Worst day of the year - today, studied by scientists

[tdog 0]

I had a terrible day today. I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Shit at work just fell apart... For an example, an employee announced that she was stopping her chemotherapy for her cancer and canceling surgery, because the chemotherapy was getting in the way of her work, and she was going to turn down my offer of a month off with pay to recover. So, while I am honored to have an employee that would commit suicide for me, I now know she needs more help than I can offer.

That is the type of day I am having. Granted, I don't have cancer, so it could be worse, but that was just one example of all the shit that went down....

Anyway, I got in the car, and turned on the radio, and this news story made me laugh... I googled it, so it is not just a UK or USA thing...

Quote

For millions of people, it may feel a tad depressing returning to work today, but there is worse in store; Monday, Jan 23 will officially be Britain's unhappiest day.



An expert in winter disorders first identified January as the most stressful month. Now Cliff Arnall, a health psychologist at Cardiff University, has devised a formula to work out the worst day of the year and has come up with Jan 23 for 2006.

His calculation is based on the poorest weather, debts owed for seasonal spending, the time since Christmas, the period of time before you abandon New Year's resolutions, the dates when motivation levels seems to be at their lowest and the timing for the need for action to escape the blues.

Dr Arnall said: "The salient features of UK January weather patterns include many days with low dark cloud and associated cold, wet and sleety conditions.

"During the Christmas and New Year holidays we don't have to go outside if we don't want to. We can watch television, entertain visitors or just read a book.

At the end of first week of January, however, many people have to go back to work or make sure their children get off to school. They are then exposed to the frequently unpleasant weather."

Then there are the obvious problems associated with accumulated debt.

"After New Year there is an additional pressure to spend more as January sales tempt already financially stretched individuals and families," he said.

"For most there is a realisation by the third week of January that spending on sales items needs to be stopped so that Christmas can be paid for.

"Interestingly, nearing pay day may seem like a positive but it may also result in increased stress as the person realises they won't be able to pay off their Christmas bills."

Failed New Year's resolutions also take their toll, he said, with millions of people feeling like failures before the first month of the year is even out.

Separate research suggests that today is the toughest working day of the year. Office Angels, the temporary recruitment company, asked 1,500 people to rank the distress levels involved in returning to work after breaks away from the office, including summer holidays and bank holiday weekends.

Almost three out of four nominated the New Year return to work as the toughest, due to a combination of factors including a depleted wallet, the prospect of three months of sun deprivation, and weight gained over Christmas.

On a brighter note, the research points out that the "stresses and strains brought on by over exposure to relatives at Christmas is alleviated as soon as you are back in a working environment".