8 ways to beat Monday blues

The beginning of the work week is a tough one for many of us, especially those who have spent the weekend on a road trip or used it to research their next getaway. Monday can bring about depression, sadness, anxiety and overall realization of ‘oh, I am such a corporate slave’. Though fret not – a few simple tactics can help you overcome this feeling. It’s important to do so because let’s face it, Monday will come back around every week and this repeated ‘Monday dread’ can really wear you out over time causing psychological stress that can effect your health in the long run.

1. Work late on a Friday

Sounds crazy, right? Friday is one day when you want to just rush out of the office as early as possible. What we usually don’t realize is that we are already in a work flow on Friday from the rest of the week and you should use that to prep for the Monday to come. Align your tasks beforehand and plan your day so you will know exactly what to expect when Monday rolls around a couple of days later.

2. Take 30 minutes out on the weekend to check your email

Let’s face it. It’s 2018 and we can almost never totally switch off. It is the world of constant connectivity and we need to use it constructively. By taking 30 minutes out on the weekend  you can be have a heads up on any unexpected surprises which may creep up in your inbox over the weekend. You don’t need to reply to any of the emails but it will help you be mentally prepared for Monday before it happens.

3. Get real about it

Don’t fight Monday. Accept it. It’s not going anywhere; it’s here to stay for 24 hours, so what’s the point in fighting it? We has humans tend to build up a lot of necessary drama around things we dislike. When we resist something in our minds it just resists back and causes stress. Just accept that it’s just another day of the week which you need to go through, dive headfirst into it and before you know it, it will be over.

4. Start your Monday early

It’s going to take some practice to do this as our sleep cycles tend to mess up over the weekend, but it’s really does do wonders. Start Monday early- if your office starts at 9 am, get to work around 8:15 and you will be amazed at how much more time you have for yourself. Getting to work early allows you to sit peacefully at your desk and have your coffee, letting you mentally ease in to the work week.

5. Eat your favorite breakfast

This ties in to the point above. If you wake up early you have the time to eat your favorite breakfast, be it waffles or nihari. Having a happy tummy goes a long way in lifting your mood, not to mention giving you the energy you need to power through the day.

6. Prep everything the night before

Clothes not ironed and the electricity goes off; you are late for work and cannot find your laptop charger – these are typical scenarios that happen on a Monday morning. Take 10-15 minutes out the night before to iron your clothes, and pack up any items you need for work the next day so you wake up knowing exactly where everything is without having to rush through any preps.

7. Reflect

This is probably the most important of all. Over the weekend take a few minutes out to think about the coming week, any possible stressors and how you will handle it. Do it with mindfulness and write it down if possible. We spend way too much time focusing on how we feel and reacting to it versus thinking about why we feel that way and how we can handle ourselves better. A little mindfulness goes a long way.

8. Be thankful

Our jobs may be a pain at times but we need to realize that it is the reason why (most of us) are able to fund our travels. I know that there is no way I would have ever been able to afford a 3-week Eurotrip if it weren’t for my job. So, look at the bigger picture rather than focusing on the one little day that bothers you. After all, when you are able to take that vacation, there would be Mondays you’d be waking up to while on a beautiful sandy beach or a majestic mountaintop – and that goal is what makes it all worth it.