Blame the British.

Our cousins in the United Kingdom have popularized a thing called “Blue Monday” — apparently the most depressing day of the year. It falls on today’s date, they tell us. Happy Blue Monday, everybody.

Placement of Blue Monday is supposedly based on a mathematical formula. The equation — admittedly nonscientific, according to the Sun tabloid newspaper — weighs factors like the weather, debt level and our ability to pay it, the amount of time since Christmas, time since failing our New Year’s resolutions, low motivational levels and the feelings of regret for failing to take charge.

For us Western Pennsylvanians, the equation doesn’t even take into account Sunday’s heartbreaking loss to Jacksonville, which knocked the Steelers out of the playoffs. But it sure fits the template.

There’s only one hitch: The whole thing was made up. It’s fake news, the invention of a British public relations company, according to another London newspaper, the Independent.

“The trouble is, with everyone telling you it’s the most depressing day of the year, combined with grim wintry weather, the struggle to keep up with your New Year’s resolutions and well, the fact that it’s just a Monday, many of us end up having something of a sad day,” writes Independent reporter Rachel Hosie. “When you think it’s the most depressing day of the year, you may end up paying more attention to the negative things happening over the course of your day, rather than the positive ones. But that needn’t be the case.”

It’s true there are plenty of mid-January conditions that can be described as dreary. On the other hand, consider some of the following seasonal mileposts:

n The days are growing longer again. The Winter Solstice, Dec. 21, was nearly five weeks ago. which. This translates into a bit more of that precious sunshine every day, beginning a little earlier and ending a little later.

n It’s not too soon to start planning that flower or vegetable garden. Seed displays are already popping up in the stores and online. This used to be the seed catalog season, back when seed companies distributed catalogs. Few still do these days.

n Pirates pitchers and catchers report to spring training camp in Bradenton, Fla., just 28 days from today. That’s exactly four weeks. All sorts of migratory fowl, from robins to great blue herons, will be returning north by then.

Spring is on the way. Meantime, let’s keep ourselves occupied with the business of being good citizens and good neighbors during the season of winter hardship. Keep the snow and ice off your sidewalks. Walkways must be kept clear and safe. And it gives your neighbors one less thing to be stressed out and depressed about.