Will January never end? Why the first month feels like the longest, according to psychologists
First month, worst month.
If it feels like January has been dragging on forever, there’s a reason for that, experts say.
Host to “Blue Monday,” typically considered one of the most depressing days of the year, January’s tendency to move slowly — and bum us out — stems from the sore reminder that the cheery holidays of December are long gone, clinical psychologist Chloe Carmichael told Yahoo Life.
“We’re getting gifts, or we’re giving gifts and watching other people experiencing the magic of the holiday that we’re creating for people, and that just floods us with dopamine, and it feels really good,” she said of December.
“So [after the holidays], there can be a sense of depletion of those chemicals. … It can almost feel like someone pulled the emotional rug out from underneath us, [and it’s] a contrast coming off the high of the holidays.”
Also, especially in this inflation-battered economy, “a lot of people may have overspent, so that can put a toll on our sense of well-being” when it’s time to pay the bills after Christmas, per Carmichael.
She also said that the darkness brought on by shortened days of the year paired with miserable weather dampen the potential for “impromptu, spontaneous social gatherings” along with triggering seasonal affective disorder for many.
Clinical psychologist Pauline Wallin added that January also brings a return to mundane routines that can depress individuals. These factors as a whole can make the month feel like it’s grudging along at a glacial pace.
“There are a lot of factors that affect our perception of time, but in general, when we’re in discomfort or pain, or bored or anxious, we are paying more attention to our discomfort and how long it lasts,” she told the outlet.
Carmichael also said that for some people, January can feel like it’s moving too quickly — running from those who set and missed goals for the prior year.
“For some people, there can be a sense of pressure regarding awareness of the passage of time, since January is the start of a new year,” she said. “They might feel a lot of pressure as they look back at what they did or did not accomplish last year and feel pressure about the year going ahead.”
She recommends focusing on your health, getting some extra sleep, and putting some fun things on the calendar to look forward to.
“It doesn’t even have to be anything superfancy — even just going to an Airbnb a couple of hours’ drive away in a quiet nature spot,” Carmichael added. “Just knowing that you have that time to just kind of settle, reflect and rejuvenate can really help people.”
