Blue Monday

Today is meant to be the year’s most depressing day or 'Blue Monday'

6 January 2012

Today is meant to be the year’s most depressing day or 'Blue Monday'

Today is meant to be the year’s most depressing day or 'Blue Monday'

Today is meant to be the year’s most depressing day or “Blue Monday”, although generally 65% of AA members describe themselves as happy and almost 90% still enjoy driving, according to an AA/Populus poll of 20,181 drivers.

A campaign encouraging the British public to overcome the winter blues is being launched to raise people’s spirits and vital funds for mental health charities. Some think the economic downturn could make this the worst “Blue Monday” ever.

'Blue Monday' was first defined by Cliff Arnall, formerly of Cardiff University, marking the symbolic time in January when people suffer from a series of combined depressive effects.

Monday 16 January marks the point when the Christmas glow has faded away, New Year’s resolutions have been broken, cold Winter weather has set in and credit card bills will be landing on doormats across the land – while the January pay-cheque is still some way away.

Are drivers happy?

'Blue Monday' aside, the majority of drivers actually seem to be happy. An AA/ Populus poll of 20,181 drivers found almost two-thirds (65%) of AA members surveyed described themselves as happy. A quarter stated that they were neither happy nor unhappy, while one-in-ten (10%) described themselves as unhappy.

  • Almost nine-in-ten (87%) still like driving – 52% like it a lot, 35% a little.
  • More than half (57%) say that the cost of motoring has decreased their happiness – 18% say it has decreased it a lot. Bizarrely some 9% say it has increased their happiness – perhaps by cycling?
  • The older generation seem happier with 24% of over 65s being very happy as opposed to just 19% of 18-24s.
  • Females were more likely to be very happy than males (22% females, 19% males).
  • Wales was the least happy region followed by the East Midlands.
  • Northern Ireland was the happiest region followed by the North West and Scotland.

Drivers should try to counter any “Blue Monday” feelings by being more generous on the roads today

Edmund King, AA president

Comment

Commenting, Edmund King, AA President, said: “Drivers should try to counter any “Blue Monday” feelings by being more generous on the roads today. Be courteous, let drivers in, give way, smile, keep your distance, don’t hog the middle lane and banish any road rage.

“Despite the doom and gloom, the majority of AA members are happy and almost nine-in-ten still enjoy driving. Put Ian Dury’s “Reasons to be Cheerful” or New Order’s “Blue Monday” into your cd player and enjoy the ride.”

(2 February 2012)

AA/Populus poll conducted between 15-22 December 2011