Blue Monday: tips for coping with the saddest day of the year

Here is why the third Monday of January is the saddest day of the year and how to best overcome it

For several years now, the gloomiest anniversary of the year has fallen in January: the third Monday of the month is in fact Blue Monday, the saddest day of the year!
Today we explain the origins of this date and how to make Blue Monday a little less blue and a little greener… with Barberino’s!

How did it come about?
Blue Monday does not have true scientific origins; in 2005, in an attempt to calculate the exact date, a mathematical equation was created that concerns variables that are difficult to measure: weather conditions, the amount of debt, the monthly salary, the time separating us from Christmas, and the time elapsed since we realized that our New Year's resolutions have failed.

Furthermore, this equation does not take into account differences between different geographic areas (the climate) or between various cultures (Christmas does not have the same relevance in all countries).

Despite the lack of scientific basis, the feeling of melancholy could be justified: the days are cold and short, we are wrapped in guilt for having eaten or spent too much at Christmas and, as if that were not enough, summer holidays are still a distant mirage!

To these reasons we add that, more than just Blue Monday, for some this is a Blue Year: uncertainty and worries risk becoming recurring feelings.

Barberino’s tips to fight Blue Monday
If you don't want to give in to sadness, Barberino’s gives you some tips to start the saddest Monday of the year on the right foot!

1. Go for a walk! Whether you exercise daily or not, for today at least, skip the scooter or the metro and walk to the office: physical activity increases the production of endorphins and helps to spread a feeling of well-being!
2. Call someone you care about! In these past months, physical distance has seemed to become an insurmountable barrier: break it down by video calling a friend to have a chat!
3. Treat yourself to a little luxury at the table: avoid a quick lunch at your desk or a pre-cooked dinner in the evening, do not underestimate the pleasure that food can provide!
4. Do something you enjoy doing, even if restrictions might limit you: buy something nice, watch your favorite TV series, play a board game, or experiment in the kitchen! The important thing is to do it with enthusiasm!

Treat yourself to a break at the barber! Barberino’s is waiting for you from 9 am to 8 pm for a moment of relaxation: a hot towel shave, an anti-aging facial treatment with Dermalogica, or a revitalizing hair treatment! The best way to chase away sadness is to carve out time for yourself, a luxury that everyone should allow themselves.