WHAT IS BLUE MONDAY?
Blue Monday, the third Monday in January, is supposedly the emotional low point of the year for people living in the Northern Hemisphere. Although the reasoning for why it's pinpointed on that specific day has been dismissed by many as pseudoscience - the concept of Blue Monday was created by a travel company, after all - the idea of the January blues, or winter blues more generally, are based on more sound evidence. Our brains turn over less serotonin in the winter months, and there is a correlation between living at higher latitudes and the incidence rate of seasonal low mood.
WHAT CAN COMPANIES DO TO SUPPORT EMPLOYEES ON BLUE MONDAY?
Supporting employees on that specific day isn't the point: the point is to use Blue Monday as a chance to raise awareness and understanding around the winter blues and seasonal affective disorder (S.A.D.), which effect 29% and 3% of the U.K. population respectively. Nearly a third of people in your company are statistically likely to struggle at some point during the winter months, therefore. Making sure they feel able to get support, and helping them to take care of their mental wellbeing in more preventative ways, can help reduce symptoms and sick days taken.
>>> Read more about how to support employees with Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.)
Share these webinar recordings with your team on Blue Monday to help improve employee wellbeing
💙 'Understanding and beating the winter blues'
This 30min recording delves into the social and biological causes of low mood in general, and unpicks the biology behind why it’s more common during winter months. It ends by looking at some practical tips backed by psychological research on how people can avoid sinking into a seasonal slump.
💪 'Breaking out of a procrastination and low productivity rut'
We’ve all been there: finding ourselves in a place where, even though we want to focus and make progress towards our goals, summoning the energy and concentration to do so proves elusive. This 30min recording looks at understanding focus and productivity, and how we can improve our relationship with it.
WATCH THE RECORDINGPost these images in your company's communication channel on Blue Monday to help raise awareness
Use these articles to create policies and build knowledge
- Spill: How to support mental health at work
- Spill: Build your own mental health in the workplace policy (free template)
- Spill: A guide to mental health sick leave at work
- Spill: The 5 pillars of wellbeing at work
- Spill: 8 ways to beat the winter blues at work
- NHS: Seasonal Affective Disorder Overview
- Mind: Self Care for Seasonal Affective Disorder
- National Institute of Mental Health: Seasonal Affective Disorder Fact Sheet