The Science of Aging Well: How Your Beliefs Affect Your Health
The sun is starting to go down on Sunday evening. Suddenly, as sure as an alarm clock this feeling of dread washes over you. Your neck muscles tighten and your stomach gets that Sunday night feeling. You are starting to get the Monday blues and it isn’t even Monday yet. What do you do to stop this weekly cycle of negativity?
We have identified the six great suggestions for beating the weekly cycle of Monday blues.
Have Monday Morning Planned
If you have difficulty getting back into the rhythm of things on Mondays, follow a predetermined schedule for the first few hours until you get your groove. For some people, it might be paperwork or emails to do first thing. For others, it might be team meetings or brainstorming sessions. Find out what works best for you, schedule it, and stick to it.
Plan Monday Evening Pleasantries
The weekends are what many people work towards, It is the reward for a week of hard work. The ballgame. The beach. A picnic. A party. It doesn’t matter what it is, but if you think about it–perhaps daydream a bit–it seems to make time pass faster.
Shouldn’t the same theory work for Mondays? Plan something for Monday after work in order to look forward to something. You deserve an exciting event at Monday’s end to motivate your work and help time pass faster.
Plug in Your Headphones
A 2015 study published in Psychology of Music, revealed that listening to music curbs stress, increased heart rate, high blood pressure, and cortisol levels. But we already kind of knew that anecdotally, no? Sounds like a remedy for Monday blues.
Make Someone’s Day
Think of someone and offer them a random act of kindness. Even a little smile on a sticky note. Or belting out a vigorous good morning to someone you don’t normally greet. In the process, you too will feel happier when you see the look on their faces.
Treat Yourself Well
On Mondays, we could all use a little something to lighten our day. Whether you treat yourself to your favorite tea or buy a piece of cheesecake for lunch, treating yourself can lighten your load on those dreaded Mondays.
Start The Day With A Jolt of Adrenaline
Attack the Monday blues with a brisk walk or an aerobics class first thing on blue Monday morning. This gets your juices flowing and creates positive energy to start the day.
If The Monday Blues Don’t Go Away
If you have tried some of the above recommendations and perhaps others and the Monday Blues are not subsiding, you may be suffering from something a little bit more serious such as an emotional alarm, which may be indicating that your:
- Job is not bearable.
- Job is not satisfying you.
- Life is unbalanced.
- Attitude towards work is unhealthy.
- Suffering from a bout of depression.
Sometimes it may not be the day of the week, but the career choices you have made that generate the Monday blues. Be certain to be honest with yourself and make the changes you need to if you suspect your emotional alarm is ringing.
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