Today - Blue Monday - is officially believed to be the most depressing day of the year.
Generally falling on the third Monday in January, the term was originally created by Sky Travel based on a calculation incorporating factors including weather conditions, post-Christmas debt, failing to keep New Year’s resolutions and returning to work after the festive break.
Whether you agree with this or not, the dark mornings and nights, sub-zero temperatures and long slog to the next summer holiday undoubtedly has a mental impact on most people to varying degrees.
With the Cost of living crisis continuing to bite, ongoing struggles in the NHS, widespread industrial action and ongoing wars dominating our daily headlines, there certainly doesn't appear to be much good news in our daily media diet.
However, despite it being Blue Monday, there are some positive signs of things to look forward to and better times ahead.
Check out the following eight positives to cheer up Wearsiders and banish those January blues.
5. Regeneration of the city continues.
Maker & Faber are two all-electric, low-energy office buildings that are currently being built adjacent to City Hall and The Beam, offering stunning panoramic views over the River Wear and out over the coast. Standing side by side, the buildings will provide 73,033 sq ft (Maker) and 83,905 st ft (Faber) of office space right in the heart of the city centre, creating thousands of jobs. They're due to open this spring, hopefully continuing the ongoing regeneration of the city centre. Photo: national world
6. Could football eventually be coming home?
The men's Euro 24 Championship is set to take place in Germany this summer and many pundits feel England has their best chance to win an international tournament for the first time since 1966. Even if football doesn't end up coming home, the tournament is something to look forward to this summer. (Image: Getty Images) | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
7. Holiday deals
To combat the winter blues and give ourselves something to look forward to, Saturdays throughout January are statistically the most popular tome for people to book holidays. To coincide with this and Blue Monday, many holiday companies are offering deals for people to take advantage of. Jet 2 is currently offering 10% off its flights and holidays. (Photo supplied by Jet2) Photo: jet2
8. New city centre housing.
The old Civic Centre site is being cleared in phases with demolition of the 1970s building starting last October. It will house a city centre community of 265 homes, with the first properties expected to be completed and ready to live in by autumn 2024. Work has also started on 1000 new homes planned on both sides of the Wear as part of the Riverside development. Photo: National world