Monday morning can be a real downer as you wave goodbye to the weekend and think about what lies ahead at work week. It doesn’t have to be like this! Next time you’re faced with a not particularly happy Monday, try these seven top tips to help you get through.
Gill Hasson
1. Go to bed early
Making Mondays easier actually starts on Sunday. If you’ve had a heavy weekend, the best thing you can do is to hit the hay early so that you can start your week off feeling somewhat rested and recharged.
2. Wear something that sparks joy
Look your best at all times, but especially on a Monday morning. Wear something new or dress up.
If you work from home and often don’t leave pyjamas ‘til lunchtime, putting on real clothes and even some great earrings can lift your spirits.
3. Start your day with a smile
Before you go to work, start your day with an episode of your favourite sitcom or podcast. And, on the way to work, give the first person you see a smile. Happiness can be contagious, so spread the joy
4. Make your job work for you
Start each new working week with an idea of what you would like to achieve. Think about developing a new skill or an aspect of your job that you’re already quite good at or enjoy doing. Look for ways that you can initiate changes and improvements at work. Identify an aspect of your job that is particularly onerous; difficult, boring, etc. then set yourself a challenge to make it less difficult, boring etc.
5. Have something to look forward to each lunchtime
A couple of years ago, Laura Archer started to draw up a list of things she could do in her lunch break. Was it, she wondered, possible to come up with 52 ideas - a different idea for each week of the year? Turns out it was. You can discover for yourself all of Laura’s ideas in her book: Gone For Lunch. 52 things to do in your lunch break.
6. Cheer up someone else's Monday
Here’s a few ideas:
- Do a chore that you don't normally do at work, for someone else.
- Offer to help deliver or collect something for someone.
- Buy your colleagues a cake or some fresh fruit - summer strawberries, or raspberries. Surprise them.
- If you’ve read something that encourages or motivates you, let the writer know. Make a comment on a website or blog; let them know how they helped or inspired you with their book, website or blog. Write a positive review or comment.
- Send a surprise gift to a friend. If you see something that’s easily affordable that you know a friend would like, send it to them
- Save a life at lunchtime or on your way home from work. Donate blood. Go to http://www.blood.co.uk
7. Have something to look forward to at the end of the day
Don’t just look forward to Saturday and Sunday; try to spread out the happiness and plan something fun for Monday evening. Then, during the day when you need a shot of happiness, remind yourself of what you’ve got to look forward to. It’s like creating an extended weekend and becomes a good reason to look forward to Mondays.
Gill Hasson is the author of Happiness: Get into the Habit of Being Happy (Capstone, August 2018). She is a careers coach with over 20 years’ experience in the areas of personal & career development. She is also a teacher for mental health organisations, and delivers training for adult education organisations, voluntary and business organizations and the public sector. She is the bestselling author of a number of books on personal wellbeing, including Mindfulness, Mindfulness Pocketbook, How To Deal With Difficult People, Emotional Intelligence, Emotional Intelligence Pocketbook, Overcoming Anxiety, Confidence Pocketbook, Positive Thinking, Declutter Your Life and Kindness.
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