Monday, 6:30 am: My alarm blares, jolting me awake from the peaceful serenity that only exists in dreams. I know I need to jump out of bed immediately, but my body feels glued to the mattress as if to beg me not to do this to it again.
Needless to say, it seems that part of my morning ritual these days is channeling the old comic Garfield's hatred for Mondays. Between the jarring change in routine, the excessive workload, and its association with being the worst day of the week, it's no wonder I'm stuck on hating Monday.
As it turns out, people's hatred for Mondays can result from a wide range of reasons:
- Job dissatisfaction
- Not liking your work colleagues
- A lengthy and tiresome morning commute
- Burnout or increased workload
- Poor work-life balance
- An abrupt change in routine, including sleep schedule
- Knowing that your weekend really is over and you won't be having all that fun again for at least another five days.
The core of the problem, it seems, comes from dissatisfaction (and that's precisely the reason why Garfield hates Mondays as well, according to his creator, Jim Davis).
Still, "dissatisfaction with how you live life" is a rather broad conclusion. So, to better understand the phenomenon, we took a look into the science. We also found ten different methods that may help improve your relationship with Mondays.
Why Do Mondays Suck? [The Scientific Standpoint]
The scientific community took notice of the Monday Blues and tried to understand it better. Not only do studies show that the phenomenon is real (and not something invented by bad employees, as your employer may think), but a recent scientific study suggests that Mondays are perceived differently from Fridays because we see stressors in a different light.
On Friday, we know things will be over soon (by the end of the day), so it's easier to handle any stress that comes your way. But on Monday, the stressors you encounter (a colossal workload, annoying colleagues, and an irritable boss) are likely to last for another five days. That's a lot of time when you think about it, especially after two days of fun and rest.
Of course, other factors chime in as well. For example, on Mondays, we undergo an emotional shift from the relaxing atmosphere of the weekend to the fast-paced work environment.
It's also a matter of contrasting habits and sleep schedules. You like to sleep in on weekends and enjoy a lengthy breakfast over a chat with a friend but on Mondays, you have to be up at 6–7 am and out the door by 7.30. No long breakfast, no lazing around!
Luckily, there are a few things you can do to give your Mondays a pinkish hue.
10 Things You Can Do to Get Rid of the Monday Blues
1) Figure out why you, in particular, hate Mondays
People have different reasons to hate the first day of the week, so what's yours?
Maybe it's a colleague that gets your goat, or perhaps it's the fact that you feel bored and unchallenged at work. Whatever the reason, it sits at the core of that uneasiness that starts to grow in your stomach the moment the clock strikes two in the afternoon on Sundays. To identify it, be honest with yourself and try to be as specific as possible.
If a colleague makes you feel uneasy, try to understand what about them makes you feel that way. For example, are they too loud/noisy/obnoxious? Do they tend to take credit for others' work? Do they eat your yogurt out of the company's fridge?
Once you know why Mondays suck for you, it will be easier to address the situation. Also, it may help you understand where you stand in terms of plans for the future and the upcoming week.
2) Use Your Weekend Wisely
Nobody likes to work during weekends (well, maybe a few people do, but they are not the majority). The weekend is for rest and fun with friends and family, so how dare we suggest setting some time aside for work?
Well, we're not exactly suggesting that. It's just that you can use a few hours during the weekend to get trivial things (like preparing food and choosing clothes first thing in the morning) out of the way during the week.
Here are a few things you could do during the weekend:
- Meal prep for the week (cook and portion the dishes so you'll only have to reach in the fridge and heat)
- Decide on your wardrobe for the week
- Plan any shopping in advance (you can schedule your groceries)
- Check the meetings calendar and prepare anything you may need (devices, tools, check presentations, and so on)
- Do a quick inbox browse to lighten the load for Monday morning
3) Cultivate a Hobby or Passion Project
Whether you're working from home the office, life during the week can be boring if you don't have anything to talk about with your friends and colleagues.
Also, a hobby can help you cope with stress and make new connections, which is crucial if you work alone (like most freelancers do). Not to mention that it will make you more attractive, which also helps improve your self-esteem.
Your hobby may turn into a second or third line of income. For instance, if you're a social media influencer in your spare time, you can sell presets you've created in Lightroom. The demand is relatively high, so your hobby has the potential to turn into a solid business.
4) Practice Mindfulness & Gratitude
We tend to get so caught in the dizzying speeds of the world that we forget to appreciate what we have. As a result, we start to feel empty, unappreciated, and without purpose. These feelings contribute to the Monday Blues.
To break the cycle, it's important to press pause for a bit. Do so by taking time for yourself, away from the media and anything that reminds you of work. Allow yourself the time to rediscover the simple pleasures in life and learn to be grateful about the things you have (health, family, friends, a reliable source of income, and so on).
