NativeUK Logo NATIVEUK.COM LESSONS
Third Monday of January • Psychology & Wellness

Blue Monday

Calculated by a psychologist using a specific formula (weather + debt + time since Christmas + broken resolutions), Blue Monday is famously known as the most depressing day of the year. While some call it a marketing trick, it has become a vital annual opportunity to discuss mental health, the impact of the seasons on our mood, and the commercialisation of happiness.

A person looking out of a rainy window representing a blue mood

Speaking Discussion

  • Do you think a specific day can actually be the most depressing, or is it just a clever marketing trick to sell holidays and products?
  • How do you personally deal with the winter blues after the excitement of the holiday season has faded away?
  • Have you ever broken a New Year's resolution within the first two weeks of January? Why is it so difficult to maintain new habits?
  • What is the best way to cheer up a friend or colleague who is clearly having a terrible day?
  • Does the lack of natural sunlight during the winter months heavily affect your mood and productivity?
  • In your opinion, does modern society put too much pressure on us to be happy and productive all the time?

Activity 1: The Happiness Toolkit

The Task: You are a Wellness Coach. Design a mental health survival kit for a rainy Monday. What are 5 items or activities you would include?

from the sidebar.

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Sentences

Complete the sentence and justify it in 20 seconds.

  • "The best cure for a bad mood is..."
  • "I think New Year's resolutions are..."
  • "In my opinion, the most difficult month of the year is..."