Posted on 01/23/2006 6:21:15 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
London - Having a bad day? Well, no wonder. According to one scientist, today is the gloomiest day of 2006.
Cliff Arnall, a health psychologist at the University of Cardiff in Wales, has devised a formula that combines personal and seasonal factors to calculate the year's emotional low point.
Arnall said January is a time when people are simply working and don't have a lot of events, parties or holidays to look forward to.
People are struggling to cope not only with the bleak weather, but also with the debts they amassed by spending too much over the holidays.
It's also a time when people are starting to feel like failures because they've broken their resolutions so shortly after making them.
"All these elements converge to make for a very unhappy day on the 23rd of January," Arnall said.
He said his formula holds true for the United States as well as Britain, except perhaps in places such as Texas, Florida or California, where better weather could help to lift the day's depressing mood.
But Arnall said there are ways to beat the late-January blues. Instead of trying to turn over the same old new leaf every New Year's Day, he suggested, why not resolve to make a change in a different month, such as March or April?
"I also advise people to do the unusual every January," he said. "Go for a walk in the woods or just get out and about."
Let's have a party!
Arnall said groups of friends or even office mates could throw parties to celebrate the 23rd, since being around people you like can be a great way to boost your spirits. People also could resolve to make a budget for their holiday spending next December.
Leslie Godwin, a Los Angeles-based author and life transition coach, agreed that January is a tough time of the year. She encouraged people to try to exercise, whether the weather's bad or not.
"Exercise releases hormones that give us a sense of well-being, and it should be seen as an antidote to feeling down or blue," she said.
Even if you aren't exercising, there is some good news: It's only six months until what Arnall figures will be the happiest day of 2006 - June 23.
"In June, there is a lot more of an emphasis on nature, with plenty of flowers and trees in full bloom," he said. "There's also the likelihood that people are seeing more of their neighbors because of more daylight.
"People are experiencing positive memories of their childhood summers, and they are looking forward to taking their holidays," he said. "All this happens in June, so that it's usually a very good month."
Time for a drink.
A member of the Canadian Liberal Party, The guys that just got booted from power today, after 12 years.
>Tell you what...I'm still concerned about Hillary, but less so than a year ago<
I am very concerned about the Hildebeast. My friends are like "no way she can win," but we thought that about Clinton in 1992. I think the dem base will be so jazzed about her, their get out the vote effort will be the best they have ever had. The media is never in our corner anyway, but we will see an all out full campaign for her by just about every news program except some on Fox. It's already starting. I can't turn on Good Morning America without them inviting Hill on. Then yesterday Oprah invites the Hill on to discuss terrorism (that's pretty laughable huh?).
I am very concerned.
I figured April 15th would be the worst day of the year.
Whew. I'm glad that's over.
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