I’m sure I am not the only one who dreads Mondays, sometimes they can feel very overwhelming - especially if you have had a relaxing weekend trying not to open your laptop up to hack into a few hours of work. In fact, when you go on Twitter and search for the phrase “I hate Mondays”, you’ll see this quote retweeted more than a hundred times:
“Dear Monday,
I want to break up.
I’m seeing Tuesday and
dreaming about Friday.
Sincerely, it’s NOT me, it’s YOU.”
Funny, but absolutely true even for the most successful entrepreneurs. And here I wonder, why do most people hate Mondays? Some of the reasons I can think of are the following:
- Got really tired during the weekend
- Absolutely upset about not having to extend vacation / parties
- Have piles of work to do
- Unhappy with work
- Lack of sleep
Now if these reasons are familiar, you’re probably on the #IHateMonday Team. But what if I tell you that there’s a way to permanently say goodbye to Monday blues? Here are some insightful ways to finally start loving Monday:
Why?
First things first, why do you hate Mondays? Be honest. Be open. Let’s talk.
When you feel like you’re always dragging yourself to accomplish tasks and be productive on a Monday, then something’s wrong. It’s easy to brush this negative feeling as a common “tiring” thing, but Alexander Kjerulf, an international author and speaker on happiness at work says that these feeling “can be much more than just a passing tiredness; they are often a serious warning sign that something is not right at work.”
This was echoed by Rita Friedman, a Philadelphia-based career coach who said that Mondays should be about being able to live a day doing what you love.
So again let me ask you, why do you hate Mondays?
Knowing the reason why you dislike Mondays will help us determine how you can finally embrace the start of the week without remorse.
So take out a pen and a paper, and start writing the things that you’re so unhappy about Mondays. Write as many as you can.
Done?
Now crumple that paper and throw it in the bin. Today’s another day! Remember, we’re leaving the old habits behind, and we’re learning to enjoy each day of the work week. It’s not going to be easy (especially when you’re welcomed with over a hundred emails when you get back to your desk), but we’re going to ACE THIS.
Let’s begin!
Step 1: Clean your desk.
If you’re working in an office, a co-working space, or a coffee shop make sure you start with a clean desk. As they say, “clean desk, clean mind.” So remove the unnecessary pile of papers and decors and start with a fresh looking desk.
Step 2: Start with a happy task.
Do you love coffee or watching some funny videos? Dedicate 15 minutes of your day to do these that makes you feel calm and happy. This removes the idea of stress in your mind and puts you in a good mood the rest of the day.
Step 3: It’s time to create a list.
Sometimes our minds have a way of tricking us into thinking that all Mondays are the same – busy, full of tasks, and dreadful. But this isn’t always the case. The best way to stay on top of your work is to create a list.
To do this, you can open a notepad or sign up for my favorite project management account called Trello. Signing up is free of charge, and you get to create unlimited boards that looks like this:
By creating this board, you can segregate your tasks according to their importance and deadlines, and only focus on tasks that require your immediate attention. You’ll be able to manage your time and you’ll leave the office feeling happy and productive knowing that all important tasks where taken cared of, and you’ve managed your time well.
Pro Tip: Create several boards for your goals, personal tasks, party plannings, and others to better manage your week.
Step 4: Reward yourself.
What if there’s just waaaaaay too many tasks and even if you categorise them according to their priority levels, it still feels like a bloody awful Monday? It’s time to use the “Work Reward System”.
Sure, your boss doesn’t give you rewards even if you reach milestones. But this does not mean that you can reward yourself. So label each task with rewards when you finish them. For example, when you finish sending emails feeling tired and bored, you get to buy yourself a piece of cake. And what if you create an outstanding presentation? That deserves a new pair of shoes!
At the end of the day, you’ll look forward to improving the quality of your work because you get these small rewards from yourself.
Remember: Excellent work = Promotion!
Pro Tip: Do this for all the days to have a delightful week!
Step 4: Prepare for next week’s task ahead.
More often than not, Mondays feel like hell because of the amount of work that you’ve have to do that day. Emails from over the weekend have piled up, changes in reports are needed, among others.
Preparing for some critical tasks for the following week will solve this. When you have some spare time in the current to work on reports, emails, campaigns, etc that are due on Monday next week, do them in advance. You may not even finish them all, but you’ll still have less tasks to worry about the following week.
Step 5: What do you love to do?
I’d like to end this piece by asking you another question…
Do you love what you’re doing?
Because no matter what steps you take, if you’re not doing what you love, you’ll always feel miserable. So think about this question. Use the weekend to be by yourself and really evaluate what you love.
When you know the answer, you’ll know what to do next.
Stay inspire! Good luck & happy Mondays!