The most miserable day of the most depressing month of the year is just a week away, according to research.
Psychologist Dr Cliff Arnalls has come up with a formula pinpointing Monday, January 24 as the gloomiest day of all.The Cardiff University expert weighed up the influence of a number of January-specific phenomena that ruin our mood.
He blamed miserable weather, mounting debt, the length of time since Christmas and failed New Year's resolutions for the depressing day.
The factors are compounded by a lack of motivation in the face of a need to take action.
For those wishing to examine their woe further, the formula is [W+(D-d)]xTQ MxNA.
It 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.
What a load of crap today is the worst as I am hungover and at work and want to be home playing half-life or watching CSI.