From dread to delight: Transforming Monday blues into Monday woohoos

Do you often find it difficult to return to put your work shoes on after a long- relaxing weekend? If yes then you are not alone. When you have had time for yourself to relax and unwind on the weekend, it can seem very difficult to return to a week full of task lists. 

One effective approach is to shift your perspective on Mondays, viewing them not as a return to routine but as a fresh start filled with potential. Embracing the transition from the weekend can involve changing your mindset about the workweek, and recognizing it as an opportunity to tackle new challenges and set new goals. By focusing on the positives and remaining open to the possibilities that the new week brings, you can ease the return to work and find motivation. This shift in attitude can help you approach Monday with a sense of excitement rather than apprehension, ultimately leading to a more productive and fulfilling start to your week. Let us explore ways how we can check out from the weekend and return to work with positivity and motivation.

1. One dull moment does not define your entire day: Remember that you can still very much be in control of the situation even after having one bad experience or one unfavourable outcome. Be it you missing your metro or getting late for work, it is helpful to segregate your entire day into different time slots. For example, 9-10 AM: Getting ready for work, 11 AM-2 PM: Meetings and focused work. This way you would be able to emotionally check out of the previous task and it helps you manage your time as well.
2. DIY Monday morning routine: For Mondays, you can plan a morning routine that gets you in the zone. It could include some form of movement through exercise, dancing, morning walk or anything you like. Find out what your body and mind needs. If you feel like you want to use that time creatively, you can add reflective activities like journaling, and engaging in different art mediums like singing, playing an instrument, doodling etc. For relaxation, you could also add meditation, breathwork and mindfulness-based activities. 
3. Morning pages: It’s an activity that involves three pages of uninterrupted, conscious writing. The goal is neither to be creative nor to be solution-oriented. It is to express anything and everything that comes to your mind in that period. This helps in decluttering, prioritizing and finding a direction. You can learn more about it here. 
4. Set goals and have a routine: Lack of clarity and routine for the day can increase your chances of procrastinating and the urge to skip things. If you are unable to come up with a routine for yourself, here are a few tips for you. 

• Make an AM/PM routine: Reflect on when you start your day and decide how you want to approach the daytime and night-time, activities and tasks that you want to include. This by default motivates you to prioritize your goals.
• Find out your most productive hours: Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, you will have your productive hours. Find out when you are at your most productive self and plan your day accordingly. This is another way of optimising your energy levels and prioritizing things. 
• SMART goals for the week: SMART goals are a popular framework for setting clear, achievable objectives. The acronym SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. By applying these criteria, you can create goals that are well-defined and structured, which can enhance your chances of success.

For example, your goal is to lose weight.

Specific: I want to lose 5 kgs of weight before my best friend’s wedding in 4 months.

Measurable: I will measure and track it every day and plan my portion sizes and exercise routines accordingly. 

Achievable: It’s achievable because I have my coach and a partner who will constantly motivate me and I will be consistent and committed to the goal. I will also use positive self-talk.

Realistic: It’s a realistic timeline because my coach has shown me a graph of the kind of progress I will be able to achieve after every 21-day routine. 

Time-bound: Including a clear timeframe helps in keeping things in perspective so I know that I have 180 days starting from today. 

• Redefine what Monday means for you: Just because others feel a certain way about the start of the week doesn’t mean you cannot feel differently. If Monday energizes you, you look forward to kick-starting your week with Monday then you own it. It’s about taking control of your emotions in your hand and planning accordingly. 
• Start your day with Gratitude: Acknowledging and appreciating things that you feel grateful for. Expressing gratitude increases feelings of joy and satisfaction. It helps you appreciate what you have rather than focusing on what's lacking. It helps decrease levels of stress and anxiety by shifting focus away from negative thoughts.
• Find inspiration: Inspiration can you take deep into focus.
• Read Motivational Content: Start your Monday with a dose of inspiration. Read an inspiring article, listen to a motivational podcast, or watch an uplifting video.
• Set an Intention: Begin the week by setting a positive intention or affirmation. This can help you stay focused and motivated.