Blue Monday: Today is the 'most depressing day' of the year. But it doesn’t have to be that bad

Should you book a holiday soon?

Caitríona believes that a resolution to add a new routine can be beneficial. For example, this year she is planning to read a physical book for 20 minutes a day.

The most depressing day of 2026 will fall on January 19 — today.

'Blue Monday' is the third Monday of January. The date itself is calculated using a formula devised by a psychologist in 2004. It involves figuring out the level of light exposure, debt, motivational levels, time since Christmas, and resolutions. There’s plenty of research available on how light levels impact our feelings of wellbeing which adds to the calculation, and now that the schools are back today, it’s highly likely many of us are feeling the post-Christmas and New Year’s blues.