Do you ever feel “blue”?  No, I don’t mean if you listen to blues music or if you have blue skin or if you look like a smurf.  “Feel blue” means feeling melancholic, sad or depressed

So we all feel “blue” after Christmas holidays, the gifts, the family’s board games and the start of school.

The Blue Monday is the third Monday in January. It falls on January 18th this year and the least upbeat day on the calendar has taken on new meaning in 2021due to Coronavirus with the stress and uncertainty that comes along with it.

The psychologist Dr Cliff Arnall calculated the date using a formula with many factors like levels of debt, motivation and time since Christmas.

While some people happen to feel “blue”, others think it’s ridiculous. In fact, many people argue that there are no valid reasons or authentic scientific basis for Blue Monday.

But what can we do to give yourself a necessary dose of positivity as we kick off 2021?

Here some easy ways you can add some lightness and positivity to your life to boost your mood on Blue Monday or any day.

  • Encourage your friends to have a virtual drink, staying connected and have a chat;
  • Listen to your favourite songs, a podcast or watch something fun on TV;
  • Read a self-care book;
  • Wear something colourful ;
  • Buy some flowers;
  • Have a hair makeover
  • Indulge in aromatherapy, right down to your fragrance.

By the way! Don’t worry! There isn’t only ‘The saddest day of the year’ but also the happiest: the new formula of Dr Arnall says that “The Happiest day of the year” will be around June 20th, when the days are longer and there is sun and holiday are getting a little closer.