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Blue Monday: Is 'the most depressing day' of the year just a PR stunt?
... Every year, the third Monday of January is dubbed “Blue Monday”. The theory goes that this is the time of year when we’re all cold, broke and riddled with guilt that our new year’s resolutions to get fit, drink less alcohol, and be a better human being have fallen by the wayside. But is Blue Monday really the most depressing day of the year, as it’s often called, or is the label just a misguided PR stunt? The concept was originally coined in 2004 by psychologist Cliff Arnall. He came up with a “formula” for the January blues after he was asked to do so by travel firm Sky Travel, who then used the phrase in a press release to promote their winter deals. It took into account a number of factors likely to contribute to low mood and read as follows: 
W = weather D = debt d = monthly salary T = time since Christmas Q = time since failing our new year's resolutions M = low motivational levels Na = the feeling of a need to take action Arnall has since confessed that the formula is essentially pseudoscience and has urged Brits to “refute the whole notion” of Blue Monday. "I was originally asked to come up with what I thought was the best day to book a summer holiday but when I started thinking about the motives for booking a holiday, reflecting on what thousands had told me during stress management or happiness workshops, there were these factors that pointed to the third Monday in January as being particularly depressing,” he told The Daily Telegraph in 2013. “But it is not particularly helpful to put that out there and say 'there you are',” he added, describing Blue Monday as a self-fulfilling prophecy. That hasn’t stopped PRs and marketing firms from manipulating the concept and using it as a golden sales opportunity, enabling them to capitalise on the assumption that everyone is miserable on this particluar day and therefore vulnerable to advertising. ... |
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THE weather is cold, we're still waiting for pay day and all your New Year's resolutions have gone out of the window. Experts reckon these are the reasons why today is the most depressing day of the year also known as Blue Monday. But in a bid to cheer everybody up, McDonald's is giving away free cheeseburgers. How to get your hands on one You can claim a free cheeseburger from 10.30am, today, Monday by downloading the McDonald's app. Once you've got it on your phone or tablet, check under the 'My Deals' section and select your free cheeseburger. Order it through the app for collection and then head over to get it. The offer is available all week until Friday from 10.30am each day and only one burger is allowed per customer. The app is free to download and the offer will appear from 10.30am this morning, Monday. ... |
