One would be hard-pressed to find a lot of people who love Mondays. After all, it is the end of the weekend and the start of the workweek. But there are some ways to flip the script and instead of dreading Mondays, you could actually embrace the day and make it one of your most productive.
“I think it’s safe to say that Monday can sometimes feel like a challenge! After an amazing weekend of sleeping in, ordering takeout, and quite frankly switching off from work, sometimes it can feel quite daunting to head back to work on a Monday. But it’s time we changed this mindset,” offered Victoria Thompson, account executive at Haystack Digital.
Here are some tips on making Monday your favorite workday.
Skip Some Weekend Errands
Your weekend should be a time for relaxing and socializing. So don’t try and do all of your errands during your two days off.
For example, do your grocery shopping on Monday. “Stop wasting your weekends at the grocery store. That’s when everyone is there. Mondays are a lot less busy, so it won’t waste as much time standing in line. Plus, you’ll feel extra productive for knocking such an arduous chore off your to-do list at the beginning of the week,” suggests Ellen Mullarkey, VP of Business Development for Messina Staffing Group.
Early to Bed…
It’s not a great idea to extend your weekend playtime into the late hours on Sunday. If you do, one thing’s for sure you will wake up exhausted and in a bad mood to face Monday.
“One task that can really help is to go to bed a little earlier on a Sunday night, so that you get enough sleep and you will wake up feeling well-rested. If you don’t get enough sleep, it’s unlikely that you’re going to feel good and one thing is for sure, you won’t be wanting to go to work, especially on a Monday,” Thompson points out.
Change Your Mindset
If you think Mondays are terrible, then most likely your day will not be the greatest. Try and put the day in perspective. Look at life’s bigger picture, advises Chris Beer, B.Well Consulting, Founder and CEO of B.Well Consulting.
“‘Sunday scaries’ are real. I’m not denying the sensation of dread or apprehension that sweeps over many of us at the end of the weekend. You know what else is very real? Unemployment. Illness. Inability to work for one reason or another. A little tough love here — get over your Monday morning apprehension by shifting your mindset. Remind yourself that you’re lucky to have this opportunity, and that this is your week to take that opportunity and make a positive impact,” says Beer.
Organize Early
Get your Monday in order the day before or better yet on Friday.
“Making a list of things that you’re excited about will help you keep in a positive mindset for the rest of the week. On a Sunday, why don’t you write three things down that you’re looking forward to that week? This will most likely put you in more of a positive mood and if you can’t think of three things, then you might have to think about making some changes,” says Thompson.
Move It
Exercise is one of the best ways to boost your mood.
“Go for a short walk or a jog in the morning. If you wake up groggy after a long weekend, you need to literally shake your body. Try to go for a short walk around the neighborhood. If you want to work out at the same time, you can turn this into a light jog. Being physically active will help you wake up and start off fresh,” explains Igor Mitic, co-founder of Fortunly .com.
Eat A Healthy Breakfast
Your mom was right. A good breakfast will get you off to a great start.
“Breakfast high in nutrients will significantly improve your concentration. This includes fruit, nuts, cereal, eggs, and many more. Coffee or juice is simply not enough for your body to function properly. Also, avoid taking a lot of sugar in the morning. Although it gives you an instant spike in energy, once it burns out, you will be even more tired,” says Mitic.
Go For The Pomodoro Technique
According to the Pomodoro Technique, when you have a major task or series of tasks ahead, it’s best to break the work down into short, timed intervals. It’ll mean less stress for you.
“Pomodoro makes you focus all of your attention on one task for 25 minutes after which you take a 5-minute break. The idea is to encourage people to be highly productive for a short period of time after which they get a chance to rest and recharge,” explains Mitic.
Tune Into Your Tunes
Music can help set your mellow mood for the day. “Play your favorite music. Music can have a serious effect on one’s mood and overall health. Some studies have proven that listening to your favorite tunes during the day stimulates the production of serotonin, the happiness hormone. Consequently, levels of stress hormone cortisol drop which helps you relax,” suggests Mitic.
