IF you found it harder than usual to get out of bed today, don’t worry – you are probably not alone.

According to the charity Samaritans, you can expect things to be anything but rosy today.
It is, they say, statistically the unhappiest day of the year. As a result they have coined it Blue Monday, to highlight the fact that they are on hand to offer support to anyone in need.

Samaritans have been working with Dr Cliff Arnall, a psychologist for Cardiff University whose studies have led him to the conclusion that the third Monday of January really sucks. His unhappy equation takes six factors into account; weather, debt, time since Christmas, time since failing New Year’s resolutions, low motivational levels and the feeling of a need to take action.

All that will, no doubt, be exacerbated at the moment with fears of redundancy as the shadow of the credit crisis looms ever closer. Director of Jersey Samaritans Kate Kirk urged anyone who might be feeling distressed or despairing to contact them by phone, in person or by e-mail.

• Picture: It is raining, dark, Christmas is a distant memory and we’re worrying about our finances. It must be the third Monday of January