Apparently the 3rd Monday in January is the most depressing day of the year, dubbed ‘Blue Monday’.
It’s been around since 2005 when psychologist Professor Cliff Arnall ‘discovered’ it using a formula including factors such as debt, motivational factors and weather. Mental health organization ‘Beat Blue Monday’ states that the formula is [W + (D-d)] x T^Q} ÷ [M x N_a], with “W” standing for weather, “D” standing for debt, “d” standing for monthly salary, “M” for motivational levels and “Na” standing for the feeling of a need to take action.
It sounds very scientific but was actually conceived for a travel company marketing campaign! The formula has since been thoroughly de-bunked by scientists, however the concept still gets media attention every year.
Did you conform to feel ‘blue’ on that day? Or were you surrounded by others who had chosen to do so and were affected by ‘blueness’?
With the rise of social media, are we all getting into a habit of being ‘told’ what to feel at any given time – sounds scarily big brother-ish.
Relying on factors outside of ourselves to make us feel a certain way means we give our power away, conform to a way of being, and stop being who we are at heart.
As humans we can all look outside of ourselves for happiness and satisfaction…more money, better house, better job, i.e. I’ll be happy when…, and also blame circumstances or things outside of ourselves when we feel we are in a negative situation. Conforming and comparing ourselves unfavourably to others or a media view of how we ‘should be’ can confound this even more.
How many of us look internally to shift our perspective on the situation we are in?
Waiting for something or someone else to come along and change our situation and how we feel is a recipe for unhappiness and disengagement.
Building our mind-set from within means it’s in our control, it increases resilience, confidence and self-belief and is a strategy that can last, and benefit our well-being.
We can all choose to manage ourselves that way, and take responsibility for how we feel whatever the day is – whether it’s Blue Monday, Typical Tuesday, Wonderful Wednesday, Thriving Thursday, Flourishing Friday, Sparkly Saturday or Super Sunday!
Take control of your wellbeing!
The best person that you can be is yourself, and if you choose to think more constructively and positively about situations, you will build inner strength, belief and resilience.
Our clients tell us that knowing who they really are – their true iAM Values – and using our mind tactics tools – impacts on their ability to manage their emotional response by 84%.
Keep your power by not letting what’s happening outside of you, wobble you.
Don’t waste time and energy on what might have been or what you think you should be or feel, but look forward positively and take action.
Imagine if we all brought this version of us to work every day?
Here are our top tips to help:
- Be conscious of what you are radiating to others, doom and gloom or sunshine?
- Make the choice to be positive and constructive.
- Write down what makes you good at your job and keep them front of mind, using the positive energy to fuel your confidence.
- At the end of each day, list three things that went really well because of you.
- Don’t rely on knowledge and data totally to do your job, trust yourself too.
- Recognise your strengths and play to them.
- Be kind to yourself and others.
- Believe in and see the best in others, and yourself.