How to love Mondays

1. Don’t be influenced by others

People around us talk about how they hate this day, and we, out of habit, agree. But what do we really feel? Ask yourself: What do you dislike about Mondays? The fact that you have to return to a job you hate and force yourself to do what you don’t want to? So, maybe we should finally find a solution to the problem?

If you love your job, the reason for the hatred may be that you have adopted other people’s attitudes. What benefits do you get by continuing to follow them? Perhaps the discussion helps to feel on the same wavelength with colleagues?

2. Think of this day as an opportunity to start over with a clean slate.

Monday is the beginning of a new week, a new page. The previous week of successes and failures is over, and we have the opportunity to start over.

If you think about it, this day is like a little New Year. Remember why you love him, except for gifts and long vacations. Most likely, for the feeling that this time you will definitely succeed in achieving your goals, or for the opportunity to analyze the mistakes and leave in the past year. Perhaps summarizing the results and new goals for the week will help to look at this day as the beginning of a new period.

3. Deal with work blockages

Do you love work, but you have so many unfinished tasks that the thought of them poisons your life and makes you afraid of the new week? Use the closed list method suggested by coach Mark Forster:

• make a list of work tasks that you constantly put off;
• draw a line under it, which will mean that nothing more can be added to it (that’s why it is called closed);
• Set aside time each day to work on the tasks on your list.

Since the list is closed, the number of tasks in it will decrease, and this will give additional motivation.

4. Tidy up your workspace

The way it looks affects mood and productivity. If you have to spend time looking for important documents, and sitting in an uncomfortable chair for a long time hurts your back, it is not surprising that you are not happy about the start of the week.

5. Prepare for Monday in advance

One of its main differences from the weekend is an early rise. This problem can be solved by refusing to abruptly change the regime on the weekend. Try waking up around the same time each week and spending the extra hours doing things you love.

Another way to make the start of the week more pleasant is to plan it out. Set aside time for hobbies, cultural trips and socializing with friends. Prepare on Sunday everything you need on Monday to save yourself the fuss. Decide what to wear, prepare a book that you plan to read on the subway, a sports uniform if you go to the gym.

6. Don’t plan anything for the morning

Australian entrepreneur John Westenberg says that he used to often plan something grand for Monday mornings, but he almost never managed to realize his plan. As a result, he felt like a failure, and this set the tone for the rest of the week. In the end, he decided that this was not the time for accomplishments. Why not take this approach into account?

7. Set a small achievable goal

Set yourself a small task that you can definitely complete. The brain doesn’t care if we’ve completed a big task or a small one (that’s why we often put aside important but voluminous tasks, and instead do a whole series of small tasks). Treat yourself to a small but pleasant achievement at the beginning of the week: do yoga, meditate, buy movie tickets for the weekend, or make an appointment with a doctor.

8. Exercise

It is not necessary to buy a subscription to a fitness club or run several kilometers. Exercise, work out to the video, go for a short run to the stadium near the house, or turn on the music and dance.

9. Turn off notifications on your phone

Constant online life provokes stress and makes it difficult to focus on work. Is it really that important to know who commented on a Facebook status or replied to a tweet? If you’re not ready to completely give up on notifications, try turning them off on Monday. May this day be calmer at least in this regard.

10. Make a special playlist

Music carries a powerful emotional charge, psychologists use it as a remedy. Favorite songs will add energy and cheer you up.