Contributed by: Healthians Team
Introduction
The concept of Monday Blues is well-known throughout the world. Guinness World Records has officially declared Monday as the worst day of the week, getting back to work mode can be tricky for many.
It is not without reason that Mondays are universally considered to be the most hated days. For most of us, a heightened sense of work-related anticipatory anxiety on the first day of the week is real. After the weekend holidays of Saturday and Sunday, the arrival of Monday is depressing and sometimes no amount of motivation is enough to ease it.
Mondays are particularly vexing for a variety of reasons. After a fun weekend and a relaxing time, there is a different irritation about Mondays. Deadlines, pending work, and end-of-week tasks can all take their toll. Aside from that, not everyone loves their jobs, and Mondays can be extremely stressful. Also, people who are prone to anxiety, depression, and other such issues may not like to meet too many people, and the stress of starting the week can be uncomfortable for them after a two-day break.
However, Mondays can be turned around and used to get the week off to a good start. The day can be made more enjoyable by planning them ahead of time – on Friday itself – to make them the most memorable and productive.
In this post, we give you 5 ways to give Monday a brilliant start.
Effective Ways to Love our Mondays
1. Rethink Monday breakfast
Shake off your Monday morning, or any other workday blues by adopting a healthy morning routine complete with a balanced breakfast. Various studies have shown that opting for healthy breakfast options like oatmeal, bananas, avocados, nuts, eggs, and green tea will make you feel fresher and more energetic to set yourself up for a successful Monday.
2. On Friday evening, set a Monday morning routine
If you experience the Monday blues, try to create one fun habit on Friday that becomes something you look forward to on Monday. This could be as simple as cleaning up your office so that it is clean and ready for the upcoming week.
3. Dress up a bit more
Use clothing to improve negative emotions associated with Monday mornings. Wearing a feel-good outfit on Monday can help you face whatever the day has in store for you. Doing something you don’t do every day, but it always makes you feel like your best, most confident self. To better your mood, choose bright colours, your favourite fabrics or prints, or a brand you feel great about.
4. Get a dose of natural light.
An easy way to turn Mondays around is to seek a dose of natural light. Open the blinds, eat breakfast outside, water your vegetable garden, or go for a walk. Light is similar to a cup of coffee. It has a strong alerting effect. Furthermore, even five minutes spent in nature can provide a happy high. Try to head out for a run or brisk walk. Park your vehicle a little far from the office and walk to work as it would make you feel good with the release of endorphins.
5. Perform a random act of kindness
Start the first day of the week by performing a random act of kindness, whether for a co-worker, your neighbour, or a stranger. With some charity built into your Monday morning routine, you’ll likely feel more positive and position yourself to a productive week ahead.
Final thoughts
There are endless possibilities when it comes to killing off the Monday morning blues. Even small things like generating good vibes through music, smiling at colleagues, or eating a piece of chocolate can make a huge difference to your mental well-being. The most important thing to remember after coming back from a relaxing weekend is that if you are feeling anxious and overwhelmed is – it’s ok not to be ok.
