![\"Getty](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/00b6\/live\/f6b9b590-f2ba-11f0-bd16-7dde9b275a02.jpg.webp\")
Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nChristmas is over, it’s cold and dark outside and you may be in an endless cycle of doomscrolling.<\/p>\n Blue Monday – also known as the most depressing day of the year – has been trending online.<\/p>\n According to TikTok, the number of posts tagged with the term has grown year-on-year to 68,600 – a 35% increase.<\/p>\n It might feel relatable after the past year but, unsurprisingly, there’s nothing scientific about it.<\/p>\n The name was reportedly coined by psychologist Cliff Arnall in 2004, it falls on the third Monday in January every year.<\/p>\n This has been disputed by others over the years.<\/p>\n He came up with it after a holiday company asked him for a “scientific formula” for the January blues.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Sophie West, from Kent, has suffered with panic attacks and anxiety since the age of seven.<\/p>\n The 28-year-old thinks labelling one day a year can be damaging for people dealing with their mental health issues.<\/p>\n “I think Blue Monday is a load of rubbish to be honest. A completely made-up marketing gimmick – it’s just a label on an ordinary day,” Sophie told BBC Newsbeat.<\/p>\n “But the messaging about it being the ‘most depressing day of the year’ can be daunting for people who already have a mental illness.<\/p>\n “We all have our good and bad days and they have nothing to do with a random made-up day in January.<\/p>\n “I like to plan ahead – so if I look at a day and see that it’s labelled the most depressing day of the year I’ll get anxious about that and think that I need to be happy on that day.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Dr Philip Clarke, a senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Derby, agrees.<\/p>\n “I started speaking out against Blue Monday when I saw companies were trying to use it as an excuse to sell things,” he told Newsbeat.<\/p>\n “I can understand why people would feel down in January, you’ve just come off Christmas – spending a lot of time with family, overindulging and it’s a lot darker outside.<\/p>\n “The key thing to remember is that Blue Monday isn’t scientifically proven – there’s not even proof January sees a rise in mental health referrals although it may seem that way,” he said.<\/p>\n However, he feels a “really strong benefit” of the concept is that it does get people having those “difficult conversations” about depression and anxiety and “what you can actually do to help with that”.<\/p>\n There have been suggestions to turn Blue Monday into Brew Monday – with mental health charity Samaritans encouraging a chat with family and friends over a virtual cup of tea.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Although Philip thinks it’s important not to confuse feeling low with depression, he has tips everyone can use for better mental health.<\/p>\n – Exercise<\/b><\/p>\n “Exercise is a fantastic thing people can be doing as it releases happy endorphins and chemicals. It doesn’t have to be exercise in the gym because that can be off-putting for some people,” he said.<\/p>\n “It just about increasing your physical activity.”<\/p>\n – Assess your New Year’s resolutions<\/b><\/p>\n “A lot of people fail their New Year’s resolutions within two or three weeks,” he noted.<\/p>\n “But if you have failed, look at why and use that as a learning experience.<\/p>\n “This gives people hope that they can still work towards a goal for the year and not beat themselves up about it.”<\/p>\n – Volunteering<\/b><\/p>\n “One reason people love Christmas isn’t necessarily the receiving, but the pleasure they get from helping people,” he added.<\/p>\n “This can be a good way to get a happy boost with no financial implications.”<\/p>\n A version of this story was last published in 2025.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/static.files.bbci.co.uk\/bbcdotcom\/web\/20260113-125315-2e65791d43-web-2.37.1-4\/grey-placeholder.png\")
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Sophie West<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Philip](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/4613\/live\/2f5a23f0-f2be-11f0-bd16-7dde9b275a02.jpg.webp\")
Philip Clarke<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nTop Tips<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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