If you woke up today feeling like the weekend flew by, the weather is gray , and your bank account is still recovering from December’s excesses, you are not alone: today is the third Monday in January, popularly known as “Blue Monday, “ supposedly “the saddest day of the year.”
Although the feeling of discouragement is real and legitimate, often associated with specific factors such as the lack of sunlight in winter, post-Christmas debts , and frustration with New Year’s resolutions that are already starting to fail, did you know that this is a marketing myth created in 2005 to sell travel, and not a scientific fact?
The facts: marketing or science?
©Freepik
The short answer is: marketing. The definition of “Blue Monday” was not born in a psychology lab, but in a travel agency.
It all happened in 2005, when the British channel Sky Travel launched an advertising campaign to encourage people to book vacations in January, leading them to believe that they needed to book a vacation to cheer themselves up, given that the first month of the year is always very difficult for everyone, especially from a financial point of view.
How many times have you heard this phrase?
January never ends!”
Tips and suggestions to make this day more “joyful”
@Freepik
There are a few ideas to combat this state of mind that you can start putting into practice right away:
- Soak up some sun and natural light, it will cheer you up, transforming your sad face into a happier expression.
- Replace some of your New Year’s resolutions with more achievable goals, making you more optimistic about completing the entire list.
- Prioritize human contact with people (rather than social media) and arrange lunch with friends or coworkers.
- Plan an event around something you really enjoy, in order to create positive expectations, such as going to a concert, getting a massage, or seeing a movie at the cinema.
Don’t just sit there! Follow usonFacebook,Instagram,and now also onWhatsApp!