The January blues is something we all get a dose of from time to time. And some days even more so than others. Most of us have probably heard of Blue Monday by now – supposedly the most depressing day of the year.
This miserable day falls on the third Monday of January every year. This year, the honour of Blue Monday went to 16th January 2017. Whether this is truly the most miserable day of all 365 of them is questionable, but there’s no denying it: January isn’t exactly the happiest time of year.
Originally created in 2005 using a very scientific-looking equation, factors making Blue Monday supposedly so blue include debt, weather, and motivation levels.
W=weather, D=debt levels, d= salary, T=time since Christmas, Q=time since failing our New Year’s resolutions, M=low motivational levels, and Na=feeling a need to take action.
Whether Blue Monday is really as gloomy as they say or not, we all experience a certain level of the January blues at the beginning of the year. So we’ve put together a list of apps that can help you fight all those things that make this time of year such a downer and help lift you out of that New Year slump.
Problem: Debt
Solution: Create a budget
App: Goodbudget
Get your finances under control after your festive overspending. Goodbudget helps you plan your spending using an envelope system. You set aside money you need for various expenses in different envelopes at the start of every month – rent, food etc. You can even set up a savings envelope to make sure you stick to any savings goals you set. Gone are the days of spending too much on wine and not enough on saving for that special something – and welcome to an organised bank account.
Download Goodbudget for Android or iOS
Problem: Weather
Solution: A holiday
App: Cheapflights
After all that amazing saving you’ve done, you’ll soon have enough put aside for a break from the often rainy weather. But in the spirit of budgeting, you’ll want to book your break as cheaply as possible. Cheapflights makes it easy for you to find the lowest cost flights possible. Any extra fees are shown upfront so you can easily compare what you’ll actually pay. Escape the drizzle and find yourself some January sun on the cheap.
Download Cheapflights for Android or iOS
Problem: Low motivation
Solution: Track your goals
App: Beeminder
January isn’t an inspiring time as far as motivation is concerned. Finding the energy to get out of bed after Christmas is effort enough, let alone to work to achieve goals you’ve set yourself. But Beeminder could give you the kick up the rear you need to achieve amazing things during this time of year. The app sends you reminders so that you keep up with your goals. Go off track and the app stings – by taking your money. Hello, motivation!.
Download Beeminder for Android or iOS
Problem: Salary
Solution: Find a better job
App: Rake
Budgeting is all well and good, but you’ve got to earn enough to save in the first place. Time to fix that monthly struggle with your paycheque. Rake makes the process of getting that well-paid job you’ve been dreaming of as simple as possible. Save jobs you find on job boards, set to-do lists for the documents you need to prepare, and best of all, track the jobs you’ve applied for, all in one place. Streamline your job search and get that raise you deserve in no time.
Download Rake for iOS
Problem: Failed New Year’s resolutions
Solution: Outsource your resolutions
App: Helpling
We all make New Year’s resolutions. And we never keep them. One of the most common resolutions is to keep our homes, desks, offices, or wherever cleaner and tidier. Yet by mid-January you can’t see your floor for the clothes, your desk is covered in coffee stains, and your once-white bathroom is a unappetising shade of grey. But this is simple to fix – Helpling lets you book a trusted cleaning service in just a few clicks through the app. All cleaners are background-checked and all payments are done through the app. Stick to your cleaning resolution by outsourcing to the the professionals.
Download Helpling for Android or iOS
And finally, the problem of that niggling feeling that we need to take action. But when you’ve got apps like these at your fingertips, there’s no excuse not to get moving.
So tackle Blue Monday, the New Year slump, or just that gloomy January feeling, head on – with a little help from your smartphone.
And it’ll be March before you know it…
