How to Fight Off Blue Monday at Home

10 ways to counteract the "most depressing day of the year"

Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected." I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More »
Bookmark
Email
Embed
Jan. 23, 2012 is Blue Monday, allegedly the most depressing day of the year. The date, a relatively new phenomenon, was determined by Dr. Cliff Arnall in 2005. He used a formula that factored in holiday debts, the hour of sundown, cold gray weather, the amount of time since Christmas had passed and despondence over failing to keep New Year's resolutions. His admittedly non-scientific formula resulted in the date taking place on the Monday that falls during the last full week in January.

Feeling a blue Monday coming on? Here are a few tips for battening down the hatches and keeping yourself in a good mood.
traditional family room by Edwina Drummond Boose
1. Bring in the wood for a blazing fire. A fire in the fireplace always lifts my mood a few notches. Heck, get out the marshmallows and make s'mores if you want (recommended for wood burning fireplaces only).
Private Comment
contemporary media room by Smith & Vansant Architects PC
2. Use the Force. Well, at least rent your favorite episode of Star Wars, a stupid action movie or schmaltzy romantic comedy. I'll be watching The Larry Sanders Show DVDs Santa brought me. (Hey Now!)
Private Comment
contemporary living room by Marcelo Brito Design
3. Prepare your bar. It still gets dark early, and as soon as the sun goes down it can be cocktail or mocktail time. Find an excuse to use the martini shaker; find a fun new recipe.
Private Comment
eclectic family room by Nunley Custom Homes
4. Figure out where you stored Yahtzee! and Battleship. Get together with family and friends and play some good old-fashioned games.
Private Comment
modern bathtubs by PSCBATH
by PSCBATH
by PSCBATH
Bathtub African Skin - Croco - $22,086.00 »
5. Have a soak. Take some time on Sunday to clean out your bathtub, and make sure you have ample candles, salts and bubble bath on hand. Blue Monday is a Calgon, take me away kind of day.
Private Comment
traditional bedroom by Emily Ruddo
6. Treat yourself to flowers. Few things perk up a room like fresh blooms.
Private Comment
modern family room by Rachel Reider Interiors
7. Get your lighting right. Never depend on one overhead light. Use a mix that includes floor lamps and table lamps. Make sure your bulbs aren't giving off an ugly light, that you have good reading light in your comfy spots, and that your room has a nice pleasing glow.
Private Comment
modern knives and chopping boards by West Elm
Slate + Wood Boards - $24.00 »
8. Eat whatever you want. I know a huge hunk of yummy artisanal cheese would do the trick for me, and I'm not even sure what modifying the word "cheese" with the word "artisanal" really means.

20 of the Coziest Kitchens Around
Private Comment
traditional living room by Smith & Vansant Architects PC
9. Have a good read. Pull out your favorite design books, trashy magazines, or that novel you haven't had time to read lately and indulge. Curl up on the sofa, a chaise or even on your bed with a warm blanket and a fattening coffee or cocoa drink. Blue Monday has now become a great excuse to indulge.
Private Comment
eclectic home electronics by Amazon
by Amazon
by Amazon
The Best of New Order - $9.99 »
10. Laugh. Bust out that New Order album and laugh at the fact that you used to sing out "I see a ship in the harbor...I can and shall obey" with utter seriousness in 1988. Or laugh at the fact that I did. What the heck is it supposed to mean? Actually, I have had this album in my car for about a year. Maybe it's time for some CDs that are a little more 2012.

Tell us: What do you do to fight the January blues?

More: It's Cold. We're Cranky. Buy Some Flowers!
Winterizing: Prepare the House for Snow-Day Activities
9 Ways to Lighten Up Your Interior Design
Private Comment

