Blue Monday: The Day May Be Made Up – But Winter Low Mood Is Very Real.

You may have heard that the third Monday in January is “the most depressing day of the year”. Known as Blue Monday, it’s a date that comes around every year with a lot of headlines and gloomy predictions.

At Moodscope, we want to be clear with our members: Blue Monday itself is a myth. There’s no scientific evidence behind it, and it originally emerged as a marketing concept rather than a mental health insight.

But while the day may be made up, the way many people feel at this time of year is very real.

What our data tells us about winter mood

Because thousands of you track your mood regularly on Moodscope, we can see patterns that go far beyond a single Monday.

Your collective data shows that January and February are consistently the lowest-scoring months for mood and wellbeing across the year. In contrast, June and July record the highest average mood scores, highlighting just how much the seasons may affect how we feel.

This tells us something important: low mood in winter isn’t about one “bad day”. For many people, it’s a longer, quieter stretch of feeling flat, tired, or disconnected.

Why winter can feel so hard

Shorter days, cold weather, post-holiday financial pressures and reduced social connection all take a toll. If you’re finding things harder right now, it’s not a personal failure – it’s a very human response to the season you’re in.

Supporting yourself through the winter months

One of the most powerful things about Moodscope is our community. We’ve recently looked at various personal strategies our members have in their tool kits for such times and here are the results: 

• Focus on one meaningful thing
  When everything feels overwhelming, choose just one small, personal action (not work-related). Connecting with someone you care about can make the biggest difference.
• Keep your to-do list tiny
  Limit lists to three items. Make the first one “cross this off” to create instant momentum and a sense of achievement.
• Protect your energy with boundaries
  Decide how many commitments you can realistically handle each week. Once you’ve reached that limit, your diary is full—and that’s okay.
• Get outside, even briefly
  Regular walks in nature boost mood, support physical health, encourage connection, and give pets a bonus too.
• Give yourself something to look forward to
  Book a holiday, day out, or simple treat in the future. Anticipation can be a powerful mood-booster.
• Practise intentional self-care
  Relax with a luxurious bath using salts, essential oils like lavender or eucalyptus, or a nourishing body wash.
• Track your mood with Moodscope
  Noticing patterns and progress helps you understand what supports your wellbeing—and what doesn’t.

A gentle reminder

If winter feels long right now, you’re not alone – and you don’t have to wait for spring to start taking care of yourself. Keep checking in, keep noticing how you feel, and remember that even small steps count.

How are you currently feeling? Are you one of the many whose mood dips during January and February and lifts in June and July? Do you think it’s just the weather/daylight that influence how you feel or are there other factors that play a part for you? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

Caroline, Adrian and Louis

The Moodscope team