Here’s why the ‘January blues’ aren’t just in your head
Do the winter months ever feel a bit ‘much’? When all the Christmas decorations are packed away, the kids are back to school, and we return to work in full swing – we’re back to our normal routine.
Some people like getting back to busier days, but others feel sad, anxious and tired. There’s nothing wrong with these reactions – so let’s talk about it.
Heard of Blue Monday?
The third Monday in January is also known as Blue Monday, so called because the shorter days and post-holiday debt can affect mental wellbeing.
But mental health doesn’t boil down to a single date. What we refer to as ‘Blue Monday’ started as a marketing campaign for Sky Holidays [1] using a pseudoscientific formula to encourage people to book a holiday to combat the winter blues. While the day itself may be fabricated, what’s more important is how the different elements of your wellbeing interact every day.
At Everywhen, we focus on the four pillars of health and wellbeing:
Mental
Physical
Social
Financial
When one of these falls down, the others often feel the strain.
“Blue Monday marks the combination of factors that contribute towards the detriment of someone’s wellbeing over the winter period. This can be affected when the four pillars of mental health and wellbeing take a hit. Finances can feel stretched, social energy runs low, physical health dips after the festive season, and mental health can suffer as a result.” - Debra Clark, Head of Wellbeing at Everywhen.
Rather than focusing on a single day, let’s use this time as a reminder to check in on why the winter season can be difficult for many and what we can do to support employee wellbeing year-round.
The reasons behind it
While everyone is different, there are some common reasons that winter might contribute to low mood, including:
Heightened anxiety – The most recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) wellbeing data shows that general anxiety levels have risen across the UK since Covid-10, with around 22.6% of adults with high anxiety.[2]
Reduced lighting – Shorter days and longer nights mean we’re less exposed to daylight, a factor that’s been known to bring on feelings of depression and anxiety. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a recognised form of depression that is directly linked to reduced daylight, with symptoms including low mood, oversleeping and reduced motivation.[3]
Financial stress – In January 2025, it was reported that 39% of UK households were either struggling or in serious financial difficulty, with a significant decline in older adults who see themselves as ‘financially secure’. [4] Money worries can take a real toll on mental health, especially after the spending that often comes with Christmas.
Impact on work – The ONS estimates suggest 148.9 million working days were lost to sickness in 2024 (about 4.4 days per worker), with mental health a significant driver.[5] This is not only detrimental for the employer but can also put pressure on the employee as absence can see work pile up, deadlines shift, and an overwhelming return to work.
Navigating the winter months
Encourage your employees through positive communication
Many people feel under pressure to become better versions of themselves in January and can feel overwhelmed with the volume of ‘new year, new me’ messaging. This year, while encouraging your team to explore ways to be healthier and happier in their home and work life, avoid pressuring rhetoric which may make your employees feel unvalued for who they are right now.Consider what benefits are best suited for the season
Does you benefits package include a discounts and cashback platform where an employee can buy a clinically rated daylight lamp at lower cost, or a health screening for January if people are curious to explore their health? Tailor your communications to promote relative benefits that hold real value.Promote education
Allow your employees the time to dedicate to their professional development, and consider sharing health and wellbeing external webinars with your team for personal interest and education.Listen to your team
Feedback from your employees’ is invaluable, and data doesn’t lie. While being aware of benefit and industry trends are useful, every workforce is unique. A team that feels heard and recognised is dedicated force.Utilise your employee benefits
Many employers go beyond core insurance to support of employees’ overall wellbeing, offering benefits like mental health resources, fertility support, gym discounts, nutrition support and diagnostics, mini health MOTs, and even virtual GP services.
How Everywhen can help support employers
Everywhen is one of the UK’s largest independent employee benefits advisers, dedicated to delivering tailored solutions to employers and their employees.
We work with businesses to create bespoke employee benefits strategies that keep teams healthy, engaged, and fit for work. A strong benefits package doesn’t just support individual wellbeing – it helps employers attract, retain, and motivate talent, driving productivity across the organisation.
Our solutions include:
Healthcare benefits - including private medical insurance, cash plans, health screenings, dental insurance and employee assistance programmes
Financial protection – including group income protection, group critical illness and life insurance
Additional services – including wellbeing, occupational health and pensions governance, mental health support, as well as award-winning benefits technology
Global support – including international private medical insurance, travel insurance, global employee assistance programmes, global benefits management and kidnap and ransom cover
Want to know more? Visit our employee benefits page.
Sources
[2] independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ons-anxiety-statistics-mental-health-uk-tips-b2759209.html
[3] nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad
[4] Financial Fairness Tracker
[5] Sickness absence in the UK labour market - Office for National Statistics