5) Find a Routine That Works for You
We have a limited daily amount of energy for decision-making. That's why, at the end of a particularly challenging day, you feel drained. Additionally, once you deplete your decision-making energy storage, chances are your reasoning won't hold much ground.
That's why we thrive on routine. We all have carefully-designed patterns that fit our needs and help us move forward without giving it too much thought. So, if you dread Mondays, it may just be because you haven't found the right routine yet.
And if you're having trouble sticking to a routine you've set, one way to get your brain into the mood is by starting with a morning hit list or putting on some uplifting music to get you started.
6) Bring Diversity in Your Professional Life
Routine can help us be more efficient in our decision-making, but it can also make things dull and boring. Whether you're an employee, employer, freelancer, or entrepreneur, you must have diversity in your professional life. Otherwise, you'll dread the moment when you have to return to work, which may turn you into a serial procrastinator.
So if your current line of work doesn't provide you with enough excitement, why not make some of your own? Find an activity you're passionate about and turn it into a fun little project.
Do you like drawing? Then why not try to create cute cards for friends and family (they make perfect gifts). Even more, you could sell printables and get a boost of excitement out of making some money out of something you love.
7) Assess and Manage Your Workload
As a freelancer, you're always either looking for jobs or wondering why you've applied to so many. This line of work has plenty of challenges, but burnout and burying yourself under a pile of projects are quite common. Sometimes the reason is you don't have a constant stream of income.
However, burnout can and does happen to fully employed people as well. Having too much on your plate can affect how you feel about your job. Chances are that you'll start to dread going to work, which is likely to be felt the most on Mondays.
If you do have a large workload or if you find yourself spending a lot of time working with little to show, it can help to create dedicated time for particular tasks. Giving yourself a block of time to do a single task or two can keep you goal-oriented, leading to a boost of mental energy. For instance, choosing to spend your entire morning on Tuesday to knock out a particular task could give you more personal time to take a morning break.
8) Learn to Manage Your Negative Feelings
Thoughts like this won't work or I'm not going to do well on the presentation are quite normal, but it's important not to dwell on them too much. Self-doubt is natural but remember that you have a special set of skills that makes you unique.
Whenever you feel negative thoughts gathering, focus on doing something pleasant like reading a book, going to the gym, and enjoying a movie. Also, it helps to recite a few positive mantras such as I am capable and I will do my best to succeed.
9) Are You Living for the Weekend?
Do you start the week thinking "man, 5 more days until Friday!"? If this is the case, it means you are living for the weekend. It also means you're unhappy and unmotivated 5 days a week.
To avoid feeling like a sailboat on a windless day during the week, take control of your schedule. Take short breaks, make your work environment more comfy and pleasing, do something fun during the week as well.
Life is too short to only live two days a week!
10) Change Your Job Situation
Did you know that 50% of people hate their jobs? If so many people dread starting a new work week, it's no wonder data portrays Monday as the bleakest day of the week!
If you think your job is the reason why Mondays are difficult to process, maybe it's time for a change. You could try freelancing, becoming an entrepreneur, or a new job.
But you don't necessarily have to make major changes. Take a closer look at your current work situation and identify areas where you could use advanced tech tools like the ones offered by Plutio to lighten your load.
Why Do We Need to Care About the Monday Blues?
From a logical standpoint, Mondays are no different than the rest of the days of the week. However, from a psychological standpoint, each day of the week has a certain emotional load provided by what we expect to happen.
Somehow, as we evolved in an industrialized society, we started to associate Mondays with an unpleasant feeling. Nowadays, the association is so powerful that data shows that productivity, creativity, and motivation are running low on Mondays. But the reason we need to care and look for solutions is that our happiness levels drop at the beginning of each week.
Who Are the People Who Love Mondays?
Is there anyone who loves the start of the workweek? Yes, there are a few of these unicorns as well.
More often than not, people who love Mondays are successful at their job and enjoy returning to their projects. But it's not just about being passionate about what you do — Monday appreciation is also a mindset.
For some of these unicorns, the first day of the week is another chance to start fresh. The work cycle starts over and you have the chance to make it different — doesn't this sound exciting? Also, it's not just about work - you can have a fresh start with just about anything on Mondays.
Mondays can also provide a fresh approach to the problems you've been dealing with on Friday. Two days of rest ought to give you at least a few solid ideas. Also, the weekend might be enough to recharge your batteries so your energy levels should be at their highest.
Key Takeaway
Love it or hate it, the way we see Mondays is mostly an issue of mindset. Once we realize that we also realize we have some form of control over how we feel about the start of a new week. So check our 10 steps above and try to make your Mondays less blue from now on.
