Why January is so Blue

by Anushka Kar

January- It’s the month where people set themselves goals and resolutions for the whole year, and often fail. It’s the month where money disappears in masses because December was the month you gave so many gifts. It’s the month where it’s not quite cold enough for snow, but just enough to have you waiting in the car five minutes longer so the windscreen clears of ice. All these reasons (including many more) lead up to the most depressing day of the year: Blue Monday.

Blue Monday is a concept first publicised in 2005 by a holiday company, and is the name given to the third Monday in January: ‘the most depressing day of the year.” Psychologically, there is not enough scientific evidence to prove the concept is legitimate, but seasonal blues have been proven to be true.

It’s not surprising this is the case: taxes are due, temperatures fall below zero, and January in general, feels like the longest month of the year. In the UK, it’s the time of year where exams loom over students, and where most people realise it's time to get health back on track. There are no more mince pies, the scent of Christmas spice disappears, and an overload of chocolate just doesn’t seem right - it’s interesting to think that no matter how long ago, an individual's influence on society still affects us today.