Why Blue Monday might be the best day of the year so far

January can sometimes feel a bit like a month of Mondays. It’s cold, it’s still dark, and we’re all feeling pretty exhausted from the festivities. But that doesn’t mean so-called ‘Blue Monday’ is the most depressing day of the year! 

The concept of Blue Monday was introduced by TV travel channel Sky Travel Shop in 2005 and isn’t a scientifically proven concept at all. 

The formula was created by Cliff Arnall, a psychology tutor at a further education centre attached to Cardiff University at the time. He was contacted by Sky Travel and offered money to work with a PR agency on it. The original purpose behind the formula was to find the day people would be most likely to book a summer holiday.  

It’s said to use weather conditions, debt level, time since Christmas, time since abandoning our New Year’s resolutions, low levels of motivation and feeling a need to take action. 

However, the concept of Blue Monday has no scientific proof whatsoever. So, while it’s true that January can be a difficult month after the excesses of Christmas, there’s nothing to say that you will definitely feel down. ‘Blue Monday’ might just be the very best day of the year so far! 

That said, January can sometimes feel like a tricky month, which is why it can be helpful to consider ways to brighten your days. 

Enjoy your environment 

Who says twinkling lights are only for Christmas? If you enjoy the gentle glow of lights on a dark afternoon, why not leave them up for a while longer? Your little one is bound to enjoy them too. Plus, according to English Heritage, in medieval times Christmas decorations were left up until Candlemas on February 2, which we think is ample reason to keep the Christmas cheer going. Or, if you can’t wait to clear out the Christmas chaos, you could spend some time creating a calm environment to get cosy in. 

No bad weather, only bad clothing 

The struggle to peel yourself off your sofa in January can be all too real, but it really is amazing how much better you can feel after a bit of fresh air. The key to getting outside in January is to dress for the weather, so why not grab your wellies and waterproofs and get outside for 30 minutes? Just think how warm and welcoming that sofa will be when you get back! 

You could also take inspiration to get outside from the RSPB, which is holding their Big Garden Birdwatch from January 26 - 28. You can get a free guide from their website and count birds from your balcony, garden, or local park. The birdwatch results help the RSPB to monitor how birds are faring in the face of the nature and climate emergency, to help protect them in the future. You and your child could spot them together, or you could point them out to your younger baby. Children often enjoy spotting animals, so you could find out a bit about the local wildlife together while getting the added benefits of fresh air. For more information, visit the RSPB here. 

Brew Monday 

You could take inspiration from the Samaritan’s Brew Monday campaign and organise a catch-up with a friend or family member. The calendar doesn’t dictate how we feel, but we all have good days and bad days, and you could use it as a prompt to spend time connecting with someone. It might just be you and a friend or relative, or you could consider hosting an event. Check out the Samaritan’s website for more information https://www.samaritans.org/support-us/campaign/brew-monday/. 

Winter play ideas

Each weekend in January, we're sharing some extra activity ideas in the app. You always have play ideas linked to your child's active skills on your activities tab, but you'll also find an article with winter inspiration each weekend. Don't forget to check the app for new ideas!