Latest news with #MondayBlues
Economic Times
21-07-2025
- Health
- Economic Times
'Monday Blues' are more than a meme: New study reveals long-term impact of weekday anxiety
iStock New research reveals that Monday anxiety isn't just psychological—it leaves a biological imprint. A UK study found cortisol levels in hair samples of people anxious on Mondays were up to 23% higher. (Image: iStock) For decades, "Monday Blues" has been dismissed as a cultural cliché—a punchline to countless memes, tweets, and coffee mug slogans. But new research suggests that this dreaded start to the week may not just be in our heads—it could be etched into our biology. A recent study reported by VICE, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders has revealed that anxiety felt specifically on Mondays is leaving a measurable biological footprint. According to the findings, people who reported experiencing stress at the start of the week had cortisol levels up to 23 percent higher than those who reported stress on any other day. The study, led by Dr. Tarani Chandola, analyzed hair samples from more than 3,500 older adults across the UK. Cortisol—the body's primary stress hormone—was found in significantly elevated concentrations in people who reported Monday-specific anxiety. And this wasn't a fleeting phenomenon. The cortisol was still detectable in hair samples taken weeks, even months, later. This finding is particularly notable because cortisol is a key biomarker for long-term stress exposure. It's the hormone responsible for our fight-or-flight response, triggered when the brain perceives threat or danger. Over time, sustained levels of cortisol are linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, weakened immunity, elevated blood pressure, and even diabetes. In short, your Monday dread might be doing more than souring your mood—it could be silently undermining your health. One of the most revealing aspects of the study is that this effect isn't limited to people in the workforce. Even retirees—individuals technically free from Monday morning meetings and project deadlines—showed elevated cortisol levels associated with Monday anxiety. This suggests that the anxiety isn't simply linked to employment or workload, but something deeper and more ingrained. 'The nervous system might still be clocked in, even if you're not,' the researchers noted. In other words, your body could still be reacting to decades of pattern conditioning, responding to the start of the week as if it's an automatic alarm for stress. Doctors have long observed a spike in cardiac events on Mondays—a phenomenon commonly referred to as the 'Monday effect.' Heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths are statistically more likely to occur on the first day of the week, a trend often attributed to the abrupt transition from weekend rest to weekday stress. This new research lends physiological support to that observation, suggesting that Monday-induced cortisol surges may indeed be contributing to this phenomenon. Dr. Chandola's findings highlight something many people have always suspected but couldn't quite prove: we don't adapt to Monday stress over time. Instead, for many, the anxiety becomes part of a repeating weekly cycle. And now, there's evidence that our bodies carry that stress forward—quietly, persistently, and quite literally growing out of us in strands of hair. So, the next time you feel that familiar dread creeping in on Sunday evening, it might help to remember—your body isn't being dramatic. It's just reacting to a pattern that's become all too real.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
'Monday Blues' are more than a meme: New study reveals long-term impact of weekday anxiety
For decades, " Monday Blues " has been dismissed as a cultural cliché—a punchline to countless memes, tweets, and coffee mug slogans. But new research suggests that this dreaded start to the week may not just be in our heads—it could be etched into our biology. A recent study reported by VICE, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders has revealed that anxiety felt specifically on Mondays is leaving a measurable biological footprint. According to the findings, people who reported experiencing stress at the start of the week had cortisol levels up to 23 percent higher than those who reported stress on any other day. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Project Management CXO Product Management Degree others Others Operations Management PGDM Digital Marketing Data Analytics healthcare MCA Design Thinking Finance MBA Cybersecurity Technology Public Policy Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Leadership Data Science Data Science Management Skills you'll gain: Project Planning & Governance Agile Software Development Practices Project Management Tools & Software Techniques Scrum Framework Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Programme in IT Project Management Starts on Jun 20, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management Project Planning & Risk Analysis Strategic Project/Portfolio Selection Adaptive & Agile Project Management Duration: 6 Months IIT Delhi Certificate Programme in Project Management Starts on May 30, 2024 Get Details — weedgarf (@weedgarf) Cortisol and the Hair-Raising Evidence The study, led by Dr. Tarani Chandola, analyzed hair samples from more than 3,500 older adults across the UK. Cortisol—the body's primary stress hormone—was found in significantly elevated concentrations in people who reported Monday-specific anxiety. And this wasn't a fleeting phenomenon. The cortisol was still detectable in hair samples taken weeks, even months, later. This finding is particularly notable because cortisol is a key biomarker for long-term stress exposure . It's the hormone responsible for our fight-or-flight response, triggered when the brain perceives threat or danger. Over time, sustained levels of cortisol are linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, weakened immunity, elevated blood pressure, and even diabetes. In short, your Monday dread might be doing more than souring your mood—it could be silently undermining your health. You Might Also Like: Your money stress may not be about the paycheck: What's really behind your financial anxiety? It's Not Just About Work One of the most revealing aspects of the study is that this effect isn't limited to people in the workforce. Even retirees—individuals technically free from Monday morning meetings and project deadlines—showed elevated cortisol levels associated with Monday anxiety. This suggests that the anxiety isn't simply linked to employment or workload, but something deeper and more ingrained. 'The nervous system might still be clocked in, even if you're not,' the researchers noted. In other words, your body could still be reacting to decades of pattern conditioning , responding to the start of the week as if it's an automatic alarm for stress. The 'Monday Effect' and Your Heart Doctors have long observed a spike in cardiac events on Mondays—a phenomenon commonly referred to as the 'Monday effect.' Heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths are statistically more likely to occur on the first day of the week, a trend often attributed to the abrupt transition from weekend rest to weekday stress. This new research lends physiological support to that observation, suggesting that Monday-induced cortisol surges may indeed be contributing to this phenomenon. A Dread You Can't Shake Off Dr. Chandola's findings highlight something many people have always suspected but couldn't quite prove: we don't adapt to Monday stress over time. Instead, for many, the anxiety becomes part of a repeating weekly cycle. And now, there's evidence that our bodies carry that stress forward—quietly, persistently, and quite literally growing out of us in strands of hair. You Might Also Like: Can stress permanently change your body? Expert reveals the irreversible effects of mental strain So, the next time you feel that familiar dread creeping in on Sunday evening, it might help to remember—your body isn't being dramatic. It's just reacting to a pattern that's become all too real.
