So, you’re unhappy today? Must be Blue Monday. Scientifically speaking today is the most miserable day of the year. A mathematical formula devised by a professor at Cardiff University has found that:
Christmas buzz wears off (C) + Increased Debt (R) x Shorter Days (A) + People (P) = sadness. C+RxA+P The formula is the result of several years work and exhaustive testing.
Actually it’s;
weather (W), debt (d), time since Christmas (T), time since failing our new year’s resolutions (Q), low motivational levels (M) and the feeling of a need to take action (Na).
The equation calculates that Monday 19 January 2009 is the worst day of the year, when the Christmas glow has faded away, New Year’s resolutions have been broken, cold Winter weather has set in and credit card bills will be landing on doormats across the land – whilst the January pay-cheque is still some way away.
Except, of course it’s total, utter crap. As Wikipedia (forgive me) points out:
Blue Monday is a name given to a date stated, as part of a publicity campaign by Sky Travel, to be the most depressing day of the year.
Yes that’s right depression fans it’s a PR stunt. You’re not more depressed today, unless you are in which case pop a pill and come back when you’re happy. But what of that scientific evidence I hear you cry. Well, let’s take a look at the professor behind this formula. Cliff Arnell is the man credited by several reputable news organisations as the brains behind the formula. According to Cardiff University:
Cliff Arnall… was a former part-time tutor at the university but left in February
That’ll be February 2006 in case you were interested. Yet it still gets coverage today even with the widespread rubbishing of this so called formula. Today, for instance, the Daily Mail was hysterical with this story which points out that today is the most depressing day IN HISTORY.
So, cheer up you miserable bastards you’re not more unhappy today because of this formula it’s because your life sucks. If anything visiting Mr Arnall’s website was the only thing that made me depressed today.
