6 Tips to Get Monday off to a Great Start.
It doesn't matter
whether you own your business or work in a large corporation, Monday
mornings --especially after a long weekend--are often a huge mental hurdle that
can throw your whole week off.
Many studies have
shown that most people start to feel depressed on Sunday
afternoons. The pressure of another week of performance begins to hit early. That
is why everyone needs something special to get out of their weekend slump and
get mentally pumped up for the week ahead…
One of the best ways
to set yourself up for a great Monday is to give yourself weekends that
rejuvenate and restore you. With some organising and planning, you can greet
Monday with open arms, and increase your productivity in the workplace.
Here are seven tips
for you:
1. Use Friday afternoon to prepare for Monday.
Planning and
preparing in advance of beginning your week can make a tremendous difference in
your productivity. It can also reduce stress and eliminate “life friction.” A
good start will save you much time and effort in your week.
It’s amazing how
much you can forget in those 60-plus hours between Friday afternoon and Monday
morning. Consider planning your week on Friday evening, especially when it is
quiet and you have the time and space to concentrate.
You will sleep
better over the weekend knowing the task is done and you can devote more time
to a morning routine that eases you into the week.
2. Save energy for your weekends.
A lot of people work
themselves into the ground over the week, leaving themselves nothing more
than
a two-day couch potato on the weekend. Do whatever you can to avoid this—you
want to spend Saturday and Sunday with enough energy to actually do fun things and have a functioning mind
that can think creatively about work and your life.
3. Plan the right mix of weekend activities and events.
As a rule, you will
have the most satisfying weekend if you mix in a combination of: physical
activity, family and friend time, scheduled activities and open time. You know
better than anyone what works for you and your family—and how that might vary
by season, weather and life circumstances.
Crafting a
restorative and fun weekend takes planning.
4. Don’t waste your Sunday.
It is a common
practice for so many people to spend so much time on Sunday dreading Monday. But
that needn’t be so. Here are two very different ways to spend your Sunday
evenings.
You need to plan
some evening fun on Sunday evenings are sacred do-nothing nights; for instance
by scheduling an early dinner with friends, a movie date, or an evening picnic
at a park, then you give yourself a positive focus for the day.
For managers and
leaders, you can spend a few of your hours to review your plans for Monday. There’s
an incredible amount of time wasted on Mondays simply catching up on where you
left off the previous week. You can avoid hours of this if you prepare on
Sunday evening. And you’ll wake up Monday morning feeling calm.
5. Sleep well on Sunday.
There may be no more
important night to get rest than Sunday night, and no better remedy for Sunday
blues than a good night’s sleep. Sleep is the best form of meditation.
Above all, make sure
you pack your important items for the week ahead before you retire to bed. Always confirm
appointments for the week.
6. On Monday, pace yourself.
Arrive 30 minutes earlier
Monday morning, close your door and put off your office phone and use this time
to check your calendar for the week.
You don’t have to
move mountains or work a 12-hour day. A week is like a long-distance event. Go
out too hard, you’ll be spent by Thursday. As an incentive, plan something fun
on Monday—lunch out with a colleague, splurge on a favorite coffee drink, little
easy things. It doesn’t take much to perk up a mood.
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