This Monday, January 21st has been given the title Blue Monday and is supposed to be the most depressing day of the year. This takes into account factors like gloomy weather, post-Christmas blues, credit card bills, and New Year’s Resolution fails.
It turns out it’s probably a bunch of phooey used by advertisers to market products to you. (Thanks Snopes!) Soooooo . . . without further ado here are mine!
So what’s your take? Do you want to embrace the melancholy that many of us are understandably feeling OR do you want to do everything in your power to give an energetic F YOU to the blue energy?
If you want to avoid the blues and do not want to enjoy wallowing in the doom and gloom-ness of the day:
- Do NOT Read The Fault in Our Stars, The Lovely Bones, or The Road.
- Do NOT Listen to When She Loved Me from Toy Story, Clapton’s Tears in Heavenor Everybody Hurts by R.E.M.
- Do NOT Watch This is Us Season One.
- Do NOT Watch My Girl, Marley and Me, or I am Legend.
- Do NOT watch the nightly news.
If you want to embrace all that is light and sunny and sweet and funny:
- Get some exercise by putting on Groove is in the Heart, Don’t Stop Me Now, Good Vibrations, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Walking on Sunshine and dancing around your house.
- Paint your nails this gorgeous chrome color and rub some Unicorn Snot on your face/body
- Make someone a silly breakfast with pancakes with happy faces on them.
- Read The Book of Joy by two people known for their love of play.
Also mood lifting are: The Little Book of Lykke: Secrets of The World’s Happiest People, Happiness Project, Happiest You, The Happiest Mom - Color an adult coloring book.
- Press play to Happy Little Working Song from Enchanted and see how much you can tidy up and clean in that three minutes. If you are still feeling it, hit repeat and start again.
- Watch Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and get “The Best Boobs are in California” stuck in your head. Other good movies to watch today are Pich Perfect, Romy and Michelle, Amelie, Singing in the Rain, Clueless, Jumanji, Matilda, A League of Their Own, and Cool Runnings.
- Watch some videos about people bringing kindness into the world in amazing ways.
- Watch some fun-loving tv characters…Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Parks and Rec, The Office, How I
met Your Mother, Golden Girls, Scrubs, Great Brittish Bake Off. - Find a way to serve your community on MLK Day of Service.
I didn’t know Blue Monday even existed until the day was pretty much over, but I had actually felt quite down that day, which was interesting. I wish I had seen this post yesterday though as it did make me giggle. As much as I love TFIOS – both the book AND the movie – I definitely would have been a puddle of tears had I read or watched it yesterday!
Yeah, I just learned about Blue Monday too. It’s hard for me as a new blogger to learn how to get on top of these holidays. I gotta shoot farther ahead! What comes after Galentine’s? I’m seeing a lot of those fun lists now. Thanks for poppin in Indya! xx, Clare
Oh my gosh! This was hilarious! Don’t watch the nightly news. I died. Such a great and quirky post. 😀
Moira thank you. I’m so glad you like my offbeat humor. I just checked out your blog. I really like it. Here’s to a happy, fun-filled, wealth filled 2019! xx, Clare
Oh my goodness, I love your lists! I definitely WILL NOT be listening to When She Loved Me…. it gets me crying every stinkin’ time! I also will NOT be watching The Little Princess or My Dog Skip.
thank you, Monica. You know I love yours too!! Toy Story movies are guaranteed to tug at my heartstrings! Disney movies are good for that. My dad took me to see Bambi when I was little and we left when the mommy dies and I cried so much.
I usually try to start Mondays by sharing a happy post, and if I have a somber one, I share it on a Wednesday. But for whatever reason, I ended up sharing a sad post today. Ugh! I do like your tips for an upbeat day!
Thank you, Beth. And your post today was SO beautiful. What a lucky dog to be surrounded by so much love. And you have inspired me to ask my best friend to take photos of our Dog Otis. Your site is such a gem. Love, Clare
Well, it WAS a pretty crappy day for us. I woke up with a headache so bad that it was even in my dream… then I had to spend 4 hours moving stuff from one classroom to another… then I went to my sister-in-law’s house to say goodbye to her cat she’s had for 12 years (longer than I’ve known her and my Husband!) and went with her to have him put to sleep….. I have decided to let myself have a sad rest of the day and start fresh tomorrow. That’s usually what helps my anxiety and depression the most.
Oh wow, Mame Writes that is so sad. 🙁 Also so wonderful you went with her to euthanize her cat. What a gift that must have been for her to have a loved one there with her for that big day. Hugs to you both! May your month only get happier and better from here! Love, Clare
When I’m feeling down I usually watch some cute puppy videos, funny movies and listen to empowering songs!
those are all great ways to elevate the everyday. i used to go to cuteoverload.com when they were online. i’d look at Boo and all the cuties on there and melt.
It is so funny all the books you said not to read are like my favorite movies. And they are super depressing maybe I need to avoid them
sophia, they are all excellent books and movies. i personally love anything post-apocalyptic. avoid them on blue monday, or not it’s up to you! you do have phenomenal taste. 😉
Really enjoyed this post!
thank you for reading hannah xx
I’ve never even heard of Blue Monday! Definitely not feeling it here, but your list gave me a chuckle!
thanks naomi xx, clare