KICK THOSE BLUES TO THE CURB AND GET EXCITED ABOUT MONDAYS AGAIN.
Reading the Sunday comics as a kid, it never crossed my mind that Garfield was actually trying to prepare me for something.
And somehow, despite our best efforts to draw out the weekend, Monday morning shines it’s beautiful, unwelcome face. And there’s nothing we can do about it.
What we can do, however, is make the best of it.
If a simple case of the Monday Blues has you reaching for the snooze button (ahem… for the 4th time), incorporate these 6 easy steps and snooze no more. Okay, maybe just once.
1. Give yourself a good morning stretch & remember to breathe
Monday morning is typically all go. We’re so used to jumping into what we need to do and ignoring what we should do. Rather than adopting calming practices, you might find us checking email and social media accounts (more on that later) or rushing into our hygiene routine.
Before immediately diving into your daily activities, take a few minutes (or longer) to calm your mind and engage your body with a few stretching exercises. Stretching in the morning is a great way to get your blood flowing, give you an energy boost, and release tension from a restless night or awkward sleeping position.
Plus, you can take this time to practice deep breathing exercises which can decrease stress and anxiety.
2. Don’t peek at your phone (even if you really want to)
Similar to incorporating stretching or breathing exercises, resisting that nagging urge to check your phone can help reduce stress and center your mind around positive thoughts.
How many times have you opened an email with a to-do list out the wazoo? Or rather, your boss challenging a decision you approved the day prior? What about when self-doubt and disappointment rained down on you simply because you scrolled through your social media feed?
If checking your work email can wait until you arrive at the office—wait. And the world won’t ice over if you don’t immediately read about a Facebook friend’s amazing vacation in the Caribbean.
Rather, make yourself a priority. Less external noise and interruption means you’ll be more in control of your emotions and more likely to start your day on a happy note.
3. Get some fuzz-therapy
Most nights, I’m graced by the presence of a fuzzy woolly worm (in the form of an 8-pound cat) wrapped around my head.
Oh boy, would I be in trouble if he were any larger!
As uncomfortable as sleeping with a cat on my head can be at times, and as often as he wakes me up with his purring, grooming, or snoring—I love him.
With such busy lives, it’s easy to forget the comfort our loving pets continually provide and how much they love us in return. Even if they might have bad habits or dirty up our house quicker than we’d like to clean it.
If your heart belongs to a canine, feline, furry critter, or anything in between, pause for a moment and connect with them. Pet them on their little (or giant) heads, listen to their cute (sometimes) breathing noises and reflect on how much happiness they bring you.
It can only take a minute to do this, and you’ll bring joy to both yourself and your furriend.
4. Spice up your commute with a favorite tune
Listening to the news isn’t complete until you’ve heard your fill of sad stories. No news is good news, am I right? (Okay, there’s some good news out there.) It’s good to stay current with the latest news, trends and tech, but sometimes it’s best to disconnect.
Enter: your top jam. Or jams!
According to research, music not only stimulates us emotionally, but physically, thanks to oxytocin (aka the “cuddle hormone”) and dopamine (a neurotransmitter that helps control reward and pleasure centers in our brains).
Ready to boost your mood? Crank up an upbeat tune and wash those blues away.
5. Show some love
With emails to answer, meetings to attend and fires to put out, it doesn’t take much to overlook the act of showing appreciation towards coworkers.
However, expressing gratitude is consistently associated with happiness which can generate positive thoughts, improve health and allow you to connect with others on a deeper level.
Recognize how a team member went out of their way to help you with last week’s project, or someone who picked up one of your tasks when you were overwhelmed.
Extend a genuine thank you with a quick email or short handwritten note—or tell them in person. Your spirits will be lifted and they’ll remember your kindness. This increases the likelihood they’ll return the favor and show you gratitude when it’s your turn to lend a helping hand. Win-win!
PS—You don’t have to wait until someone does something nice to show love. Spread cheer anytime!
6. Be grateful
I’ve fallen into the trap of wanting more a hundred times. More than I’d like to admit.
It’s so easy to focus on what I don’t have. Like a home cleaning service so I never have to clean my bathtub again. Or that awesome coffee table that would perfectly compliment our new wine cabinet. Not to mention, many years of my life were spent dreaming of having a job that a truly enjoyed.
Some of the time, things could be better. Much of the time, things could be a lot worse.
When you’re having difficulty adjusting to the start of a new work week, reflect on your blessings: the roof over your head, food in your belly, ability to build memories that make you happy and a circle of loving friends and family.
What are your top tactics to beat a simple case of the Monday Blues?
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