I recently posted that Mondays were my favorite day of the week and the response I received from this was pure confusion! People literally could not fathom how I could be a fan of the dreaded Monday. One of my friends, who also happens to be a fellow therapist, jokingly made a comment that I should do a post about this as she too was confused about how Monday could possibly be my favorite day of the week. So lucky for you, I am going to explain why Monday is my favorite day of the week as well as help you learn how Monday can be YOUR favorite day of the week, too!
I will be the first to admit I was not always a fan of Mondays. I too suffered the “Sunday-scaries” and the “Monday-blues” for some time. It was not until I shifted my mindset that I started to really appreciate the power of Monday. See, people tend to view Sunday as the day to prepare for the week ahead but I don’t totally agree with that. I view Sunday as the end of the previous week, not the start of the new week. (PS: I know what the calendar says, but this is how I personally process it!) Sunday is a day of REST. Rest should be the way you prepare for a new week. We need that downtime to regroup and recharge and what better way to do that then have a lazy Sunday lounging around the house watching football or spending time with friends and family, unplugged and away from work? I know, I know, you’re busy. You have no time. You need to maximize your Sundays because the work-week is so busy, etc. etc etc. And let me tell you, I can ABSOLUTELY understand that, trust me. BUT you can only do so much in a day. Your to-do list will always have something on it. Remember, you can do anything, but you can’t do everything. Take a beat, prioritize what NEEDS to be done during the weekend and say “no” to the things which don’t meet priority criteria. Then, allow yourself time to rest and regroup. Step-one: Take back your “Sunday-Funday”!
When I took a step back to really think about why I didn’t like Mondays, I realized it had nothing to do with Monday at all. Instead, I realized I was cramming way too much into my weekends, especially on Sundays, and this was a large reason for the “Sunday-scaries”. By the time I sat down and took a break, it was 9pm and the weekend was over. Which meant the work week was starting. Which meant my weekend was gone and I didn’t feel like I had relaxed at all. Cue the anxiety, am I right? I realized my anxiety began to manifest into anger towards Monday, almost as if I was projecting my anger onto Monday because I let my weekend fly by. I don’t remember exactly when it happened but I started to develop a Monday routine which is now sacred to me and I will not budge on that routine as it keeps me grounded and helps me get ready for the week ahead.
So what does my Monday routine look like you ask?
- My Monday routine is largely influenced by how I spend my Sunday and I always ensure I go to bed at a good time on Sunday night. I know, a lot of good TV is on Sunday night’s but that is why we have the DVR. A good night’s sleep is crucial for a successful Monday morning. Make sure you are getting enough sleep for your body’s needs so you can wake up refreshed and recharged, not groggy and fatigued. (Fun tip! Wash your bedding over the weekend so you are sleeping on fresh, clean linens. Trust me, this makes a world of difference to your sleep.)
- I don’t hit snooze. Listen, are there days I do hit snooze? ABSOLUTELY. I am not perfect, nor am I pretending to be, but I really try to start my Monday off snooze free. And guess what? I’m less likely to hit snooze that week vs. when I hit snooze Monday morning because I’ve made the commitment to get up and get going from the start. #RiseAndGrind.
- After a good night’s sleep, I start every Monday morning off with prayer. I pray every morning, but Monday morning prayers are special because I pray for the week ahead. I set my goals and intentions for the week, whether it be business, personal, or both. I express gratitude for a new day, a new week, with new possibilities, instead of mumble to myself about how it’s Monday, and I’m tired, and everything sucks as a result. I allow myself time to breathe, mediate, and really center myself before I get up and moving. I even do some light stretching to loosen up my body as well. I know, you’re probably thinking “who has time for that?” This takes me approximately 10-15 minutes. Everyone can spare 15 minutes for prayer/meditation, stretching, and a few words of gratitude to ensure your MINDSET is in a positive space before you’ve even left your bedroom.
