Monday morning blues 'are a myth'

Monday morning blues are a figment of the imagination, according to Australian scientists, who also say Friday euphoria is a chimera too.

Psychologists at the University of Sydney collected information from hundreds of locals, who were asked on which morning and evening they felt best and worst. A separate study tracked their actual mood day by day. Results were compared.

The scientists found that people dreaded Monday mornings and loved Friday evenings – but only with hindsight, or when looking ahead. Their moods showed that, in reality, happiness levels varied little.

Professor Charles Areni, who led the study, said it reinforced the growing view that humans overvalue choice. "The freedom to choose is a foundation of Western ideology," he said.

"We value it hugely, and the idea of it being taken away, as it is at work, is terrible. But in reality it's not so bad, so maybe choice is not all it's cracked up to be."