Do you feel extra sad today? Blue Monday isn’t officially a holiday, but it does have the dubious distinction of being called one of the most depressing days of the year. Some people embrace the melancholy of the day; others combat it with superfluous happiness. And some claim logic proves it’s just a scientifically sad day.

Typically the third Monday of the month, the Blue Monday concept was first named and publicized in a 2005 press release as a marketing campaign (or promotional stunt, depending on whom you ask) from a now-defunct holiday travel company supposedly trying to sell more travel packages in January.

A Scientifically Depressing Formula

When introducing Blue Monday, a mental health organization called Beat Blue Monday backed an unnamed university professor who precisely calculated the most depressing day of the year using this formula:

[W + (D-d)] x T^Q} ÷ [M x N_a]

In this formula, “W” stands for weather; “D” represents debt (or the difference between debt accumulated and our ability to pay off debt); and “d” stands for monthly salary. “T” equals the time since Christmas, while “Q” is time since failing our New Year’s Resolutions. Finally, “M” is for low motivational levels and “N_a” stands for the feeling of a need to take action.

The idea is considered pseudoscience, with the Blue Monday formula debunked countless times and derided by scientists as nonsensical, but it’s still talked about today.

Getting Over the Blues

The timing in mid-January is spot-on for many due to a combination of post-Christmas blues, the abandonment of New Year resolutions and the arrival of unpaid credit card bills after buying so many holiday gifts. Plus, cold temperatures, low sunlight levels and dark nights are not usually a cause for celebration.

So what do you do? Do you embrace the blues by watching sad movies, listening to sad music, and refusing to leave the house or talk to people?

Perhaps you could take the exact opposite approach and celebrate this holiday in a fun happy way. Enjoy some blue foods such as blueberries or blue candy, tell a joke, gather with friends, listen to upbeat music and watch a comedy on TV or the big screen. The days will soon start getting longer and sunnier, and now is the time to plan a happy event.

One Tip from Twins Salon

Have fun on Blue Monday with a single vibrant shade, like pink or blue to overcome the Blues. Schedule your appointment today.