Blue Monday: Why project managers need to talk about wellbeing all year round  

Blue Monday is often labelled as the “most depressing day of the year”. Falling in January, when motivation is low, days are short and work pressures return in full force, it can feel like a heavy moment in the calendar. However, as a project professional, I’ve come to view Blue Monday not as a single difficult day, but as a useful prompt — a reminder to discuss wellbeing openly in our profession, not just in January, but throughout the year.

Project management is both rewarding and relentless. Deadlines, competing priorities, stakeholder expectations and constant change can quietly take their toll. We are trained to manage risk, scope and delivery, yet we often overlook the most critical factor of all: ourselves.

Why Blue Monday still matters

Some critics argue that Blue Monday is just a marketing concept, and they may be right. But even if the science behind it is debated, the conversations it sparks are meaningful. If one day in January encourages people to reflect, reach out or seek support, then it serves a purpose.

For me, Blue Monday is less about labelling a single day as difficult and more about recognising patterns. January can be hard, but so can project close-downs, organisational change or periods of sustained pressure. Wellbeing doesn’t follow a calendar.

The hidden pressure in project management

Project managers are often the calmest people in the room — or at least, we are expected to be. We absorb pressure from all directions, keep projects moving forward and reassure others, even when uncertainty is high. Over time, this “always-on” mindset can lead to stress, fatigue and burnout if it isn’t acknowledged or managed.

What makes this more challenging is that stress in project environments is frequently normalised. Long hours, firefighting and pushing through exhaustion can be seen as part of the job. But just because something is common does not mean it is sustainable.

Blue Monday gives us permission to pause and ask an important question: How are we really doing?

Wellbeing is not a personal weakness

One of the biggest myths around wellbeing is that struggling means we are not coping or not resilient enough. In reality, well-being is not about weakness; it’s about capacity. Even the most capable professionals have limits.

In project management, emotional intelligence, decision-making and communication are central to success. When our well-being is compromised, these skills are often the first to suffer. Taking care of our mental health is not separate from being a good project manager — it is part of it.

I’ve learned that small, consistent actions make a difference. Setting boundaries around working hours, taking proper breaks and being honest when capacity is stretched are not signs of failure. They are signs of self-awareness and professionalism.

The role of organisations and leaders

While personal responsibility matters, well-being should not sit solely with individuals. Organisations and leaders play a critical role in creating environments where people feel supported, not judged, when they speak up.

Psychological safety — the ability to be open without fear of negative consequences — is just as important as technical competence. When leaders model healthy behaviours, such as taking time off, checking in with their teams and acknowledging pressure, it sets the tone for everyone else.

This is why initiatives such as wellbeing webinars and open conversations within professional communities are so valuable. They remind us that we are not alone and that support is available.

A call for ongoing conversation

As project professionals, we are skilled at planning for the long term. We should apply the same thinking to our well-being. That means moving beyond one-off conversations and embedding wellbeing into how we work, lead and support each other.

Whether it’s attending a wellbeing webinar, checking in on a colleague, or simply permitting yourself to slow down when needed, small actions can have a lasting impact.

Blue Monday may come once a year, but the opportunity to prioritise wellbeing is always there. If we want sustainable careers and successful projects, we must take care of the people delivering them — starting with ourselves.

Wellbeing is not something we “fix” in a day or a month. It’s something we learn to pay attention to, especially when the pressure feels constant and expectations feel high. For those of us early in our careers, it can be tempting to push through, prove ourselves and stay silent when things feel overwhelming. I’ve learned that real strength comes from recognising when we need support, not from pretending we don’t.

If Blue Monday encourages even one honest conversation, one check-in with a colleague, or one moment of self-compassion, then it has value. Because sustainable projects depend on sustainable people.

As we move through the year, I hope that we continue these conversations openly — not just when January feels heavy, but whenever work, life or change becomes difficult. Looking after ourselves is not a distraction from delivering great projects; it is what allows us to do so, with clarity, empathy and purpose.