Each year, usually on the third Monday in January, the internet goes abuzz with warnings about the dreaded “Blue Monday,” the so-called most depressing day of the year. Where did the concept of Blue Monday originate, and is it a real phenomenon?
A quick internet search will reveal that the third Monday of January is supposedly Blue Monday, the worst day of the year, when doom and gloom govern the general mood.
You may find social media influencers offering advice on how to get through this “most depressing day of the year” and awareness day calendars listing it as a key date “observed in January.”
There is no doubt that Blue Monday has become embedded into the popular consciousness as a kind of “bump” or “pothole” in the new road laid in front of us each year.
But is the third Monday of January truly the gloomiest day of the year or is it just another gimmick meant to scare us and prompt us into action?
Who coined the notion of “Blue Monday” as we think of it today? How did they land on a date in January, and is there any truth behind the implications?
Team Health Accessible
Health & Wellness Editorial Team
HealthAccessible editorial team delivers trusted, accessible, and evidence-based health information for everyone.
