Yech -- it's Blue Monday, the most depressing day of the year

Does simply reading this make you feel dismal, dreary, distressed, despondent, downhearted, dejected and dispirited.

After all, it's the third Monday in January, so called 'Blue Monday' because it tends to be the most depressing day of the year.

Some pseudoscience formula takes into consideration winter dragging on, Christmas debts rolling in, failed New Year's resolutions, a lack of life and work motivation and yearning for something, anything, to happen to determine the most melancholy day of the year.

It was Welsh psychologist Dr. Cliff Arnall who coined the term 'Blue Monday' in 2004 based on the start of the third work week in January being a real downer.

UK-based travel agency Sky Travel ran with it and encouraged beleaguered Britons in an advertising campaign to book a sun holiday on Blue Monday as something to cheer them up and look forward to.

Blue Monday has since become a pivot point to advocate for work-life balance, mental health and well-being and finding your joy.

"Supporting staff on Blue Monday goes beyond addressing the specific challenges of the day," said Olivia Cicchini, a human resources and employment law expert at Toronto-based HR consulting firm Peninsula Canada.

"It's about creating a culture of care and creating an environment where mental health is prioritized year-round. Research shows employees who feel supported and engaged in their work environment are more productive, loyal and less likely to experience burnout."

As such, the best employers encourage open conversations about mental health, promote work-life balance, ensure employees have access to counselling and mental health days and are appreciated for the work they do.

"Blue Monday is a reminder for all employers to be proactive in supporting mental health initiatives and ensuring teams have the resources and environment they need to thrive," added Cicchini.

Reboot Online, a digital public relations agency, used Blue Monday as a springboard for its latest survey.

It analyzed job advertisements by industry to see how many mentioned fostering mental health.

As a result, the best sectors to work in are technology, information and media because 24% of their job ads mentioned mental health as a priority.

Reboot also found companies that offer mental health benefits and work-life balance see increased productivity and reduced absenteeism.

The worst sectors to work in for mental health support are farming, ranching and forestry, which only mention mental health in 0.25% of job ads.

See the full list below.

There are some simple and practical things you can start to do today, on Blue Monday, that will immediately make you feel better.

Have a quiet cup of tea and be grateful for what you have, take a walk or go on a hike to get some exercise and lift your mood, do some baking or spend time with your spouse, kids or friends.

Even chores and work can elevate your state of mind because you'll feel a sense of accomplishment.

So, tackle that new task at work with vigor, clean the house, get organized or fix something.

Overall, if your life includes eating right, getting enough sleep, exercising, socializing and a sense of purpose you'll be in better shape physically and emotionally.

If all that doesn't resonate, then go back to the origins of Blue Monday and book yourself a tropical vacation to boost your frame of mind.

See more at: https://www.rebootonline.com/digital-pr/.

_{Thumbnail photo credits: Nik Shuliahin and Ben White on Unsplash}