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Jan 24: It all adds up to the most depressing day
W+(D-d)]xTQ MxNA BY NIGEL SCOTT FED UP? Feeling under the weather? Well, cheer up, because if you're suffering the Monday blues you're not alone.
Today, of all days, cheesed off chunterers across the UK are in good – or possibly bad – company.
According to experts, January 24 is officially THE most depressing day of the year.
A study by Dr Cliff Arnall of Cardiff University has listed a number of factors which contribute to the doom and gloom that many of us will be feeling today.
His formula for Depression Day is based on a carefully considered combination including the effects of the weather, debts after Christmas spending sprees, and depression brought about by failing to keep New Year's resolutions.
The doctor's formula, in not so simply terms, reads W+(D-d)]xTQ MxNA – which translates as weather (W), debt (D) (minus the amount of money to be paid on your next pay day) and the time (T) since Christmas.
Then there is the period since the failure to quit (Q) a bad habit along with general motivational (M) levels and the need to take action (NA) to plan something to look forward to.
But all is not lost – because one Yorkshire lifestyle "guru" reckons he has come up with the perfect antidote.
Wakefield-based creativity expert and lifestyle coach David Taylor says that by simply adopting a potentially life-changing shift in attitude, brassed off Tykes can transform what is potentially worst day of the year into a new start – and an opportunity to achieve great things.
David works for creativity@work, a business which encourages individuals and organisations to unleash their creative potential through a range of training and coaching services.
He reckons that by managing the way we think, we can help ourselves to overcome potential low points and make our brains come up with new ideas, spot opportunities and "inspire both ourselves and those around us".
According to David, people should shrug off their feelings of depression and celebrate today – and every day – as a precious opportunity.
"Perceive every day as your birthday and that your life is a 4,000-week holiday – and enjoy it," is his advice.
He says we all need to change the way we look at things.
"There is no such thing as bad weather – only the wrong clothing. By identifying the positive in a situation you can build upon this and create new things."
On the battle to beat the New Year blues, he adds: "Today will be the most depressing day – if you let it.
"Yet, you are never more than 12ft from an opportunity and each of us has phenomenal potential to achieve great things – even on January 24."
nigel.scott@ypn.co.uk
How to beat the blues
IN case you're still not convinced, we have come up with ten helpful – and not so helpful – suggestions to beat today's blues.
1) Book yourself a summer holiday – and start looking look forward to it.
2) Remember you haven't invested any money in Leeds United.
3) Take a look around the office – there's bound to be someone worse off than you.
4) Watch EastEnders – there will definitely be someone worse off than you.
5) Join a circus skills workshop – and learn how to juggle life with a smile.
6) Grin and wave happily at any motorist who cuts you up in rush hour traffic.
7) Give your wife/husband and kids a cuddle – and if they ask why, tell them, "why not?"
8) Tell your partner that they HAVEN'T put weight on over Xmas and that they DO look as good as they day you met them.
9. Remember there's another 11 months until you'll have next year's Christmas debts to worry about.
10) Consider what great value the Yorkshire Evening Post is. Not only is it packed with award-winning news and features, it can be reused to stuff wet shoes the next day.
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
