> At a Glance
> – Blue Monday, the third Monday in January, was created as a 2005 travel-company PR stunt
> – Christine Crawford, MD, stresses the day has “no clinical basis whatsoever”
> – Low mood tied to post-holiday letdown, winter darkness, bills, and resolution stress
> – Why it matters: Naming the slump can validate feelings, but persistent symptoms warrant professional care
Mid-January’s so-called Blue Monday trades on a cocktail of post-holiday exhaustion, cold weather, and mounting bills-yet the label began as a marketing gimmick, not medical science.
Marketing Origins, Real Emotions
British psychologist Cliff Arnall coined “Blue Monday” in 2005 to help a travel firm sell winter getaways. The formula mixed debt, weather, broken resolutions, and motivation lows to pick the year’s “gloomiest day.”
Christine Crawford, MD, associate medical director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, told News Of Fort Worth in a phone interview:
> “This has no clinical basis whatsoever.”
Still, Crawford notes the emotions can feel authentic. After December’s “high” of social events and time off, January delivers:
- Short, dark days
- Credit-card statements
- A blank social calendar stretching toward spring
- Pressure to reinvent oneself via New Year’s goals
When the Funk Lingers
Occasional winter blues differ from clinical depression. Crawford urges a check-up if low mood lasts two-plus weeks and impairs:
| Symptom Area | Watch For |
|---|---|
| Function | Trouble working, studying, parenting |
| Appetite | Sudden weight change |
| Energy | Constant fatigue despite rest |
| Focus | Inability to concentrate |
Tips to Brighten the Day
Crawford recommends small, realistic steps:
- Break the day into manageable chunks
- Schedule brief, motivating rewards
- Phone a friend or plan brunch-stay connected
- Move daily; exercise releases natural antidepressants
- Set achievable goals instead of sweeping resolutions
Key Takeaways
- Blue Monday is marketing, not medicine
- Naming shared winter sadness can normalize feelings
- Persistent or worsening mood changes deserve medical care
If January’s weight feels heavier than usual, reach out-help starts with a conversation.
