It’s again once more: 15 January marks Blue Monday 2024.
This notorious day will get a combined reception when it rolls round, with some feeling involved and others flouting it and treating it like another day.
In any case, the entire thought of Blue Monday comes from a formulation to outline ‘essentially the most miserable day of the 12 months’ with a purpose to increase gross sales.
Even Cliff Arnal, the psychologist who devised the formulation to pinpoint this gloomy day within the calendar, has vehemently refuted it since and urged folks to not purchase into it.
It’s simple to see how folks get sucked in although. Blue Monday is in all places. We’ve been getting a great deal of press releases about how employees can increase worker morale, dealing with the advertising and marketing deluge head-on.
However with all this stated, internet searches for ‘staff’, ‘morale’ and ‘Blue Monday’ are on the up too.
That tells me that, prescribed or not, there may be bleakness round as we speak. It’s sufficient for some employers to need to step in and minimise the harm, anyway.
How are they serving to?
Whether or not you see it as a real optimistic or simple point-scoring, any likelihood to spice up worker morale is an efficient factor.
It doesn’t even must be a lot: arranging a casual do, bringing truffles in or performing some form of team-based exercise.
Listed here are just a few examples of how small companies have made Blue Monday their very own.
Erris de Stacpoole, senior account supervisor at The Media Foundry
‘In a bid to deal with Blue Monday, we at The Media Foundry have launched an annual pub quiz known as ‘Bye Bye, Blue Monday’. We’re on a mission to banish any doom, gloom and blues. The primary prize is a Golden Sausage Award’
James Shillaker, director at Incorpore Ltd
‘This Monday we can be treating our workplace to breakfast and coffees throughout to begin the day proper and put folks in good spirits.’
Steve Arnold, CEO of e-days
‘I introduced a puzzle again from my vacation in Mexico and on Blue Monday each worker (about 30 of them) will get the prospect to finish the puzzle the quickest (inside ten minutes). The quickest particular person will get a prize – an early end from work.
‘It means everybody will get a enjoyable 10-minute further break, and it’ll take their thoughts off work for a bit bit. It additionally creates a terrific environment of competitors, engagement and pleasure that everybody can become involved in. It’s a easy concept that’s nice for psychological wellbeing, for mind well being and for common camaraderie.’
Rebecca Siciliano, managing director at Tiger Recruitment
‘This 12 months, Tiger has timed Blue Monday with the announcement of its firm incentives for the 12 months, to get employees motivated and engaged in regards to the 12 months forward. We’re additionally working an train bootcamp to get folks shifting after work and for many who can’t participate in that, have organised a drinks get-together.
‘There’s even have a psychological well being ambassador who has written a e-newsletter on wellness and psychological well being to exit on Monday with tricks to keep away from the January blues.’
To counter the very notion of Blue Monday, Samaritans runs an annual Brew Monday marketing campaign. It encourages folks to get collectively over a cuppa for a catch-up on the third Monday in January – or at another time of the 12 months.
Making actual change
Regardless of the cynicism across the third Monday in January, it arguably has the identical position as unhappiness does on the whole: pulling consideration in direction of an issue that wants addressing.
“It arguably has the identical position as unhappiness does: pulling consideration in direction of an issue that wants addressing”
A few of your staff may not even be feeling down, however it’s important to have the knowledge they want if life takes a flip. Debra Clark, head of wellbeing at Towergate Well being & Safety, explains: “Usually folks solely take discover of the issues that straight have an effect on them. If they don’t seem to be affected by psychological well being points on the time, they’ll seemingly ignore any messages concerning psychological well being help. This is the reason it’s important {that a} wellbeing programme has all parts frequently communicated, in order that help is entrance of thoughts on the time that it’s wanted.”
For some small enterprise house owners, Blue Monday highlights modifications that may be made to enhance employees morale in the long term relatively than simply for someday.
Alan Lynch, CEO of Examine&Select
‘As an organization, we consider in taking care of psychological well being and never simply on particular days.
‘We’ve got a versatile work coverage in place. I don’t just like the strain that’s places on my employees after they have set work hours. Their duties should be achieved however in their very own tempo – if my employees want a psychological well being day then they get one.
‘So, if any of my employees can be feeling worse for put on coming, they know they’ll come to me and do no matter they should do to really feel higher. It’s potential as a result of we’re a small firm with a handful of employees.’
Mike Foster, artistic director at Straight Ahead Design
‘I consider the sensation of ‘Blue Monday’ (one thing which arguably rolls out intermittently over the entire 12 months) will be staved off with in-house initiatives which aren’t client-based.
‘On high of that, I attempt to hold staff completely satisfied all year long by encouraging facet initiatives in-office. It makes good enterprise sense: good employers need their group members to really feel fulfilled, related to the organisation and motivated to do nice work.’
Mike Nolan, co-founder of PressPlugs
‘Reasonably than some gimmick, we attempt to assist staff by advising them to deal with the optimistic. It’s all a couple of wholesome mindset.
“Blue Monday is a good day to begin to change issues”
‘Each Monday morning – and we’ll in all probability go for an extended session on Blue Monday – we cease what we’re doing for round 20 minutes and follow some mindfulness meditation. That is adopted by a easy train the place they’re requested to jot down down 20 issues that they’re grateful for.
‘Lastly, we attempt to all have a wholesome lunch – having one thing nice constructed into the day covers all factors.
‘It’s very important that employers be aware of their staff’ psychological well being and Blue Monday is a good day to begin to change issues.’
Learn our important information on bettering worker motivation within the office for extra.