News.com.au
13-07-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
‘Anxious Mondays' linked to heart health risks
In news that should come as no surprise to anyone with a job, the Monday Blues aren't great for your health. Not to be confused with its older, scarier sibling, the Sunday Scaries, the Monday Blues describes that feeling of dread you have starting another working week. Not only do you have to return to work after a two-day break, but you're still five days away from your next respite. Now, a study has shown that feeling jittery as the week kicks off isn't just a mood – it leaves a biochemical footprint and drives long-term stress across the body. Monday scaries linked to higher stress hormones The study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, found that older adults who get that pang of anxiety on a Monday have significantly higher long-term stress hormone levels up to two months later. And here's the kicker. Even after you leave the workforce and retire, that almost automatic feeling of anxiousness on a Monday will still haunt you – showing a deep-rooted link between the start of the working week and dysregulation of the body's natural stress response system, which is a known driver of heart disease. Unlikely to be random, researchers say Researchers, including those from the University of Hong Kong, analysed data from more than 3500 adult participants of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Older adults in the study who experienced anxiety on Mondays showed nearly 25 per cent higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their hair samples. This suggests increased cumulative stress over two months compared to those reporting anxiety on different days. Alarmingly, Mondays are linked to a nearly 20 per cent spike in heart attacks. 'The increase in (cardiovascular) events on Mondays is unlikely to be a random phenomenon,' the researchers said. Scientists suspect that the body's hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which manages stress hormones such as cortisol, may be involved. Prolonged elevation of the HPA axis is associated with hypertension, insulin resistance, and immune system problems. 'This study found strong evidence for an association between reporting anxiety on Mondays and HPA-axis dysregulation,' the researchers explained. 'The anxious Monday association with HPA-axis dysregulation measured subsequently was evident among both working and nonworking older adults, with no reduction in the association among those not at work,' they wrote. 'This isn't about work' Previous studies indicated higher stress hormone levels during weekdays compared to weekends, but the newest research is the first to identify Mondays as particularly disruptive. 'For some older adults, the week's transition triggers a biological cascade that lingers for months. This isn't about work – it's about how deeply ingrained Mondays are in our stress physiology, even after careers end,' Tarani Chandola, one of the authors of the study, said.
