Pine trees have been discarded, wreaths and string lights are tucked back into storage and shortly, heavy feelings of sadness may arise as the vacation comedown officially sets in.
The third Monday of the month, January 16, will mark ‘Blue Monday,’ considered to be the saddest day of the 12 months and a very heavy time for some.
“Now the vacation celebrations are over and folks are actually returning back to their regular routine, and on top of that, we’re also facing the depth of the cold and dark winter season,” Vera Cheng, registered social employee and psychotherapist, told CTV News Channel. “Because the post-holiday slump sets in, we’re also attempting to live as much as the fact of our Latest Yr’s resolution which could be a difficult time for our mental health.”
In keeping with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), one in five Canadians experiences mental illness in any given 12 months, and an estimated two to a few per cent of Canadians are affected by seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
SAD is triggered by seasonal changes, often in late autumn, and may cause feelings of sadness, lack of energy, lack of interest in usual activities, oversleeping and weight gain.
WHAT IS BLUE MONDAY?
While the thought of ‘Blue Monday’ was originally a marketing tactic utilized by U.K. travel company Sky Travel in 2005, it has since caught on to be the gloomiest day of the 12 months for various reasons.
Aspects similar to longer and colder nights, hefty post-holiday bank card bills, a decrease in social plans, and the early days of SAD, could make this Monday particularly heavy.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
While the motivation sparked by setting Latest Yr’s resolutions could also be helpful for some, Cheng advises to not put an excessive amount of pressure on latest goals right now, or to make comparisons to others.
“Don’t get bogged down by your Latest Yr’s resolutions, and don’t make comparisons on social media. Keep in mind that we’re only seeing small glimpses of individuals’s successes. Expect yourself to fail at times,” she says. “And by being honest along with your Latest Yr’s resolutions, you may then set realistic expectations from it.”
Cheng also urges people to succeed in out to their support system and stay connected.
“This may be done by reaching out to your folks, family or colleagues by organising lunch dates or coffee dates, and even consider making virtual connections.”
Joining a book club for instance, says Cheng, can turn into a positive outlet for people to learn the best way to share their feelings and higher manage them.
“It will show you how to to construct your emotional and mental health resilience.”
In a post on CAMH’s website, psychologist Dr. Katy Kamkar one other way people can cope is to take stock of your habits and see where you may make “easy but effective changes.”
“Day by day meaningful activities like getting proper sleep, maintaining a healthy food plan, being physically energetic, organising a budget to administer your spending habits, these are all practical, achievable goals that could make you are feeling more balanced,” Kamkar says.
To get ahead of Blue Monday, Psychology Today advises having a top quality bedtime routine the night before, going to bed early, and limiting blue light from screens.