Day to forget

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Jan 7, 2006

Byline: By Kathy Secker

I was amused to read last week that, according to researchers, January 23 will officially be 2006's most depressing day of the year. Following the extended Christmas and New Year break, January 23, which of course falls on a Monday, was identified by health psychologist Dr Cliff Arnall, an expert in winter disorders at Cardiff University.

He has worked out a formula which takes into account bad weather, the time since Christmas, the time since the New Year's resolutions were broken plus the cost of Christmas and January sales shopping.

And while many monthly paid workers will be looking forward to the first pay cheque of the New Year around January 23 that will bring little cheer once it's realised that the Christmas bills still won't be paid.

But as you steel yourself to face the inevitable take comfort from the fact that the "hardest working day" of the year has already passed ( that was January 3.

No prizes for guessing why it was so difficult to get up and get back to the office on that particular day!