Blue Monday: Swansea ranks as the most anxious city for 2023, with experts’ tips on stress management

With Blue Monday taking place on 16th January, the current economic climate has had the potential to have a negative impact on our mental health, with 80% of those aged 20-25 having concerns over whether they earn enough. 

With this in mind, SEO agency Reboot Online sought to find out which cities are most and least nervous for 2023, as well as providing advice from experts on how to deal with feelings of anxiety / depression. Using ads.google.com, phrases such as “cost of living support” and “cost of living help” were collected for the average annual searches on Google for each city to conclude which UK cities are feeling anxious about the year ahead.

Key findings from the data:

• Durham is the UK city most nervous about 2023, with 7,470 annual searches per 100,000 users.
• Swansea is the second most nervous city in the UK, with over 3,744 annual searches per 100,000 users.
• Edinburgh is the UK city least nervous about 2023, with 487 annual searches per 100,000 users.

We hope you find this release useful. If you do end up using it, we would appreciate a link to https://www.rebootonline.com/ who commissioned the data. 

The UK cities most nervous about 2023:

Rank	City	Average Annual Searches(per 100,000 internet users)
1	Durham	7,470
2	Swansea	3,744
3	Kingston upon Hull	3,623
4	Worcester	2,375
5	Gloucester	2,186
6	Sunderland	1,880
7	Liverpool	1,818
8	Milton Keynes	1,485
9	Inverness	1,454
10	Bradford	1,401

Please find the complete data set for all 65 UK cities analysed on the data sheet here, and images for your use, here. 

SEO agency Reboot Online can reveal that the city most nervous about 2023 is Durham, with over 7,470 searches per 100,000 users. Durham finds itself in the top 32% of most expensive cities in the world. Due to this, Durham’s residents may be concerned about cost of living support and seeking help on debt-related issues.

Swansea comes in as the second most nervous city, accumulating over 3,744 searches per 100,000 users. Despite rent prices being 15.10% lower in Swansea than Durham, Swansea still finds itself in the top 35% of expensive cities in the world, which may bring concern to residents at this challenging time financially.

The third most worried city is Kingston upon Hull, having had over 3,623 searches per 100,000 users. Kingston upon Hull was recently found to have some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in England. Due to this, residents may be nervous in the current economic climate, concerned about finding ways to save their money, as well as cost of living help.

The UK cities least nervous about 2023:

Rank	City	Average Annual Searches(per 100,000 internet users)
1	Edinburgh	487
2	Winchester	501
3	Southampton	512
4	Ripon	534
5	London	567
6	Oxford	575
7	St Albans	668
8	Lancaster	680
9	Cambridge	688
10	Exeter	708

SEO agency Reboot Online have found that the city least nervous about the new year ahead is Edinburgh, with just 487 searches per 100,000 users. Edinburgh has previously been flagged as a city with lower living costs and good salary prospects.

Winchester follows as the second least worried city in the UK, with only 501 searches per 100,000 users. Residents may be less worried than that of the top 10 most nervous cities, about issues regarding cost of living support. 

The third least nervous city is Southampton, with 512 searches per 100,000 users. Compared to the most nervous city, Durham, Southampton’s grocery prices are 9.63% lower, as well as restaurant prices 6.76% lower than that of Durham.

Tips from the experts:

SEO agency Reboot Online received insight from Layla Johnson, Regional Manager at Creditfix, who has shared her top tips on budgeting and debt in the current economic climate:

1. Avoid increasing your debts

It may feel like the right choice at the time, but try to avoid borrowing more to improve your financial position in the long-run.

2. Set up budgeting habits

Creating a realistic budget of all living costs, including rent or mortgage payments, council tax, TV licence, utility bills, broadband bills, food, and transport will give you a better idea of what finances you have left to play with for the rest of the month, once all essentials are paid for.

3. Don’t bury your head in the sand

According to the Money and Pension Service, 29 million UK adults feel uncomfortable talking about their financial situation despite 48% saying they regularly worry about money. Listening to others’ opinions can help see a financial situation in a new light, and others may be able to help you find the best support.

4. Tackle your debts as early as possible

If you get into the new year and realise that you have overdone your spending, don’t spend loads of time feeling guilty. The sooner you tackle your debt problems head on, the sooner you can look ahead to a debt-free future.

SEO agency Reboot Online also received expert advice from emotional health coach, and self care expert Vanessa Louise Moore,who says:

“You would be forgiven if your current thought pattern was one of impending doom and you were feeling trapped by fear with no way out. The impact the cost of living stress is having on our mental, emotional and physical health seems irreversible.”

“While support is on its way, try this simple tip: Pause. Breathe. And feel your beating heart. Count to four as you inhale, hold for four counts and exhale for eight counts. This calms your mind as it takes your attention away from your overthinking where you have a tendency to exaggerate a situation or an unlovely feeling…. and into a more peaceful place within.”

If you are worrying about the current economic climate or have personal money worries, you can visit mind.org.uk for advice and tips, or if you are a parent, visit youngminds.org.uk for tips on children’s mental health too.

Credit: https://www.rebootonline.com/, who commissioned the data.

Credit also to:  https://www.creditfix.co.uk/