Blue Monday | The PR stunt that's now generating genuine conversations about staff wellbeing

'Blue Monday' is upon us. Many a column inch is dedicated to this day every year and, although the concept of “most depressing day of the year” isn't exactly hard science, the concept of Blue Monday is sparking the right conversations.

The term was coined by Psychologist and Life Coach, Cliff Arnall in 2004, who purportedly created a “formula” for what he deemed the “most depressing day of the year” on behalf of travel agency Sky Travel. The firm then used the phrase in a press release to promote their winter deals.

The idea that one day of the year – specifically the start of the third week of January - is the most depressing day of the year is now widely considered as pseudoscience. Nevertheless, statistics consistently point towards low levels of wellbeing in the first month of the new year.

In fact, one in five (22%) employees will feel disengaged in the workplace this January, according to new research from MetLife UK.