Monday Is a State of Mind: 4 Tips to Take Back Your Week
A Better Monday Mentality
Mondays get a bad rap. Society is built on 9-to-5, Monday-through-Friday jobs and people living for the weekend. Fridays are revered: the end of the work week and the beginning of fun. Once Sunday rolls around, we try our best to prolong the inevitable Monday, dreading another week of responsibility, deadlines, and work. We all get sucked into this vortex, and it becomes a habit. We are born, attend school, grow up, and plug away five days a week, anticipating those two days of being off and maybe getting to retire when we're 65 or 70. Then we die.
That's life, right? Seems pretty bleak! But it doesn't have to be that way. We don't have to dread Mondays. Monday is a state of mind, and with the following four tips, you can start to look forward to the beginning of the week and stop living for the weekend.
1. Preparation Is Key
The key to having a good Monday and a productive week starts on Sunday. Prepare yourself for the day and week ahead. Set aside 20 minutes to write out a to-do list. What do you need to get accomplished this week? Write down all your tasks, from things you need to do at home with the kids to what you know you need to do at work.
Choose the traditional pen and paper or put everything in a calendar on your phone—whatever method works best for you. Having a physical list helps you visualize your week and allows you the chance to get organized. Being able to physically check things off as you accomplish tasks is an added bonus that just feels good.
2. Early to Bed, Early to Rise
Sleep is important, and chances are you aren't getting enough. Set yourself up for a productive, efficient week by getting to bed early on Sunday night. This is especially important if you have to be up early Monday morning. Even if you don't go to sleep right away, just winding down and relaxing can really help. You could read a book or meditate.
Try not to get sucked into your phone. Scrolling through social media or getting wrapped up in a game can hold your interest, and before you know it, hours have gone by. It's also helpful to have an essential oil diffuser with your favorite relaxing scent and soothing light. Not only does this have a calming effect, but it also helps put moisture in the air and might just help you get a better night's sleep.
3. Practice Gratitude to Change Your Mindset
Monday is a state of mind. It's ingrained in us to dread Mondays. For the vast majority of the population, Monday signals the end of the weekend; fun and carefree days where you can sleep in and enjoy doing the activities you want to do, replaced with having to get up early, go to work, hustle, and grind. Alternatively, Monday is the start of a new week. It's a time of fresh opportunities, new possibilities, and most importantly, a chance to start over and work toward your goals.
It all starts with changing how you view Mondays, and the easiest way to begin changing your mindset is by practicing gratitude. Take a few minutes on Sunday evening or Monday morning to:
- Appreciate the fact that you have a job, even if it's not your dream career. You are still earning money to pay your expenses, and that's more than a lot of people have.
- Express gratitude for the mode of transportation that gets you to your job. If you have a car, that's something to be thankful for. Many people can't afford one.
Don't forget about the little things. Be thankful for your morning cup of coffee or tea, the beautiful sunshine, or even running water.
You can express gratitude for the people and animals in your life: your spouse, your children, your pets, your plants, and your co-workers.
Don't forget the most basic of things:
- Be thankful for a new day where anything is possible.
- Express gratitude for simply being alive.
When you replace the negative connotations that Monday can bring with thoughts and feelings of gratitude, you make a drastic shift in your mindset. This also changes your energy and will improve your attitude. It's not a quick fix, it takes time and conscious effort, but the results are life-changing!
4. Work Toward Your Goals
For most, Monday is the signal for a new week. It's a fresh start. This is the perfect time to think about what you want to accomplish in your life. If you are unhappy with your job or in your career, think about what you'd rather be doing and figure out how to get there. Do you need a college degree or certificate? Do you simply need a few training courses? Maybe you need some experience. Can you intern or volunteer your time? How can you make your ideal position or career a reality?
Figure out what you need to do, and then create a doable action plan that will help you get there. Life is far too short to spend it being miserable. Figure out what you want in life and go after it. You have the power to change your life.
If it's a fitness goal, get specific about what you want to achieve. Maybe you want to lose 10 or 15 pounds. Maybe you want to run a marathon or improve your strength. Research gyms or personal trainers in your area, take a look at some good at-home fitness programs, and then take the plunge. Commit to your goal.
Again, create a doable action plan. Be consistent with your workouts and make healthy food choices. Get excited about your life and the possibilities that await you. When you have your own personal goals to focus on and work toward, Monday stops becoming an idea that you dread and starts becoming something you can look forward to.
© 2018 Alyssa
Comments
Alyssa (author) from Ohio on December 22, 2018:
Thank you, Pamela! Merry Christmas to you and your family! :)
Alyssa (author) from Ohio on December 22, 2018:
That's wonderful! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your family. :)
Alyssa (author) from Ohio on December 22, 2018:
Merry Christmas to you and your family as well. :)
Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on December 22, 2018:
Excellent suggestions to take away those Monday blahs. I don't work any more, so they are not a problem for me. I almost always liked my jobs, so that helped. I wish I was younger and still working.
John Hansen from Australia (Gondwana Land) on December 22, 2018:
Wonderful and doable advice here Alyssa. I am in a similar situation to Bill, because I work from home all days seem similar but I am grateful for each one.
Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on December 22, 2018:
Truthfully, when you work for yourself like I do, Monday's look like Tuesdays look like Wednesdays look like....well, you get the picture. :) Merry Christmas to you and your family! Enjoy those special moments.
