Every year, it's the same story: the third Monday of January is the most depressing day of the year. It has come be to known as Blue Monday.
But don't worry, it's just a myth, a marketing invention!
Still, it is normal for your employees to have a drop in morale after the holidays. So we have come up with 3 ideas to remedy the blues at work.
What is Blue Monday?
Blue Monday takes place every 3rd Monday of January: the holidays are over, it's cold, the sun rarely shines and morale is low. However, the idea of Blue Monday is not rooted in science. It was a British advertising campaign that coined the term in 2005 to boost the sales of a travel agency. But even though the term Blue Monday is somewhat of a ploy, it is quite normal to feel a small dip in morale at this time.
3 ideas to remedy the blues
Encourage collaboration
A satisfied and happy employee is one who is dedicated to their mission and their company. When the holidays come around, measure employee engagement to quickly detect signs of demotivation and demoralization. The implementation of near-constant teleworking may have caused employees to lose their bearings. Encourage teamwork and collaboration by organizing team building events, activities, training sessions or team projects. Employees are more productive and fulfilled when they give meaning to their work!
Highlight successful projects
Highlighting work helps stimulate employees and improve communication between employee and manager. Recognizing the value of others fosters confidence and self-esteem. This is particularly the case for the beginning of 2022: the fear of catching the virus or of losing one's job, but also the ongoing teleworking, have led to isolation at work. It is therefore important to overcome this feeling of loss of control and uncertainty. Be a good listener, show empathy, take an interest in their health and constraints, etc. Establish a healthy and supportive dialogue and involve each employee in the decision-making process to create a climate of cooperation.
Sport: your best ally
Regular physical activity is a great help in combating the Blue Monday drop in morale. Intensity is of little import: one should simply focus on one's well-being. Encourage walking, offer yoga or dance sessions, play ball games with colleagues... Staying active is a perfect remedy against the winter blues! It's a way to take care of one's self to improve one's well-being, which in turn has a positive impact on performance at work.
Blue Monday may well be a marketing invention, but the winter-time mood remains a reality, especially after the Covid-19 period. Do you want to strengthen the collective and protect the mental health of your employees? United Heroes is an application that allows one to take care of their body and mind. Ask for your free demo!
