According to a former part-time tutor at Cardiff University, January 24th is the most depressing day of the year. Dr Cliff Arnalls took a number of factors into consideration including the weather, debt, money due to be paid in the month of January, time since Christmas, motivation levels and more.
The formula Dr Arnalls used a somewhat complicated looking equation to establish this downer of a day. Following the publishing of this date, an insurance company spoke up to say that drivers seem to lose their tempers more often and speed more in January. There’s even a name for this: Winter driver’s disorder.
Included in the equation is ‘Q’ which represents the failure to quit a bad habit and ‘NA’, the need to take action and do something. Dr Arnalls’ research led him to believe that one month after Christmas festivities have ended is the most dire day because holiday energy has worn off by then and many have abandoned their New Year Resolutions by this point. These factors all combine to create a sense of failure that knocks the confidence for a loop by the 24th.