January is 31 days long — just like six other months on the calendar. But unlike sunny July or busy December, for many people the first month of the year always feels like it lasts an eternity. On social media and in pop culture, January has unofficially been christened the longest month of the year, and coming together to denigrate it can feel like one of the few joys to come out of the post-holiday season slump.
It’s true — there have been other months that have felt like they’d never end. Take March 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, when many of us felt like we’d lived several lifetimes by the time the 31st rolled around. Our perception of time plays a part, but why has hating on the month of January in particular become such a deliciously miserable annual tradition? Here’s what experts say.
Psychologists say there’s a myriad of reasons why January can seem to drag.
Post-holiday letdown. Colder, darker days. Confronting holiday debt. Returning to routines. New year, new pressures. Focusing on the tough stuff.
Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to make January move at a slightly less glacial pace.
Plan some fun activities. Make your healthy start to the new year more enjoyable. Get some extra sleep.
Remember that there is indeed an end in sight. And if these tips aren’t getting you anywhere, consider speaking with a professional to see if something else is going on.
“There are a few people who will be in such a funk that it will border on depression, and if you really can’t get out of your winter blues, it may be depression or seasonal affective disorder,” Wallin says. “If just doing the few things that are supposed to help don’t help, then there may be something deeper, and I recommend consulting a professional.”