The Sun
13-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
‘Sunday scaries' is real health threat ‘increasing your risk of heart attack', experts warn
CALL it "Sunday scaries" or "Monday blues", dreading the start of a new week can trigger long-term stress and take a toll on your heart health, scientists warn. The anxiety isn't just workplace related - retirees also displayed signs of heightened stress on Mondays after they'd stopped working. Researchers from the University of Hong Kong dubbed this the "Anxious Monday" effect. It suggests dysregulation of the body's stress management system - which is known to drive heart disease - is linked to the start of the week, regardless of work status, researchers said. Previous research has shown a 19 per cent increase in heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths on Mondays, the study authors also pointed out. They believe spikes in Monday heart attacks were unlikely to be random. Lead author Professor Tarani Chandola from the department of sociology, faculty of social sciences at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), said: 'Mondays act as a cultural 'stress amplifier'. 'For some older adults, the week's transition triggers a biological cascade that lingers for months. "This isn't about work - it's about how deeply ingrained Mondays are in our stress physiology, even after careers end." Feelings of stress and anxiety are linked to cardiovascular disease through a key biological mechanism called hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation. The HPA axis is the body's main way of responding to stress and results in the release of cortisol - known as the stress hormone - in the body. HPA axis dysregulation is characterised by excessive levels of cortisol production, which has previously been linked to a higher risk of heart disease and death, researchers explained. Feeling stressed Watch our 4-minute at-home yoga workout scientifically proven to reduce anxiety and tension It's also known to contribute to hypertension, insulin resistance, and immune dysfunction. The study team set out to examine whether "HPA-axis dysregulation is greater on Mondays than on other days, and whether this association is greater for working compared to non-working adults", they wrote in the Journal of Affective Disorders. They assessed data from over 3,500 older adults taking part in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, including hair samples that showed cortisol levels in participants' bodies. People who reported feeling more anxious on Mondays had 23 per cent higher cortisol levels in their hair samples than those who felt anxious on other days. This was also seen among retirees, challenging assumptions that workplace stress alone explains "Monday blues". For many of us, stress can be a part of our daily life - to the point that we don't pick up on red flags until it's too late. Stress can affect you physically and mentally, as well as causing changes to your behaviour, the NHS notes. You may experience some of the following signs when struggling with stress: Headaches or dizziness Muscle tension or pain Stomach problems Chest pain or a faster heartbeat Sexual problems Difficulty concentrating Struggling to make decisions Feeling overwhelmed Constantly worrying Being forgetful Being irritable and snappy Sleeping too much or too little Eating too much or too little Avoiding certain places or people Drinking or smoking more If stress is taking a toll on your life, that's a sign to seek help for it. Try talking about your feelings to a friend, family member or health professional. You could also contact Samaritans, call: 116 123 or email: jo@ if you need someone to talk to If you need more support, you can get free talking therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) on the NHS. You can refer yourself directly to an NHS talking therapies service without a referral from a GP. Source: NHS Researchers concluded: 'This study found strong evidence for an association between reporting anxiety on Mondays and HPA-axis dysregulation. 'The anxious Monday association with HPA-axis dysregulation measured subsequently was evident among both working and nonworking older adults, with no reduction in the association among those not at work." The findings suggest social patterns - not just job demands - embed themselves in human physiology, with lasting health risks, researchers said. Previous studies have pointed to higher stress hormone levels among people on weekdays versus weekends, but the latest research is the first to pinpoint Mondays as uniquely disruptive. Researchers hope addressing Monday-specific stressors could pave the way for new strategies to combat heart disease. "Hospitals and clinics need to plan for increased CVD events on Mondays," they also suggested. "Most people should adapt to their feelings of Monday anxiety over their working life course. "However, for some people, there is a lack of adaptation to Monday anxiety, and this does not appear to diminish when they stop working."
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
How the Monday blues are seriously affecting your physical health - even if you're retired
The Monday blues could be harming your health, even if you're unemployed or retired. According to The Independent, a new study has found that feeling anxious at the start of the week is linked to higher levels of long-term stress hormones, with effects lasting for months and raising the risk of heart disease. Experts have long noted that stress impacts nearly every part of the body - with the sensation linked to a host of conditions including heart disease and bowel problems. The research, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, followed over 3,500 older adults from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Participants who reported Monday anxiety had nearly 25 per cent higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their hair samples compared to those who felt anxious on other days. Even retirees showed signs of the dreaded Mondays, indicating that the blame goes beyond just workplace pressure. Researchers say this points to 'societal rhythms' linked to the start of the week affecting the body's stress response, with potential long-term health risks. Previous studies have already shown stress hormone levels tend to rise on weekdays. Mondays are already known to see a 20 per cent spike in heart attacks. Experts believe the body's hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which controls stress hormones like cortisol, plays a role in this. When stress hormones remain elevated over time, they can contribute to high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and immune problems, all of which are linked to cardiovascular disease. 'The increase in CVD events on Mondays is unlikely to be a random phenomenon,' researchers wrote. They found a clear association between Monday anxiety and dysregulation of the body's stress system, regardless of whether people were still working. 'For some older adults, the week's transition triggers a biological cascade that lingers for months,' said study author Tarani Chandola from the University of Hong Kong. 'This isn't about work – it's about how deeply ingrained Mondays are in our stress physiology, even after careers end.' Researchers hope that by addressing Monday-specific stress, it may be possible to find new ways to reduce heart disease risks in ageing populations. Last month, a leading psychologist warned against the trauma of daily 'micro stresses' such as being stuck in traffic that have detrimental effects on your health. Dr. Becky Spelman, UK licensed psychologist, explained to Femail that human brains 'aren't wired for constant low-level friction' such as losing your keys and being in a rush. 'Repeated minor stressors can lead to the same physiological and emotional exhaustion as a single major stressor,' she explained. 'When the small stresses pile up with no opportunity to decompress, they create an emotional static that affects concentration, patience, and even physical health,' Dr Spelman said. Dr Spelman suggested people 'incorporate small, daily rituals that restore calm', adding that overall management of stress should also focus on 'staying steady' during brief moments of strain. Micro stresses are defined as small daily annoyances that, though seemingly small at the time, can weigh heavy on overall wellbeing when experienced in culmination.
