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Many of those who work the standard 5/2 schedule don’t like Mondays. Numerous studies confirm that most people have the worst mood on the first day of the week. And it especially spoils if this Monday is the first after a vacation or vacation. Why is this happening and can it be fixed?
1. Failure of the usual rhythm
Why is Monday so hard to get through? There are several explanations for this, including a physiological one: over five weekdays, we get used to a certain routine and sleep schedule, and on weekends the “system” goes astray.
“It might seem like a great idea to get enough sleep on the weekends, but changing sleep patterns every five to six days is not good for the body,” explains neuropsychologist Sanam Hafiz. – Therefore, on Monday mornings, we often feel sleepy, even if we slept well the night before. Bottom line: we have not done anything yet, but already tired, we are annoyed and dissatisfied with everything around.
“We used to think that on weekends we rest and gain strength, but in reality this is not always the case,” psychotherapist Meg Gitlin agrees. – Often we overeat, overdo it with alcohol, go to bed later than usual, try to have time to do everything that our hands did not reach during the week. As a result, by Monday we feel completely exhausted.”
2. Feeling unfree
After two days of “freedom”, rest and entertainment, the work week comes, and this is depressing. “Although many people spend their weekends on business, getting up late, walking, watching TV shows and other pleasant moments are perceived as relaxation,” Hafiz says. “And on Sunday evening, the ball ends, the carriage turns back into a work laptop, and we mourn the end of a carefree time.”
“Returning to routine, obligations and responsibilities after two days of rest, when we could spend time as we please, is not easy,” comments family therapist Becky Stumpfig. “Many people perceive this as a loss of independence and control, because now other people, in particular management, decide what we spend our time on.”
In 2020, Monday for most parents also meant that they had to return to the school desk again, control how the children go through zoom lessons, whether they complete assignments. This only added fuel to the fire of dislike by the beginning of the week.
3. Unloved job
“An unfair or overly demanding manager, unpleasant colleagues, tedious duties can contribute to the fact that as early as Sunday evening we begin to experience anxiety or sink into a depressed state,” explains Hafiz.
And even if you used to love work, 2020 could change a lot: at least it happened to many doctors, teachers and all those who felt the effects of the pandemic and the economic downturn.
“Even if you generally love your job, there may be times when you are terribly reluctant to take it on, and that’s okay. Don’t beat yourself up,” recommends Meg Gitlin.
4. Not ready for this day
This refers to the lack of both emotional and “logistical” readiness. To avoid unnecessary stress at the beginning of the week, Sunday evening should be devoted to planning the coming day. Hafiz advises making a to-do list for the day and generally thinking about what awaits you tomorrow.
5. Dislike of Mondays as part of the cultural code
“In recent years, the phrase “thank God, today is Friday” has become not just replicated. This is part of the worldview and attitude to life, says Stumpfig. “And the jokes about the stages of “denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance, Saturday, Sunday” are only part of the joke.” The good news is that we have the power to change this attitude.
6. Disturbed balance between work and the rest of life
“Many people have such a hard time on Mondays precisely because we work too much and pay too little attention to other areas of our lives. Even if the work is beloved, you still need to rest from it, ”reminds Hafiz.
Hating Mondays can be a symptom of burnout. This means that it’s time to slow down, get serious about recuperating and reviewing life in general.
7. Social anxiety
It happens that the dislike for Mondays is due to the need to dive back into the work environment, to interact with the work environment. Many people experience stress because of this.
8. Difficulties with switching
It’s not just about the transition from the “rest” mode to the “work” mode. Clinical psychologist John Meyer explains that many people live a different life on weekends than on the rest of the week. Someone goes to visit relatives, someone can only be with a loved one on weekends, and returning to “gray everyday life” in these cases can be very difficult.
9. Fear of the unknown
The onset of Monday means that there is a whole working week ahead, and it is not clear what to expect from it. “By Tuesday, most have more or less time to orient themselves, get back on track, feel confident again, and on Wednesday, many are already starting to wait for the weekend,” Gitlin comments. “Monday, on the other hand, many of us are scared and even paralyzed.”
Stumpfig believes that we owe this in part to a culture that is focused on the result, and not on the pleasure of the process. Instead of enjoying the road, we only think about the destination.
“Too often, we focus on externals—boss praise, pay raises, promotions—instead of focusing on what is within our control. We could draw strength from the pride in what we have done, set small goals for ourselves and rejoice in achieving them, and try to do the best that we can.”
10. Weekend to Weekend Life
With this approach, Monday is quite naturally perceived as “the end of everything”, the finale of “real life”. “If this is your case, think about it: maybe you are leading a double life. For 48 hours you are a happy and free person, and then for another five days you go with the flow dejectedly: work like a galley slave, pay your bills, drown in duties, ”comments Hafiz.
Maybe it’s time to change that? It’s time to start looking for little sources of joy in every day, whether it’s Monday, Thursday or Saturday. Otherwise, we simply lose 5/7 of our life.