- I make my bed. True story. I wish I could say I am good about this all of the time, which I’m not, but I really try to do this every Monday morning. Why? Because a freshly made bed brings a sense of peace, calm, and relaxation. It ensures you are ready to start your day and reduces the likelihood of you jumping back into bed and hiding under the covers from life’s responsibilities!
- Next, I head out to my Monday morning Pilates class. This is something that not only keeps me on a routine and schedule, but also starts my morning off on a positive note as I am moving my body and releasing tension and stress. I ALWAYS leave my pilates class feeling better than when I went in, even if I am having a bit of difficult time getting myself going that morning. Also, if I start my week off with a good workout, I am more likely to fit in workouts during the remainder of the week because I am feeling motivated to keep going. (Bonus: If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of Pilates, check out my guest blog post HERE.)
- Eat a good breakfast. Don’t skip breakfast, you need it to nourish your body and get ready for the day ahead. How we nourish our body influences our moods and skipping meals increases the likelihood of frustration, anxiety, and feeling scattered, all of which will set a negative tone for the day. And a negative tone for the day leads into a potentially negative tone for the week. (PS: Enjoy that breakfast. Don’t rush through it or answer emails or scroll through social media. Sit, relax, sip your coffee or tea, and just be mindful in that moment. Try it, I guarantee you’ll notice a difference in your mood.)
- The rest of my Monday morning is spent planning my week ahead. I organize my work stuff for the week, return phone calls and emails, and journal any goals or ideas I wish to tackle for the week in my idea journal or planner. I do all of this before I see clients in the afternoon and evening. Why? Because this allows me the space to lay the foundation for the week ahead. When I prepare ahead of time, set my goals and intentions, and tie up loose ends on Monday mornings, the rest of my week tends to go more smoothly as a result.
- I don’t rush on Mondays. When we rush, we feel stressed, disorganized, disheveled, anxious, forgetful, and are not at our best to perform in any of the roles in which we hold. I take my time. I don’t over-book myself with clients. I don’t book any other kinds of appointments or social get-togethers. I allow myself TIME to start my week off calm, relaxed, and motivated. It’s ironic because I am actually quite busy on Mondays and have a lot of work to do, yet it never feels like it because of the way I spend my time. If I am rushed, overbooked, and did not get a good night’s sleep but did half of the work on any other day, I am still going to feel more depleted than I would on a Monday because of the pace in which I completed those tasks.
I understand that this routine may not be applicable for everyone given work schedules and such and since I own my own practice, I have the luxury and flexibly to set my Monday up this way. If you are reading this and you have a 9-5, you can still make small changes to make Monday’s more enjoyable, productive, and positive. Think about it this way, if you wake up and immediately hit snooze, you are already deciding you’re too tired to get up and moving which then cuts into time for more positive things (such as prayer/meditation/stretching/breathing). Then, if you roll out of bed already running late because you hit snooze a few times, you are going to be rushing. You may be more forgetful of things because you’re rushing. You may skip a meal because you’re rushing. You may be more susceptible to irritation because you’re rushing and then guess what happens? Before you know it, your entire day is more negative because that is the tone which was set for you in the morning. Then, it’s just another “annoying Monday.”
Think about your current Monday routine and if you are someone who hates Mondays, think about why that is. Do you find yourself to be tired, irritable, and more negative in your thought process on Mondays? If so, think about small ways you can implement positive change into your Monday routine. The most effective way, which takes no additional time, is your mindset. Monday is just a day, like any other day of the week, but what you do with it and how you utilize it can make a world of difference for the week to follow. Positivity is infectious, just as negativity is infectious. Choose wisely.
I would LOVE to know what spoke to you today and encourage you to comment below and share with me!
I am passionate about helping clinicians realize their potential and reach their dreams of owning their very own PRIVATE PRACTICE!! I would LOVE to support YOU on a deeper level in your business. Would 1:1 business support feel like something that would help you get to that next step a little easier? If so, I’d invite you to email me at counselingservices@smsteeves.com with what you’d like support around and I can send you some options of how I can support you in getting there.
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Be Well,
Sarah