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Dodgergirl
Jan 21, 2008, 12:57 PM
There was a news blurb on TV, so I thought I'd check it out...
It's apparently been dubbed "Blue Monday"....

...but one of the most current news stories has today as Jan. 22nd? (it was a 2008 article) Am I missing something? I understand it's supposed to be the third Monday in Jan., but hmmm, does Britain use a different calendar? Or am I just that out of it?

The weather is bad, the nights are still long and your Christmas overspending has finally caught up with you.

On top of that your New Year resolution to give up smoking has just gone out of the window as you strive to cope with the pressures of having gone back to work after the holiday break.

So welcome to "Blue Monday" - Monday, 22 January - officially designated by a psychologist as the most depressing day of the year. It has been singled out by Dr Cliff Arnall, psychologist and former tutor at Cardiff University, who has used mathematical equations to reach his verdict.

He worked out that people are most likely to get the blues in the final full week of January because of the combination of bad weather, Christmas debts and broken New Year resolutions. There seems to be some backing for his theory, too.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article2175075.ece

I find this observation interesting.. "In the digital age we're likely to turn to search engines just as often as we would confide in friends and medical professionals to gauge our psychological state. If we think we're suffering from a real bout of the blues or a mental crisis, we're likely to Google the symptoms or find a chat group in the hopes of performing a self-diagnosis."
http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1704887,00.html

Ironhorse
Jan 21, 2008, 03:12 PM
Well, my calender shows today is Monday, January 21, 2008. As for the day designated as Blue for the worst day of the year, obviously they haven't been around me on December 12th, April 12th (day property taxes are due) or April 15th (TAX day!), or any other day I have to shell out big bucks to the government. ROFL

David_V
Jan 21, 2008, 05:21 PM
.....He worked out that people are most likely to get the blues in the final full week of January because of the combination of bad weather, Christmas debts and broken New Year resolutions.
Don't fret. It will be alright. Our government is going to make up some extra money (causing our money to be worth less) and send you $800 so you can pay off all your debts and go on a shopping spree. :(

CatdaBrat
Jan 21, 2008, 06:33 PM
I am glad my family broke free of feeling obligated to go into debt over store-bought Christmas gifts! It feels great!

David_V
Jan 21, 2008, 08:20 PM
I am glad my family broke free of feeling obligated to go into debt over store-bought Christmas gifts! It feels great!
We do that gift stealing game, you know... pick from the pile or steal what someone else has picked. $10 limit. The food, family, and fun are more important.

Dodgergirl
Jan 21, 2008, 08:59 PM
I love that game, but haven't had a party like that in quite some time... looks like it's time to start planning..