It is coming up to that time where we tighten our belts following the holiday season both in terms of our wallets and diets. Worse still, apparently the most depressing day of the year has arrived. Today (16 January) is so-called ‘Blue Monday’, which combines a number of factors including post-Christmas celebrations accompanied by the long, cold, dark nights of winter. What is the solution? Read your way through the January blues.
Why is it called ‘Blue Monday?’
The concept is thought to have originated in 2005 after a press release from UK travel company Sky Travel used an equation to calculate the dreaded date. However, notable journalist and Bad Science columnist Ben Goldacre debunked the theory, stating that a PR agency had approached a number of scientists, one of whom was Dr Cliff Arnall, who was reportedly commissioned to create a ‘formula’ to deliver the calculation. The psychologist was at the time a tutor at the Centre for Lifelong Learning, a further education centre attached to Cardiff University.
Dr Arnall’s former colleague, The Happy Brain author Dr. Dean Burnett said himself that the date was a “non-phenomenon” and “pseudoscientific”. On the other hand, there is no denying that the pandemic has created and exacerbated mental health challenges. According to a 2021 study by The Lancet, there were an additional 76.2 million cases of anxiety disorders globally, an increase of 25%.
How can reading help?
According to The Telegraph, cognitive neuropsychologist Dr David Lewis from the University of Sussex revealed in findings from 2009 that reading is the best way to relax and even six minutes can be enough to reduce the stress levels by more than two thirds. Reading was also reported to be 300% better than taking a walk and 68% better than listening to music.
And the UK’s largest reading charity BookTrust reported that people who read books regularly are on average more satisfied with life, happier, and more likely to feel that the things they do in life are worthwhile.
So what are the best books to be reading this joyless January?
Read more:
1. 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works - Dan Harris
This book demystifies the ancient art of meditation by explaining recent, cutting-edge scientific research into how meditation affects your body and mind. Crucially, it shows you just how valuable meditation can be in coping with the stress of modern life. The former ABC News anchor is known for his on air panic attack, which led him to search for ways to increase happiness.
2. Stumbling on Happiness - Daniel Gilbert
Daniel Gilbert: Stumbling on Happiness Stumbling on Happiness explains how our brains make us think about the future and asks the question: why do we make decisions that can leave us feeling unhappy? By showing how our brains work, it aims to help us imagine our futures in ways that could leave us happier.
3. Happy: Why More Or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine - Derren Brown
The 2016 book by writer and television presenter of Mind Control, takes a look at the ancient world’s most zen philosophers - the Stoics- and asks what thinkers like Seneca and Marcus Aurelius can teach us about happiness, which is supposedly a great deal.
4. Happier: Can You Learn to be Happy? - Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D.
American and Israeli university lecturer Dr Ben-Shahar’s guide is about living a more meaningful and pleasurable existence. The book challenges you to identify what matters most to you and to reflect on how you can make that a bigger part of your life.