The psychologist spoke about the reasons for the psychological decline in Blue Monday

The term Blue Monday, which resembles the name of a blues composition, has long gone beyond the marketing ploy. Ekaterina Artemenko, a practicing psychologist, Gestalt therapist and community director of the Yasno service, told Izvestia that the third Monday in January could indeed become a point of psychological decline, and the causes of this phenomenon are deep and layered.

"One of the key factors is the weather. Winter is reaching its midpoint, and although daylight has already begun to increase, there are still many weeks to live in conditions of a short day, cold and lack of sunlight. Even residents of the southern regions have to put up with the contrast between January and summer weather, which cannot but affect the overall emotional background," she said.

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Financial issues play an important role. After a series of festive expenses on gifts, treats and possible winter holidays, which are traditionally more expensive, the budget of many is significantly reduced. The psychologist notes that it's not just about the finances themselves, but also what they symbolize: the need to replenish resources that may be spent, especially if the vacation was too stormy or required a lot of organizational effort.

A serious psychoemotional factor is added to this. The psyche experiences significant stress during the holidays, and fatigue and stress accumulated over the year often manifest themselves not at the beginning, but at the very end of the rest. At this point, the body has already tuned in to relaxation, the protective mechanisms that have maintained efficiency all year are weakening, and a wave of exhaustion covers the person, coinciding with the need to return to work duties.

The expert suggests several strategies to soften the blow of Blue Monday and the post-holiday period. It is important to plan something pleasant and new for the near future in the routine of everyday life - for example, to start a new interesting type of training.

"It makes returning to normal life more bearable. It is also useful to focus on what has already happened and write out ten good, almost "gift" events of the past year that happened as if by themselves. It helps to notice that good things happen not only on holidays," Artemenko said.

It is extremely important, according to the psychologist, not to succumb to the propaganda of constant joy and to recognize that sadness is a normal part of the human experience. It is necessary to prevent feelings of fear or shame due to emotional decline and allow yourself to seek support without scolding yourself for your natural needs.

The key is to choose ways to take care of yourself that don't lead to further exhaustion—financially, physically, or emotionally. Thus, awareness of the causes of Blue Monday and careful attention to your resources can help you survive this period with fewer losses.

Earlier, on December 23, Olga Cheremnova, a practicing psychologist, said that during the New Year period, Russians are more likely to make impulsive purchases due to emotional fatigue, a sense of "special time" and pressure of expectations.

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