Blue Monday: January 20th is the saddest day of the year. Here are some strategic moves to counter it!

Blue Monday is a special day that always falls on the third Monday of the year and officially sounds like the real return to life as always, after the long break of the Christmas holidays. It is simply a date born from a mixture of psychology and mathematics, which finds justifications to the common, and understandable, sense of sadness and melancholy that overwhelms us in this particular period of the year. Below we explain the meaning, the origin of Blue Monday and some small antidote to counter it.

Before proceeding, however, we suggest 6 little secrets to start the day in a good mood by defeating sadness!

Blue Monday: meaning and origin of the saddest day of the year

Its birth dates back to the early 2000s, by Cliff Arnall, a psychologist at Cardiff University, who calculated it by taking into consideration a number of variables, including the weather, the feelings of guilt for the excessive expenses of the period. Christmas time, the consequent difficulty in reaching the next salary, the drop in motivation after the holidays and the difficulty in returning to full capacity. Obviously we are talking about a symbolic date to underline a psychological state common to many in this particular period of the year. which coincides with the return to routine, the resumption of the usual activities and the implementation of the many resolutions drawn up ideally at the beginning of the new year. Although it may appear to be an unfounded anniversary, in some countries it is taken very seriously: in Great Britain for example, there was a considerable increase in absences from work on this date. It is important, however, to make a necessary distinction between a moment of sadness and a sense of de actual pressure. If your malaise is deeper and more continuous, it is necessary to provide a psychological path of support and specific aids that can allow you to find a stable and concrete serenity.

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Tips to counteract Blue Monday sadness (and any other Monday)

So here are some tips to counter the sadness of Blue Monday, which you can also use on other Mondays in January and of the year or at any other dark and not exactly happy time.

An excellent antidote to sadness is physical activity: sport in fact stimulates the production of endorphins, which affect the body's psycho-physical well-being. However, it is essential to choose a type of activity you love: you don't have to do sport forcibly, but try to make it as enjoyable as possible with the disciplines you most appreciate. Even a simple walk can be a great way to get endorphins back in motion and banish bad thoughts.

Indulge in small culinary joys: a sweet you love so much or a pizza, for example. In short, on the darkest days, pampering yourself with a small food premium is only good. You will think about the diet when the mood is more rosy and stable.

Try to surround yourself with positive people who make you smile and do not further weigh on your sense of discomfort. Sometimes the right chat with the best friend has an incredible saving power.

Ultimately, take the time to do what you love. The aim is to find an "oasis of serenity and counteract sadness starting from the passions and what makes you feel good.