I have not always been a “Monday person." I remember being in high school and absolutely dreading the slightest thought of Monday morning. Monday morning meant the weekend was over, and five days straight of eight hours at school was soon to commence. Sunday night, I would go to sleep at a realistic time knowing that when I awoke, I would be lethargic and lacking motivation. But recently, I have found that Mondays are my favorite day of the week. Instead of cringing at the thought of going back to school and picking up on responsibilities, I embrace it.
This has got me thinking a lot about what really is so bad about Monday? Why do we drag ourselves through the day and mutter “I hate Mondays” as an excuse to be tired. Weekends should be our time to rest, rejuvenate and replenish ourselves with sleep, and hopefully some fun. So by the time Monday rolls around, there should very rarely be an excuse to complain or whine about having to go back to work, school or your weekday routine.
There are so many simple ways to improve your Mondays.
1. Go to sleep earlier on Sunday
There is nothing in this world that will help you like sleep will. If you stay up to the break of dawn on Friday and Saturday this is your time to catch up.
2. Sit down and make a to-do list
If you are anything like me, you make a new to-do list every day. But at the beginning of the week, it is especially important. Knowing how you are going to spend your Monday and what you can do to make it as productive as possible will make you feel more fulfilled throughout this trying day.
3. Plan a breakfast
I have never been a big breakfast person. But ever since I really started eating it, I tend to get more work done and feel less hungry throughout the day. If you have time in the morning, do your homework/work while sipping on your tea and taking bites of oatmeal. It will make any work feel a little less painful and I find that I am less likely to be distracted by things like my phone.
4. Get dressed
It is easy to feel lazy during a day spent in a sweatshirt and leggings. Put on a pair of jeans with your favorite shirt and brush your hair. Looking good will make you feel better when you show up to your responsibilities and keep you feeling alert and alive.
5. Have something to be excited about
While it might feel as though everything in your Monday is a complicated or tedious task, schedule an hour to meet up with a friend over coffee or sign up for a class at the gym that you can look forward to.
6. Do not feed into the "I hate Mondays"
At least three times on any given Monday, someone I am having a conversation with will groan "I hate Monday." Sometimes I unintentionally will mimic them out of habit, but in reality I do not hate it at all. Avoiding using this phrase will make it easier to not think about and allow for more positive conversation.
7. Enjoy it
How amazing is it that you get to enjoy another week? You have responsibilities where people depend on you and you have endless opportunities to make people proud. Waking up on Monday morning should not make you feel defeated or discouraged, it should make you feel motivated and fresh. This is your chance to have a new beginning, to start working harder, to get a head start on your projects, to go back to clean eating, and to find joy in a busy schedule.
This next Monday, take advantage of the day you have been given. Rather than complaining about a new, long week ahead, recognize how blessed you are to be given it.
