你最不喜歡一周中的哪一天？哪一天最難熬？ 很多人的回答可能都是 “星期一”。一周的開始意味著快樂的周末已經結束，新一周的工作學習也已經展開。本文圍繞 “什么讓星期一變得郁悶” 以及這種感覺是否只存在于我們的腦海里展開討論。

詞匯：emotion 情感

Ask most people which day of the week they dread the most and the answer is likely to be Monday. The first day of the week can make us grouchy and depressed, which is why the feeling is described as the Monday blues. But what is it exactly that makes us feel down and does it affect everyone?

Apparently, the most depressing day of the year is the third Monday in January, when it’s cold and dark outside. This day was nicknamed ‘Blue Monday’ by psychologist Cliff Arnall in 2004. He came up with it after a holiday company asked him for a ‘scientific formula’ for the January blues.

Even if there was little science behind the formula, it’s probably true that the sound of our alarm clock on any Monday morning signals the dawning of a new week and possibly the end of our weekend of fun. Research shows our Monday mood can be based on a direct comparison to the day before. It’s what psychologists call an emotional shift, and no other part of the week has a transition like it. 

Monday means the end of weekend lie-ins – it’s back to the routine and the realisation that there are five days ahead of the nine-to-five, and according to the BBC Bitesize website “If you can’t stand your job then the Monday blues can be very real.” And your miserable Monday is followed by trying Tuesday – the most popular day for sending out job applications.

But is Monday as bad as we like to think it is? Feeling a bit low shouldn’t be confused with more serious depression, caused by other factors. Writing for the BBC, author and presenter Claudia Hammond, argues that this low feeling might be a myth. She says: “There is a strong cultural idea that we don’t like Mondays.” She mentions an Australian study in 2008 about how people reflected on their mood and found the day that scored the lowest was in fact Wednesdays. So, when Monday comes, maybe we should give it a second chance!

詞匯表

dread 擔憂，害怕
grouchy 滿腹牢騷的，不高興的
depressed 沮喪的
Monday blues 星期一憂郁癥
down 情緒低落的，不高興的
Blue Monday “藍色星期一”，憂愁的星期一
psychologist 心理學家
mood 心情，情緒
an emotional shift 情緒的轉變
realisation 意識到
miserable 苦不堪言的
trying 令人厭煩的
low 情緒低落的，消沉的
depression 抑郁，憂愁
reflect 認真思考，反思

測驗與練習

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. When is, allegedly, the most depressing day of the year?

2. According to the article, what can you do at weekends that you can’t do on a Monday?

3. True or false? Monday is the most popular day for sending out job application forms.

4. According to an Australian study, which day was considered to be the worst day of the week?

5. Between which two days is there often the biggest ‘emotional shift’?

2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. If there’s one thing I _______ the most, it’s end of term exams!

miserable           grouchy                       down                          dread

2. I had a very _______ day at work today.

realisation          trying                           dawning                     reflected

3. I noticed _______ in my son, once he started going to school.                                                                                             

an emotion         an emotional shift        a realisation               miserable

4. The weather has been _______. It hasn’t stopped raining all week.

miserable           down                            depressed                  low

5. Despite the show’s terrible ratings, it deserves _______ to see it can attract a bigger audience.

trying                  down                            a second chance        reflect

答案

1. 閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. When is allegedly, the most depressing day of the year?
Apparently, the most depressing day of the year is the third Monday in January.

2. According to the article, what can you do at weekends that you can’t do on a Monday?
Monday means the end of weekend lie-ins.

3. True or false? Monday is the most popular day for sending out job application forms.
False. Tuesday is the most popular day for sending out job applications.

4. According to an Australian study, which day was considered to be the worst day of the week?
An Australian study in 2008 about how people reflected on their mood found the day that scored the lowest was Wednesdays.

5. Between which two days is there often the biggest ‘emotional shift’?
The biggest emotional shift is between Sunday and Monday – no other part of the week has a transition like it. 

2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. If there’s one thing I dread the most, it’s end of term exams!

2. I had a very trying day at work today.

3. I noticed an emotional shift in my son, once he started going to school.

4. The weather has been miserable. It hasn’t stopped raining all week.

5. Despite the show’s terrible ratings, it deserves a second chance to see it can attract a bigger audience.