Have you ever woken up on Monday morning with the feeling of dread, weariness or apathy at the thought of going back to work or school? You’re not alone. Mondayitis is a real thing, and it’s something that can be cured, through the help of psychology.
Mondayitis, a rundown:
Mondayitis is the feeling of apathy about going to work or school, usually associated on Monday mornings, when one wakes up. The feeling isn’t always associated with hating your job or hating the thought of going to school, it just means you would rather wake up at mid-morning, and get ready for the day at your own pace. This is understandable, but it isn’t always possible.
How to avoid Mondayitis:
Mondayitis can be avoided in many different ways, and a lot of them involve a change of attitude. You may not hate your job, but you may hate the thought of waking up at 7 am and getting out bed. You may hate the thought of having to shower, choosing an outfit for the day or running to catch your train. These can all be avoided with a change in attitude.
On Sunday night, rather than dreading the arrival of Monday morning, prepare for it. Relax and unwind with a shower Sunday night, so you don’t have to stress about having one on Monday morning.
Did you know that something that can play a huge role in your mood at work is the seat you’re sitting on? A bad office chair can play havoc with your neck and back, cause headaches and make you feel awful overall. Sitting all day is bad enough for your health, so why subject yourself to even more pain by sitting in a bad chair? An ergonomic chair is a good way to prevent fatigue throughout the day, prevent neck injuries and keep yourself in a better mood.
Another way you can avoid Mondayitis is with a good night’s sleep. Honestly, a good night’s sleep is the key to a happier and stressless attitude for work. Sometimes it’s hard to fall asleep with the thought of Monday’s tasks looming ahead. However, if you write down your to-do list, any stress that you may be feeling or any unfinished tasks that you need to complete, you can clear your head and focus on sleeping.
Another huge factor for poor sleep is what you’re sleeping on. Is your mattress a bit lumpy, or do you have a sinking feeling when you lie down? You may need to get yourself a new mattress. New mattresses can be expensive, though. If you’re not ready to get yourself a brand new mattress, you can always upgrade your existing one with a mattress topper.
Mondayitis can be eradicated with planning yourself the night before. If you’re a bit of a stress bucket in the morning, try to choose an outfit for the day the night before. You can spend some time trying on the outfits, or even organise your wardrobe for the week. If you’re feeling far too overwhelmed, why not take a page out of Mark Zuckerberg’s and Steve Jobs’ book and just wear the same thing every day? Removing the stress of choosing an outfit every day takes out one of the many tasks in your day, so you can focus on more important things.
If you’re having a big weekend, get yourself sorted for Monday on the Thursday or Friday night. Make sure you have any paperwork, emails and outfits planned ahead of time so you don’t run around like a headless chicken on Sunday night. Relaxation is an essential part of the weekend; you shouldn’t spend the entire time worried about Monday. That isn’t healthy. Sure, you can go out and enjoy yourself, catch up with friends and have a good old fashioned time, but it’s essential that you spend at least one night to yourself and relax. It could be any say, but make sure you have one night where you can really unwind and let yourself recover from the previous week, and prepare for the following one.
Your diet can really play a huge role on Mondayitis, and you may not even realise it. A healthy breakfast can amp you up for the rest of the day and has an overall positive effect on your health. The same thing goes for the night before. Avoid caffeine after 4 pm, as you’ll most likely find yourself having trouble falling asleep, resulting in poor sleep and grumpy mornings.
No one likes Mondays, especially the Boomtown Rats, but there are ways you can make the commute to work or school bearable. Eat well, sleep more and prepare yourself the night before, and you’ll find yourself skipping to work. Okay, maybe not, but you’ll find it much more doable.
