Not many of us remember the Boomtown Rats.
However, for years and typically on a Monday, I burst into their 1979 hit “I Don’t Like Mondays” along with their lead singer Bob Geldof.
It didn’t matter that the song was about the 1979 Cleveland Elementary School shooting in San Diego – which coincidentally happened on a Monday.
It’s just that I dreaded Mondays. And I had reasonable reasons to do so.
Memes and jokes apart, Mondays have indeed the highest physical and emotional stress levels and the lowest work productivity rates. They mark the end of “fun” time and the return to responsibilities and routine.
Not surprisingly, suicides and heart attacks are higher on that fateful day.
Yet, eventually, I created an environment that helped me better capture the day’s opportunities.
At the risk of seeming obvious, here are four simple strategies that have worked for me:
1 – Setting my priorities for the week before Monday
Spending thirty minutes or so to define a clear and realistic plan for the week ahead has made a world of difference. It makes me feel positive and in control. Such plan doesn’t have to be overly detailed, and I sometimes just write down what three things will look like success for the week. By the way, you can do it on Friday or Saturday if you prefer!
2 – Starting Mondays with a fulfilling routine
It’s now well established that a positive morning routine will set a good tone for the day. It can be anything. It doesn’t have to last long, either. For me, a relatively easy 30-minute run workout does magic. I even use that workout to remind myself of accomplishments I’m proud of and why I chose that career path in the first place.
3 – Finding some energizing company
I’ve learned to identify the most resourceful colleagues or people in my network. I mean individuals who will energize me, help spark my creative ideas, or excite me about a new project. So, I keep adding coffee breaks or regular catch-up sessions with these positive minds. And I limit Monday meetings with toxic or energy-depleting people – yes, they do exist!
4 – Watching my sleep cycles
We all know that sleep is essential, and sleep deprivation will lead to trouble. Yet, what most people miss is that a regular sleep pattern is critical, too. Weekend changes in our sleep cycles mainly explain the stress and health risks observed on Mondays. Call it experience, but parties and booze all weekend long don’t co-exist well with a happy Monday. I’ve moved to bedtimes and life hygiene that are much wiser and even no matter what day it is in the week.
It took me some time to change my perspective on Mondays. So, if you’re struggling with that day, be patient. Experiment with different strategies to find what works best for you.
Eventually, you’ll realize Monday is just another day. It’s up to you to make it great and fill it with life and purpose.