City businesses tackle blues on depressing day
WINTER may now be half over and the days are getting longer again, but today has been crowned as the most depressing day of the year.
It’s dubbed Blue Monday, and many claim that the pressures of everyday life come to a head on the third Monday of each year.
Christmas debt, the weather and low motivation levels have all been said to contribute to this drop in mood but across Glasgow a number of initiatives are taking place to lift the spirits of the public.
Scotmid, who have a number of stores across the city, have this year teamed up with Samaritans to encourage people to take part in their #BrewMonday campaign, getting people to sit down over a cup of tea and talk to family and friends.
The initiative will also raise funds for the Samaritans charity.
John Brodie, chief executive of Scotmid Co-operative, said: “More and more people are calling Samaritans, with ten people a minute reaching out to their volunteers.
“We hope our partnership and the launch of #BrewMonday will allow Samaritans to help more people living with challenges in Scotland.”
ScotRail has also joined up with the Samaritans’ campaign, with volunteers from the Samaritans taking to a number of Scotrail stations today, including Glasgow Central, giving out teabags and chatting to travellers.
Elsewhere, Virgin Money is also offering a brew and some warmth as it opens the doors to its members’ lounge for the day.
Usually for exclusive use by Virgin members, refreshments, snacks, newspapers and a place to relax are now open to the public in an attempt to provide some cheer.
Bank of Scotland has another suggestion on how to raise the mood in Glasgow this Blue Monday.
The high-street bank say that a simple smile is the perfect antidote to these January blues.
An experiment run at the Riverhill Cafe showed that Scots who smile and are smiled at during the day are, on average, happier.
Dr Tugce Cuhadaroglu, lecturer of economics at St Andrew’s University and conductor of the research, said: “The analysis of the survey results show that the small act of a smile can really have an impact.
“It plays a role in shaping our perceptions about people and therefore changes our attitudes towards them.
“If you take anything from this research, it should be to smile more.”
But animal lovers should look no further than the Dogs Trust for a boost to their Blue Monday.
Two doggy doppelgängers, Blue and Blu, are looking for new homes.
Carers for the blue lurchers, aged two and three, say that there is little to tell them apart except for small, unique ear and nose markings.
While Blu is based at the Dogs Trust in Glasgow, Blue is currently at a rehoming centre in West Calder.
Susan Tonner, of Dogs Trust West Calder, said: “The resemblance between these dogs is uncanny, even in their personality traits; and both arrived at Dogs Trust with their names already given to them. We decided there was no better time to showcase these adorable chaps than on ‘Blue Monday’, a day when people could really use some cheering up.”