To mark Blue Monday, a new study has found that the average Brit will spend a year and eight months of their life in a bad mood.
Each day sees the average adult down in the dumps for a total of 41 minutes thanks to things such as a bad night’s sleep, technology problems, bad manners and the weather. That amounts to almost five hours a week or 10 days of every year in a grump. Over the average adult lifetime, that’s the equivalent of one year, eight months and 19 days spent in a bad mood.
A lack of money, cold calls and poor manners also put people in a bad mood. It also emerged that two thirds of people would admit to being a moody person.
Dr Jen Tan, a spokesman for A.Vogel Herbal Remedies, which commissioned the research, said: “It’s the everyday things that add up on a daily basis that grind us down, from technology not working to rudeness that affects our moods. It’s surprising, however, to see that when you add it all up it amounts to quite a large chunk of our time.
“Some bad moods are for justifiable reasons, but there are many small and seemingly insignificant things which can leave us feeling blue. Simply encountering someone with bad manners, or being stuck in traffic on the way to work can really set the tone of your mood for the rest of day.”
The study of 2000 adults found a bad night’s sleep is most likely to be the cause of a bad mood, followed by technology problems, an argument with a partner and other people’s lack of manners. Rude staff came fifth, with a stressful day at work, having no money, rain and cold calls close behind. Traffic jams completed the top 10.
Worryingly, the study found almost half of Brits admit they have days where they feel like they are in a bad mood from the moment they wake up until they finally go to bed that night. And two thirds have moods where they feel grumpy – but for no reason at all.
Because of their bad mood, 44% say they have ended up arguing with their partner, while another 20% admit they tell their children off more than usual. Others have made mistakes at work, had a disagreement with a colleague, or even ended a relationship while in a grump.
The survey revealed that a simple cuddle was found to be the best way of breaking out of a bad mood, followed by laughing with a friend, going for a walk and listening to music. Chocolate, a glass of beer or wine and an early night also help get over the blues.
“Going for a walk will aid blood flow to the brain and research has shown that connecting with nature is beneficial to our emotional wellbeing. If you have mobility problems simply sitting outside in natural light will help increase your levels of vitamin D, which is beneficial to good mood,” says Psychologist Dr Meg Arroll. “Moaning to a friend and having a good laugh about our moods can help lift your spirits; after all a problem shared is a problem halved and research has shown that talking about our worries and fears reduces the stress response.”
