V8.38: Avoid the Sunday Scaries with These Tips

Mondays can be so hard. Trust us, we feel it too! But don’t you worry– we came across some great tips to help combat the Sunday scaries and better set Monday up for success.

When we feel those Monday blues, our creativity, productivity, and efficiency all take a hit.The good news here is that this doesn’t have to be the case! Entrepreneur contributor John Rampton writes 8 amazing tips to help make Monday better for everyone.

1. “Identify the problem.” Identify what frustrates you. Maybe you write a list or maybe you just mentally document what is bothering you. This allows for you to take control without harping too much on the negative side of things.
2. “Plan ahead.” Mondays are scary because everything comes rushing at you at once. Maybe you have a calendar full of meetings and a to do list a mile long. If you can plan ahead for that Monday rush, you will set yourself up for a much more productive day. Come Friday afternoon, you can plan out what Monday will look like. What do you plan to prioritize? What are the top three or four things you will focus on? By thinking ahead, you won’t face Monday with so much uncertainty and panic.
3. “Start the week on the right foot.” Starting Monday off right will set the tone for the rest of the week. Instead of waking up and going straight to your phone, take a few deep breaths. Maybe meditate or reflect on gratitude or positivity. Practicing this type of mindfulness can really help anyone de-stress. Do something small that will bring joy to your life. Listen to your favorite song or wear a power outfit. Buy a muffin for a stranger or have a healthy breakfast.
4. “Create and stick to a routine.” A daily routine helps keep things in order. It helps build purpose and structure and efficiency. Routines will change, but maintaining a morning ritual will set your day up for productivity. If you can accomplish one thing- like making your bed or doing yoga- before you start your day, you will go into the day with a better attitude. You know yourself the best- when are you most productive? The morning after a cup of coffee? Or maybe it’s after lunch? Either way, work on the most vital tasks during that time and leave the less essential tasks during the productivity lulls. This will leave you to a much more relaxing evening, thus creating a stronger work/life balance.
5. “Lighten your workload.” Try and ease your way into the week instead of diving headfirst into the deep end. Avoid burning out on Monday– that would set a negative tone for the rest of the week.
6. “Socialize, but also protect your time.” Something that always gets me through the day is to socialize with my coworkers. Usually we catch up in the morning and chat about weekends or fun plans we experienced. This really helps brighten the day and get me ready for a more productive day. This is all well and good of course, just don’t let it eat up your whole day. Otherwise, that would be counterproductive. Have fun with your tribe at work, just make sure to do so in moderation.
7. “Schedule something fun.” Schedule something to look forward to! Plan something fun during the week that will keep your excitement– a date or a concert or dinner with a friend. No matter what it is, it can divert your attention from Monday to something much more lovely.
8. “Change your mindset about Monday.” You can try all these tips, but the only true way to avoid the Sunday scaries is to shift your thinking. No matter how you slice it, you can change your mindset about Monday. If you think about Monday as dreadful, it will be dreadful.

Let’s all agree to shift the way we see the day and we will see a much more productive and happier working environment.