Raven Daer from Envision Counselling says this time of year can bring underlying feelings to the surface. Shorter days, less sunlight, financial pressures, and winter isolation can all affect how people feel. She notes that while Blue Monday gets attention on the calendar, similar feelings are common throughout the winter months.

There are ways to ease the impact. Daer encourages reaching out for support, whether through professional counselling or simply checking in with friends and family. Keeping a routine, including sleep, meals, and physical activity, can help people feel more grounded. Making time for daylight and practicing self-compassion, rather than focusing on perceived shortcomings, can also make a difference.

Daer emphasizes that Blue Monday isn’t about one day being the hardest of the year. “It’s really about awareness,” she says. “It’s an opportunity to pause, reflect, and take care of our mental well-being, and to check in with others who may be feeling the same way.”