266. Is Blue Monday actually real? PLUS! Autistic Barbie, career pivots and the science of ’wintering’ - This Week in Work, 13th January 2026

2026-01-13

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January blues are back — but is Blue Monday actually real? In this episode of Truth, Lies & Work, we explore wintering, career pivots, and what behavioural science really says about mood, motivation and burnout at work during January. If the start of the year feels heavy, flat or strangely exhausting, you’re not alone. Instead of pushing harder, this week we ask a different question: what if slowing down is the smarter response? 🔥 Stories Covered Word of the Week: Wintering We unpack...

January blues are back — but is Blue Monday actually real?
In this episode of Truth, Lies & Work, we explore wintering, career pivots, and what behavioural science really says about mood, motivation and burnout at work during January.

If the start of the year feels heavy, flat or strangely exhausting, you’re not alone. Instead of pushing harder, this week we ask a different question: what if slowing down is the smarter response?

🔥 Stories Covered

Word of the Week: Wintering
We unpack the idea of wintering, coined by author Katherine May, which reframes winter as a period of restoration rather than something to “power through”. Drawing on coverage in The Times and insights from clinical psychologist Dr Stephanie Fitzgerald, we explore why January might not be the time for big life changes — and how seasonal rhythms, cold exposure, warm food rituals and gentler movement can help regulate mood and energy.

Links:
https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/article/january-blues-cure-wintering-tkxhxwksk
https://katherine-may.co.uk/wintering
https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/472162/the-gifts-of-winter-by-fitzgerald-dr-stephanie/9780241779576

When is it really time for a career pivot?
We look at new thinking on how to tell the difference between genuine readiness for change and endless rumination. With careers becoming less predictable and many people stuck in the “Big Stay”, we explore why job-hugging is rising — and how understanding your real strengths can help you spot when fit has genuinely broken down.

Link:
https://www.fastcompany.com/91462109/how-tell-time-career-pivot

Mattel launches its first autistic Barbie
Mattel has introduced its first autistic Barbie, developed with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. Thoughtful design choices around sensory comfort, communication and representation open up a bigger conversation about inclusion, neurodiversity and what people grow up seeing as “normal” — and how that shapes expectations at work.

Links:
https://corporate.mattel.com/news/barbie-introduces-the-first-autistic-barbie-doll-championing-representation-for-children-through-play
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-cygielman-7a912412/

🧠 Truth or Lie: Is Blue Monday real?

Every January, we’re told there’s a single Monday that’s the most depressing day of the year. It sounds scientific. It feels believable. But does it stand up to evidence?

We break down where Blue Monday came from, what research actually says about winter mood, money stress, Mondays and post-holiday crashes — and where the idea falls apart.

Verdict:
Blue Monday as a specific date is a lie.
January strain and winter pressure are very real.

💬 Workplace Surgery

This week we answer:

What actually works in a company culture diagnostic beyond satisfaction surveys?
How do you build a genuinely high-performance team without burning people out?
If your policies support work-life balance but staff say otherwise, what’s missing?

🎧 Coming up Thursday

A brand-new expert interview with Beth Sherman, comedian and seven-time Emmy Award-winning writer, on how humour builds trust, rapport and confident decision-making at work.

📬 Get in touch with the show

Have a question for Workplace Surgery or feedback on the episode?