There was a time, many years ago, when every Sunday night my stomach would be in knots as I laid in bed thinking of Monday. I would think of all the things I needed to do, hadn’t done, and was procrastinating on. The beginning the work week was my least favorite day, like it is for most people.
I was dealing with a lot of bills during that time from broken feet, bills from run-ins with the law (oh yes, I’ve spent a night in jail…) bills from loans I used for “school”…
I would get tons of mail from tons of people demanding money from me. It was an awful and stressful way to live, let me tell you. I would avoid opening my mail, I would let it pile up, and then Monday would roll around and I would sit and stare at the pile, the stress and pressure pounding in my chest. The voices in my head telling me to just ignore it. I would make phone calls, try to make arrangements, “Can you just give me an extension?” “I only have this much, will that work?” “Yes, a payment plan is great, thank you.” Ugh, so glad to be done with that chapter of my life.
Maybe your Monday morning consists of the usual: getting up and going to work. Maybe there’s the extra element of children to get ready for school. Maybe you’re the boss and every Monday morning there’s a sh*t storm waiting for you bright and early every Monday.
Whatever the case, here are a few things that have helped me to make the most out of Mondays (the first being, I no longer have those bills staring at me, I no longer have to call into a probation officer every Monday to check-in. Yes, I grew up and took care all that one phone call at a time).
I take a class every Monday: Starting the workweek by doing something I enjoy makes me look forward to Monday. (Maybe your workweek starts on a different day, this suggestion is still applicable). I have switched it up over time. There were times I would go to a 4 PM Vinyasa class taught by my favorite teacher who played my favorite music. Sometimes I would go to a 9 AM TRX class taught by this chick who kicked my A every class and I loved it! Lately I’ve been dancing on a bike at my favorite cycling studio at 7 AM. Sometimes it’s a run or hike with my pups. The point is, I sign up for something I love EVERY MONDAY!!! It doesn’t need to be in the morning, although if that’s possible I believe that is the best. Give yourself something to look forward to at the start of your workweek!
Keep Sunday Funday in check: There was a time a couple years ago when we would spend as many Sundays as we could at the lake with friends, or hanging out at someone’s house BBQ-ing. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Sunday-Funday. I love Sunda-Funday. But I started to resent it because when Monday rolled around we were tired, I was up late trying to get a few things done before going to bed, and my Mondays felt chaotic. So now, instead of just indulging on Sundays and pushing Monday to the back of my mind, I keep Sunday’s in check. I make sure the grocery shopping is done, straighten the house, have a couple lunches prepped, laundry done, make a list of what I want to accomplish on Monday, go to bed at a decent hour. This doesn’t need to be done on Sunday, shoot, it can be done a little throughout the week, a little here and there throughout the day even. But set your Monday up for success rather than just dreading it.
Make a list: This is related to parts of #2 but I want to elaborate. Look at the week ahead on Sunday. What are your goals? What do you need to get done? What does your schedule look like? I don’t go into work until the afternoon’s on Mondays BUT Monday mornings are a work-from-home time for me so in order to make the most of the time, I make a list in order or priority of what I want to accomplish. I go to my cycle class, get pumped up, and come home and get to work. 90% of the time it works, I cross off everything on my list, and I give Monday a great big high-five for a job well done.
Everyone has different lives, schedules, and needs. Find what works for you. But I will tell you:
Waiting until Monday to evaluate the week ahead is not setting yourself up for success. Do that ish on Sunday!
What do you do to make the most out of Mondays? I’d love to hear!