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Inauguration 'Blues': Ceremony Falls on the 'Most Depressing Day of the Year'
According to UK-based psychologist Cliff Arnall the third Monday of the year, which this year coincidentally falls on President Barack Obama's second inauguration, is the âmost depressing day of the year.â
Aptly entitled âBlue Monday,â the exact day is derived from a scientific formula that takes into account the factors of weather, debt, time since Christmas, and motivational levels.
Using this formula, Arnall was able to find that the gloomiest day this year falls on Jan. 21.
"It is the combination of factors that make life right now particularly uncertain,â Arnall said recently in an interview with Good Morning Scotland.
âThere is threat of job redundancy and the cost of food and fuel are going up.â
The âBlue Mondayâ concept was first developed in 2005 as part of a press release for Sky Travel, a now-defunct British TV travel channel.
While many in the scientific community dispute the formula Arnall used to determine the âmost depressing day of the year,â calling it pseudopsychology, the idea of âBlue Mondayâ has maintained popularity in the media.
Evelyn Vega, a licensed clinical therapist specializing in panic and depression, may not be familiar with the science behind âBlue Mondayâ but that doesnât mean the findings donât have some validity.
Vega told Fox News Latino that this time of <a href={url}>{keyword}</a> year she âsees a trend of loneliness.â
"After the excitement of making New Yearâs resolutions, reality starts kicking in.â
Even though Vega cannot attest that the third Monday of January is indeed the âmost depressing day of the year,â the trend she notices among her clients during this time period is undeniable.
Aside from the scientific factors, Arnall also cited the âhibernationâ effect that often happens during winter time as people stay inside more and are less active.
So how exactly can we fight the âwinter blues?â
Joshua C. Klapow, a clinical psychologist and associate professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, has three ways to avoid feeling glum.
First Klapow says to make sure to spend some time in the sunlight daily.
âIn place <a href={url}>{keyword}</a> s around the country with less sunlight, you have people who are prone to depression.â
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Second, exercise is key.
âA lot of times for winter blues it has to deal with feeling down and feeling lethargic,â Klapow said.
And when all else fails, although it may sound odd, Klapow says to schedule in âfunâ during the week.
âIf youâre suffering from the blues," he said. "Sometimes all it takes is a planned effort to have a little fun.â
You can reach Kacy Capobres at:
Kacy.Capobres@foxnewslatino.com or via
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