How to Banish Blue Monday from the Workplace

The third Monday of January is often said to be the most depressing day of the year. While the scientific basis for this has been disputed and many view the concept as nothing more than myth, the annual occurrence of ‘Blue Monday’ represents an important time for businesses to renew and enhance their focus on employee wellbeing. But what is Blue Monday all about, really? And how can you go about leveraging it for the benefit of your corporate team?

Whether or not Blue Monday is actually the calendar's dreariest day is up for debate, but no one can deny that our moods tend to take a general dip during January. The impact of the ‘January blues’ has even been backed by research, with the Harvard Business Review finding that January is the least productive month of the year. And more worryingly, a total of 49% of workers report experiencing a decline in their mental health during the holiday season.

In this guide, we’ll provide a comprehensive breakdown of what Blue Monday is, what it means for the modern workplace, and provide research-driven tips on what companies can do to keep employee spirits high.

What is Blue Monday?

The term ‘Blue Monday’ is used to describe the third Monday of January, a day on which the public’s mental wellbeing and general mood is said to be at its lowest. It’s become an increasingly popular idea in the corporate world over the years, often leading to specialised workplace initiatives or a heightened focus on mental wellbeing during the period. However, it’s important to note that the idea of Blue Monday lacks a sound scientific basis, and has even been criticised by UK mental health charities for encouraging the trivialisation of depression.

The idea dates back to 2005, when psychologist Cliff Arnall was hired by a travel agency to come up with a formula that explained the existence of the January Blues. While it has since been discredited as pseudoscience, many believe that Blue Monday represents a dedicated day on which to encourage candid conversations about mental health and wellbeing. When approached in a mindful way, Blue Monday has the potential to create a positive space for mental health awareness in the workplace.

How to Beat Blue Monday at Work: 5 Proven Strategies

Whether struggling with the winter weather, shorter daylight hours, or the financial strain and emotional crash of the post-Christmas period — the month of January can be a difficult time for a variety of reasons. And while Blue Monday itself is now understood to be a myth, many people continue to experience genuine feelings of low mood and depression around this time.

So, whether you’re seeking an opportunity to educate your employees on the importance of self-care, or you simply want to give them a meaningful reward to kick off the new year, we’re breaking down our top 5 actionable strategies that you can use to beat Blue Monday at work.

1. Encourage Good Sleep

Enjoying high-quality sleep on a consistent basis is fundamental when it comes to maintaining a good standard of mental wellbeing. Yet unfortunately, its importance is often overlooked. On top of contributing to a multitude of health-related issues, employers may be surprised to hear that a lack of sleep comes with a range of economic side effects, too. Studies have shown that the cost of lost sleep in the UK amounts to around £50bn per year.

Blue Monday represents the perfect time to start promoting healthy sleep habits in the workplace. Whether it’s introducing flexible working arrangements, limiting after-hours communication, organising a stress awareness workshop or even introducing a nap room to the office — there are plenty of ways to get creative when promoting quality sleep among your workforce.

2. Promote Physical Activity

It’s no secret that a regular exercise routine can have profound effects on our mental health and wellbeing. Whether through the community of team sports or the sense of achievement that comes with hitting a new fitness milestone — the simple practice of getting up and moving our bodies can be transformational for our holistic health. For employers, promoting physical activity among employees comes with a range of positive impacts, with 73% of morning exercisers reporting feeling satisfied in their jobs.

When it comes to Blue Monday ideas for work that centre around physical activity, a fitness-related indoor team building activity can be incredibly impactful. From climbing and abseiling adventures to the surprisingly-challenging world of indoor skydiving, we offer a wide range of vouchers for team building activities that bolster workplace bonds while presenting a rewarding physical challenge.

3. Foster a Positive Work Environment

While certainly more of a long-term strategy than one which can be achieved in a single day, Blue Monday can be the perfect time to start making positivity in the workplace a top priority. And with Gallup’s latest State of the Global Workplace report finding that happy employees are 17% more productive, companies neglecting workplace positivity run the risk of impacting their own performance.

A genuinely positive work environment needs to start from the top, and heavily revolves around getting the basics right. This can involve open and consistent communication from company leadership, providing tangible opportunities for career development and embracing a culture of rewards and recognition for top-performing employees.

4. Offer Flexible Working Options

While once deemed impossible, recent years have proven that flexible working policies are an achievable reality for a vast number of digital industries. Offering any form of flexible working option can be extremely effective in driving improvements in employee experience, from engagement and satisfaction to long-term staff loyalty. In fact, research from Gallup has found that a significant 54% of employees would leave their job for one that offers flexible working.

Giving employees the option to work flexibly allows them to manage their time independently and effectively, adopting a personalised schedule that reduces stress and improves work-life balance. Companies which offer flexible working options showcase a genuine commitment to employee satisfaction, while reaping the rewards of a healthier and more efficient company culture.

5. Encourage Self Care

Taking care of ourselves is something that should always be prioritised. However, it’s often the first thing to be sacrificed when the everyday challenges of work take over. About two thirds of UK employees feel that their organisation could better support self care and wellbeing in the workplace, with many citing an inadequate workplace culture as a significant barrier.

As always, it’s important for employers to lead by example when promoting self care habits — whether that’s demonstrating a healthy attitude to work-life balance, or being open about dealing with personal struggles. For those seeking Blue Monday ideas for work that encourage self care, a serene pampering experience can help employees to unwind like few other workplace rewards can. From luxury spa days to short breaks that give your hardest workers some time to recharge, there are plenty of ways to help your employees disconnect and unwind.

Elevate Your Blue Monday Ideas for Work with Red Letter Days Corporate

Whether you’re just learned what Blue Monday is for the first time, or you’ve been making a concerted effort to promote employee wellbeing for years, you should now understand how to approach the annual event in a respectful and effective way. From encouraging healthy sleep and fitness habits to promoting self care and enhancing company culture — there are endless ways to beat Blue Monday at work and achieve meaningful employee happiness that will last long into the future.

Need expert assistance with taking your workplace culture and employee satisfaction to the next level? Get in touch with the Red Letter Days Corporate team today, and find out how we can elevate your organisational performance with over 5,000 corporate experience gifts and vouchers.