are already looking shaky. But instead of wallowing, why not use it as a reset button?

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1. Reassess Your Resolutions

Let’s be honest: most New Year’s resolutions fail because they can be ridiculously unrealistic.

Instead of going all-in and burning out, try tweaking your goals. Aim for progress, not perfection. If your “gym every day” plan has already crumbled, switch it to “exercise three times a week.” If you wanted to read a book a week but haven’t cracked a spine yet, maybe start with one book this month. Small wins still count.

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2. Get Moving (Even If You Don’t Want To)

Exercise is one of the best ways to boost your mood. No, this doesn’t mean you have to sign up for a 6 a.m. spin class where an overly enthusiastic instructor yells at you. A simple 30-minute walk, a yoga session, or even dancing around your kitchen to a questionable playlist will do wonders for your mental state.

Endorphins: they’re free, effective, and don’t require a prescription.

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3. Watch Something That Makes You Laugh

Blue Monday wants you to feel miserable. Fight back with comedy. Re-watch your favourite sitcom, binge some stand-up, or throw on a feel-good movie. Step Brothers, Bridesmaids, or even something nostalgic (Shrek, anyone?) will do the trick. Laughter is scientifically proven to boost mood, and sometimes you just need a dumb joke to break the cycle of January gloom.

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4. Do Something for Yourself

Self-care doesn’t have to be a full spa day or an elaborate skincare routine. Sometimes it’s as simple as making a really good cup of tea, reading a book, or ignoring emails for an extra hour. Whatever it is, do something today that you actually enjoy (no productivity required).

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5. Make Plans

January feels long because we let it be long. Shake things up. Plan something, ANYTHING, that gives you something to look forward to. Book a dinner out, schedule a weekend trip, or even just lock in a coffee date with a mate. Anticipation is a powerful thing.

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Blue Monday: A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy?

If you spend all day thinking, Wow, this is the most depressing day of the year, then yeah, it’s probably going to feel that way. But if you take control and treat it as just another Monday (one you can make slightly better with small actions) it loses its power.

At the end of the day, Blue Monday is just another marketing gimmick. Your mindset, not a dodgy equation, determines how you feel.

So, go on and prove Sky Travel wrong.

Make Blue Monday yours.