what is it and how to fix it?

Winter, cold, shortened days and post-holiday melancholy seem to give a semblance of credibility to Blue Monday. Popularized almost 20 years ago in the United Kingdom, this concept is tirelessly accompanied by a recurring question: “How to overcome this blue Monday and find a boost of motivation? “.

A doubtful origin

Scientific truth or pure invention? In reality, blue Monday is not scientific at all: its origin is based on a simple marketing operation. Created in 2005 by the British travel agency Sky Travel, this concept is based on a pseudo-equation attributed to psychologist Cliff Arnall.

Presented as rigorous, this formula claims to integrate factors such as the weather, post-holiday debts or reduced motivation to designate the third Monday in January as the most depressing day of the year. But behind this mathematical façade lies an advertising strategy aimed at encouraging consumers to book a vacation to escape the winter gloom.

This theory has always been widely discredited. “Blue Monday doesn’t exist […], underlines Professor Laurent Karila, psychiatrist at Paul-Brousse hospital, in Le Figaro. Certainly, Monday can be a source of stress for some employees who dread returning to work, but depression doesn’t last just one day. »

Cliff Arnall himself admitted, as early as 2010, that his calculation had no scientific basis, telling the Telegraph that this idea was not “not particularly useful” and encouraged people to “reject the whole notion” you blue monday.

A concept that neglects the real psychological issues

Despite its commercial origins, Blue Monday persists, fueled by a fascination with Monday, often seen as the symbol of a dreaded return to work. Nicolas Framont, sociologist of work interviewed by 20 Minutesassociates it with “suffering at work, itself induced by the capitalist system”where individuals feel dispossessed of their autonomy and the value of their work.

For other experts, this concept represents a danger. It trivializes psychological disorders by reducing depression to a minor and one-off phenomenon. Dean Burnett, neuroscience researcher, declared in The Guardiancited by The World : “These kinds of calculations threaten the public’s understanding of science and psychology.” Furthermore, it fuels a consumerist culture targeting the most vulnerable.

A heavy winter, but solutions to consider

If Blue Monday has no scientific basis, it nevertheless reflects an undeniable reality: winter weighs on morale. Fortunately, there are several solutions to this. Starting with regular physical activity. Exercise releases endorphins, the hormones that provide a lasting feeling of well-being, and can greatly reduce stress. At the same time, exposing yourself to natural light, even on a gray day, helps compensate for the lack of brightness.

Staying connected to others is also essential. Sharing a moment with friends or loved ones helps break isolation and strengthen social bonds, which are often weakened during the cold months. Allowing yourself small daily pleasures, such as reading a good book, enjoying a hot drink or listening to music, also helps to improve your mood. Finally, doing a service or helping others can provide real satisfaction and reinforce the feeling of accomplishment.

Our cultural recommendations to face Blue Monday

To transform this Monday into a brighter day, a few well-chosen artworks can work wonders. On the cinema side, Little Miss Sunshine is a nugget of humor and tenderness where a dysfunctional family goes on an improbable road trip. The series, too, will be able to cheer you up, with sitcoms like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Friends or How I Met Your Mother.

In reading, for a poetic atmosphere, While the coffee is still hot by Toshikazu Kawaguchi offers an original and soothing interlude in a small Japanese café where time seems to stand still. Finally, anime has this talent to captivate while warming the soul. All Hayao Miyazaki films, like the Spirited Away or fromMy Neighbor Totorowill bring comforting softness and a hint of magic.