A Cure for January 23 Worstness
For a lot of you, January 23rd being the year’s most depressing day may not be news. Dr. Cliff Arnall (this article is a year old, so the Worst Day date is different) has calculated a formula that tries to account for lows associated with this time of year. The M x NA part has to do with New Year’s resolutions and the tendency we have to fall off the wagon after about three week. Here are Dr. Arnall’s calculations:
Arnall, who specializes in seasonal disorders at the University of Cardiff, Wales, created a formula that takes into account numerous feelings to devise peoples’ lowest point.
The model is:
[W + (D-d)] x TQ
_____________
M x NA
The equation is broken down into seven variables: (W) weather, (D) debt, (d) monthly salary, (T) time since Christmas, (Q) time since failed quit attempt, (M) low motivational levels and (NA) the need to take action.
Now it’s not as bad as it seems. You can use the bleakness you feel to get yourself moving. If you are feeling yucky today as predicted, focus on that feeling and magnify it. Wallow in it. Write it down in glorious detail. Then create a similar paragraph or page about how you would like your life to be. The perfect version. Then post both prominently. This will likely cause even more unpleasant feelings and make you feel quite shifty. Use that agitation to get yourself moving again, TOWARDS where you want to be. If you lag, go back and read both of your statements. Use the tension between where you are and where you want to be for action.
From Your Romance Coach, Kathryn Lord
Another weird thing about the 23rd. In 1999 after reading “The artists Way” I wrote 3 pages of random thoughts. Didnt do any more until, by randomness, I wrote some more on the 24th Jan 2001 followed by another (arbitary) thought earlier today and yes its the 23rd!
Posted by Geoff on 01/23 at 11:02 AM