Comments

I love the idea of artisanal cheese Becky - we live near Cowgirl Creamery and can watch them making it (through a window) - suddenly need some! Only problem is I have a mind which separates words into component parts, problem with artisanal...
I am going to do every one of your suggestions, not because I'm depressed, but just for fun. From my lavender bath I salute you!
4 months ago ·
Love the ideabook, Becky! We've been teaching our girls (3rd and 5th grade) how to play Clue and it's loads of fun. I'm going to try your other ideas too!
4 months ago ·
bepsf says:
I light candles, stream Sarah Brightman over the wireless stereo speakers, put a stew in the oven & pop open a bottle of wine, and put on the flannel pajamas after a nice hot bubble bath...
4 months ago ·
Awesome collection, like the ideabook...
4 months ago ·
Love this Becky. I still listen to New Order (their newer stuff is super fun), so I fully support your CD choice :)
4 months ago ·
Bobbi P says:
Becky, I love all your ideabooks! They're fabulous. My cure for Blue Monday, or any other blue day, is to start a new project. A little paint, sew some new curtains, rearrange a room. Anything to keep my mind off the day-to-day humdrum!
4 months ago ·
Great idea! Thanks!
4 months ago ·
Pat says:
lovely ideabook, thank you...made me smils. It's -20 C here in Ottawa and your ideas are welcome!
4 months ago ·
lamarti says:
These are some great Blue Monday ideas Becky, thanks!
4 months ago ·
linbar says:
Forget about "Rainy days and Mondays always get me down" with this ideabook! A great perk-you-up list. Thanks!
4 months ago ·
"Artisanal" means fine cheese, made by hand in small batches by artisan cheese makers. We own and operate an artisanal cheese online business, and a shop in Egg Harbor, Wi: Wisconsin Cheese Masters. All Wisconsin award-winning cheeses, check it out!
4 months ago ·
I like to have lots of lights on in the house... for me it keeps the blues away!
4 months ago ·
katie, YUM! You are making me hanker for a hunk of cheese. Sounds like the perfect way to fight off Blue Monday!
4 months ago ·
I'd be willing to add the recipe for fig ice cream made with condensed milk and whipping cream that doesn't require anything more than mixing and freezing and is to die for even if you don't like figs; pure food bliss!
4 months ago ·
Love your idea books - always so great! Thought I'd share my Happy Thoughts to beat the Monday blues!
4 months ago ·
Hey all, your comments are boosting me up as Blue Monday approaches. Thanks :)
4 months ago ·
Damien F says:
Wow.... Im loving the drinking and New Order suggestions!!!! It's always 5 'o clock somewhere RYYYYTE!!?? LETS toss in a little OMD and some Banana Rama and we're SET!!

THANKS - loved reading this!
4 months ago ·
angeldog says:
Love the ideas, especially playing games, reading, and flowers.....I always keep flowers in the house...however, the fattening fixes would seem to only make the day after an even more depressing day....if the new year's resolution on diet hasn't failed just yet, the cheeses, fat drinks, and smores will surely do the trick! Thanks for the read :)
4 months ago ·
wjoy says:
I'm going to finish filling the donation bag. . get out in this rainy, cold weather and FINALLY drop it off at the battered women's thrift store. . .shop for the brightest bouquet of grocery store fresh flowers I can find. . .come home, build a fire and drink butterscotch schnapps with Irish cream and eat something indulgent. . hey it's only ONE day. . .right???
4 months ago ·
Siobhan, what is the name of you box of happy thoughts box....by who?
4 months ago ·
wjoy, right on! It's funny, about two weeks ago my window got stuck in the rain. I made an appt. all the way out in Roswell (love Nalley!) to get it fixed. I knew I'd drive by the Goodwill dropoff down the street on the way, so I put all the giveaway stuff in the trunk and took off, dreading the round trip 2+hour ordeal this would be. Well, the guy at the Goodwill said "I can fix that for you!" and he pushed up the window while I pressed the button. Not only will you get the stuff out of your house, which feels great, but you'll get some instant good karma too.

You're in GA right? The rain just let up here for a minute and I saw the sun, now it's getting gloomy again. Another Blue Monday cure? Wearing crazy Wellies.
4 months ago ·
wjoy says:
Yes Becky, I am in the N GA mountains. It has been rainy & gloomy here all weekend. My always go-to to ward off the blues is to do a good deed (thus the donations). Love your idea for the crazy wellies. . they have been on my wish list for awhile. Today would be a good day to shop for them. Since I am old as dirt, the crazier and kookier. . the better! :-)
4 months ago ·
wjoy - Target almost always has awesome Wellies at a good price. Mine are black and white houndstooth. I'm hoarding the Missoni ones to pay for a vacation (just kidding). I spoke too soon about the sun, it started raining again five minutes later.
4 months ago ·
wjoy says:
Thanks for the Target suggestion, I will try there. I shopped downtown Blue Ridge and the surrounding areas today with no luck. The black and white houndstooth ones are my favorite!
4 months ago ·
Hi Jan - Happy Thoughts can be found on Etsy (shop is Rire Souvent) or www.riresouvent.com
4 months ago ·
Last winter when I couldn't get out of the house to walk the dog, because the snow was so deep, I started jumping rope in my kitchen with higher ceilings. It sure gets the blood flowing. Afterward, a nice long soak in the tub/jacuzzi is in order.
4 months ago ·
I read this late. This monday the 23rd was horrible. I was really the wicked witch of the west or east or whichever was the worst.
4 months ago ·