"Blue Monday"?

No, it does not mean a holiday to celebrate the retaking of the House and Senate by Democrats. Apparently, researchers have determined that statistically today is the most depressing day of the year. This is the first I have heard of such a thing.

Unpaid Christmas bills, nasty weather, and failed New Year's resolutions combine to make January 22 the gloomiest in the calendar...Dr Cliff Arnall, a Cardiff University psychologist, devised the formula that shows today is the most depressing. His equation takes into account six factors: weather, debt, time since Christmas, time since failing our new year’s resolutions, low motivational levels and the feeling of a need to take action. Taken together they pinpoint today as 'Blue Monday'. Dr Arnall said that by understanding the main factors for depression we can prevent becoming unhappy next year.

Not sure if I buy this explanation. But it is an interesting analysis. I guess now we all have an excuse if we want to sob uncontrollably to freak out our boss/friends/significant other.