How to Beat the Monday Blues, Every Monday

Mondays are always the hardest of the workweek. You just had two glorious days off, away from all the stress and pressures of work or school, and all of a sudden it's Monday morning and you have to face it all over again.

So how do you beat the Monday blues - every Monday? It’s all about effectively planning your weekends, making the most of them and ensuring you’re organised for the workweek ahead. Try the below suggestions, they've worked for my colleagues and I, and they’re bound to work for you too.

1. Plan some fun. Don’t let your chores take over your weekend. Plan some fun stuff to do with your friends or family. You could go to the cinema, a walk in the park or on a trip somewhere. Having fun experiences over the weekend will help you get through the coming workweek. But as much fun as you may be having, make certain you complete your chores. Otherwise, you’ll just end up waking up Monday morning knowing you have chores to do. And that doesn't help beat the Monday blues, that’s for sure.
2. Stay organised. There’s nothing worse than waking up Monday morning, trying to figure out what to wear, looking for your car keys and ultimately running late. Instead, every Sunday evening, organise yourself. Laying out your clothes for the next day, preparing lunch, and keeping your personal items (such as your keys, wallet and phone) by your side so you don’t lose them is a great way to start the morning. Nobody likes frantically searching for their stuff and, although preparing for Monday on your day off may seem daunting, it definitely gives you a good start to the day.
3. Try not to sleep in or stay up too late. We all love a good lie-in at the weekends, but instead of waking up just in time for lunch try sticking to the same sleep schedule all week. This will help you feel rested and energised all week long.
4. Do something different. A good way to say goodbye to the weekend is to draw a nice end to it. Rather than lay in bed thinking about how much of a waste your weekend has been, try doing something different every Sunday. Choosing activities that make you feel good at the last minute, but also feel out of sync are best – so if you’re used to watching a TV programme before bed, make sure to do something else instead. Go for a drink in your local pub, catch up with a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while or go to your parent’s house (if you don’t live with them anymore!) and cook them a meal.
5. Finish early on Sunday & start early on Monday. Try and get a good night sleep to prepare yourself for the workweek. Lack of sleep often contributes to the Monday blues, so always try to get a good 6-8 hours sleep Sunday night. It will also help you get up early Monday because, although it may feel like punishment, having enough time to sort yourself out will make you feel like you can conquer the day – and lets face it, bad things always happen when you’re running late so why make your Mondays even more miserable and stressful?

Other things you can do to keep you happy on a Monday could be to plan an activity to do after work, such as a film-and-popcorn evening with friends or family members. This way you have something to look forward at the end of the day. Another example would be not to skip breakfast. After all, morning hunger crankiness on a Monday is the last thing anybody needs. Finally, take small breaks throughout the day! Don’t stay glued to the monitor – get away from it! Go for a walk and get some fresh air, have a chat with one of your colleagues and definitely don’t eat your lunch at the desk – nothing feels worse than sitting at your desk all day and feeling like you haven’t had a break. Tell us how you brighten up your Monday blues in the comments below. The more tips and suggestions the better the Monday!