Happy Friday the 13th! While this day may be a bit of a mood downer for superstitious people and overzealous Friday the 13th movie fans, this coming Monday is poised to be the biggest downer of a day yet. According to a mental health charity, Monday, Janury 16, 2012, will be the most depressing day of the year.
Now this isn’t something the nonprofit just pulled out of their you-know-what — there’s actually a science behind choosing this day. The charity’s formula for calculating “Blue Monday” factors in weather conditions, current debt level (did you spend too much over the holidays, too?), time since Christmas, time since failing our New Year’s resolutions and a few others.
Each year, the date changes, although it always falls on a Monday in January. Last year, “Blue Monday” actually fell on my birthday…as did it in 2005 (how’s that for icing on your cake?).
This year, it actually falls on Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, meaning that many people across the country actually have the day off to commemorate him, also meaning they’re probably not feeling as down as other Mondays in January (I wonder if the “Blue Monday” creators actually considered the holiday as a factor?)
Regardless, I wanted to give you all a few dollops of happiness in your drear by pointing out a few things us folks at marketing and PR agencies can do to feel happy today:
Use Your Company’s Communications Channels for Good vs. Evil
As I shared, it’s Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. Read any of his moving speeches or biographies for instant inspiration. Use all your agencies’ channels for spreading unique content to share his message — your blogs, Twitter and Facebook pages, YouTube channels, etc. If you actually have the day off today, then go out and use it as a day of service. Nothing will boost your mood faster than helping others.
Sell a Harder-Sell Story
If you’re in PR, it’s a great day to reach out to media about your non-timely feature story ideas. Why? Less people will be contacting the press because they’re off work, meaning that reporter you’re planning to call might actually have time to hear your pitch in detail. Also, Valentine’s Day is now about a month away, so, if you haven’t already, think about how you can tie in the “holiday of love” to your clients.
Set Daily Resolutions to Replace Any Failed New Year’s Resolutions
As the “Blue Monday” equation factors in, many people have likely failed to keep up their New Year’s Resolutions by this Monday. Feel better on Monday — and during the rest of the week — by setting daily goals that also help you grow in your capabilities as a marketing professional and give you something you can cross off your list as “Accomplished!” at the end of the day. Spend 30 minutes today learning a new software, social network or app, and then think about how one of your clients may find it useful.
Take a Coworker to Lunch
Is there someone at your agency who you don’t know a lot about, or even what projects he or she is working on? Invite him or her to lunch to share what you’re working on, share some of your challenges and see if your coworker has any thoughts (and ask him or her to do the same). How does this make you feel happier? You made a deeper connection with a new person, you got your creative juices flowing and you likely got a new perspective on some of your current projects.
Have any other pick-me up ideas on Blue Monday? Please share them in the comments below.
Thanks, Angela. Reading this made me happier.