Today is Blue Monday, statistically the most depressing day of the year.
Are you in a foul mood? Feeling snappy? Noticing the storm clouds but not the rays of sunshine?
Is it really that bad? Blue Monday hangs over the nation
In this mood it's probably no consolation – but you’re not the only one.
Today has been official declared to be Blue Monday. Cheer up! It's not just you. And it won't last.
All over the land worn out workers are hanging on for the end of the month pay cheque.
The dark nights are not helping, nor are the failed resolutions set out with such hope at New Year. To make things worse, those Christmas memories are fading.
So says Dr Cliff Arnall, a psychologist at Cardiff University who devised the Blue Monday formula.
Does it make it any better now you know your mood can be calculated? Probably not.
Where T equals time since Christmas, D equals debt, W is weather, d is money due in January pay, Q time since failed quit attempt, M general motivational levels and NA is the need to take action, today, he calculates, we are in trouble.
Here is the formula: 1/8W+(D-d) 3/8xTQ MxNA.
Don't try and work it out, it's too depressing.
In short, it decrees the Monday morning of the last full week of January to be a deeper shade of blue than any other of the year.
But enough with the misery.
Here, on a day filled with more than enough gloom, are 5 reasons to be cheerful.
So smile!
Reasons to be cheerful
1) There are only 48 more Monday mornings until Christmas
2) Tomorrow's another day
3) Smiling is infectious – if you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours
4) Today is the day to cover the country in storm clouds on your own weather map
5) Laughter is good for you
Bonus Reason to be Cheerful ... Recovery Rocks 
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