Blue Monday

The third Monday in January has been named as the most depressing day of the year. The calculations are all a bit pseudo but basically relate to post-Christmas debt, failed New Year's Resolutions, wintery weather (Northern Hemisphere) and general malaise. Ha ha - happy today!

To combat the blues (and this freezing weather Montreal), we suggest you get yourself up on a hill for some quality 'Sound of Music' re-enactment. If this fails, booze up!

The Star actually released a nice 10-point plan to increase your happiness. All pretty obvious things but here they are spelled out.

1. Get away. Celebrate the original intent of the day and book a trip somewhere tropical and escape the cold.
Play hooky.

2. Call in sick, stay in bed and start the week off right on Tuesday instead. Our brain rebuilds its stockpile of mood-elevating hormones while we sleep.

3. Read more.

4. Invest in a sun lamp. It will help you stay alert during the sunless season. It is alsp known to boost mood for people with seasonal affective disorder.

5. Have some chocolate. Chocolate contains phenylethylamine, a mood-regulating chemical found in the brain.

6. If it’s serious, see an expert. Talk to a therapist or get a referral from your family physician so you can get professional help in dealing with what may be more than just the Mondays.

7. Get some. According to a U.K. study by the London School of Economics, people are happiest when they’re having sex. The study used an iPhone app to track contentment.

8. Get moving. The same study found people are often happy after exercise. The release of endorphins and other hormones helps elevate mood.

9. Get a massage. Women who get two short massages a week show significant reduction in anxiety and sadness. This is because touch causes a measurable change in brainwave activity. It makes people feel more relaxed.

10. Listen to some tunes. Studies have found that listening to music reduced stress-hormone levels up to 41 per cent."

Damn, I wish I could afford 2 massages a week!