It’s a scenario you know all too well.

You’re in bed, having quite possibly the best sleep of your life. Your pillow is soft. Your blankets are warm. Everything seems right in the world.

Then, your alarm goes off.

And reality sinks in.

It’s Monday.

You’ve got to get up and start the week over again. A.K.A. the last thing you want to do.

Up until a little less than a year ago, this was me just about every Monday. I dreaded getting up and starting a new week more than anything. I would trudge through Mondays with virtually no energy or motivation. In terms of productivity, it was a wasted day for me.

But then, a life-changing realization dawned on me. Why was I bothering to get out of bed if I wasn’t going to utilize Mondays to their fullest capability? If I was only going to give everything a half-hearted effort, then what was the point of getting up at all?

After asking myself these questions, I decided I was going to make a change. I wasn’t going to let Mondays account for nothing anymore. I was going to make them mean something. And by doing a couple of things differently, I was able to accomplish this goal.

So, if you find yourself in a constant battle with Mondays, hopefully these tricks can help tip the scales in your favor.

Change your perspective. Now.

There’s an old saying you’ve probably seen plastered on a million different inspirational quote posters (you know, those ones your high school English teacher had up on their wall, the ones with rainbows and waterfalls in the background) that says “attitude is everything.”

I don’t typically design my personal goals around inspirational poster quotes, I can tell you from experience this one really is effective in shaking the Monday blues. Your perception of Mondays dictates pretty much everything. So, if you go into them with an I’m-going-to-be-tired-and-miserable-all-day attitude, that’s probably how you’re going to feel by the end.

Instead of thinking about how miserable Mondays are, try and take the opposite approach. Tell yourself that Mondays are great. That you’ll be energetic and productive from start to finish. You don’t necessarily have to believe these things (I certainly don’t some most of the time). But if you tell yourself they’re true over a long period of time, you might be surprised by the results.

To use another old saying, it’s kind of like a “fake it till you make it” approach. The more you say to yourself, “I’m going to wake up and dominate this Monday,” the better chance it’ll actually happen.

Obviously, this strategy isn’t going to make your desire to stay asleep suddenly vanish (wouldn’t that be great though?). It is, however, going to encourage you to make the most of what you can.

To summarize, listen to your inspirational poster quotes!!

Treat Yourself

Did you read that and think I was going to insert that Parks & Rec scene?

Of course I am.

Sometimes, I think we forget just how powerful incentives can be. And when it comes to Mondays, they can be particularly powerful.

One of the best ways to get yourself going on a Monday is through self-reward.

Think of something you really enjoy. It could be your go-to Starbucks order or shopping at a particular store or watching your favorite show on Netflix. Then, think of something you have to do that you really don’t enjoy. Something like getting out of bed on a Monday morning or doing your laundry or making your morning commute.

Create a reward system for yourself. For every one or two of the displeasurable things you accomplish, allow yourself to do something you enjoy. Did you get up early and finish that laundry you’ve been putting off? Treat yourself to a coffee. Did you go for a run after work or school? Spend a part of the evening watching TV.

On Mondays, it’s all about balancing the good and the bad. Don’t try forcing yourself to conquer a million different goals without taking breaks. You’ll never learn to love (or at least tolerate) Mondays if you just make them more miserable.

Read something motivational

A little bit of extra motivation can never hurt. I put together some graphics with some of my favorite quotes in the past, if you want to check those out. Pinterest is another great place to find something to inspire you on a Monday.

Above all, the most important thing to remember is what you put into something is what you get out of something. Forcing yourself to be productive on a Monday can seem impossible, but it can help you get where you want to go.

To finish, I’d like to leave you with one of my favorite quotes: “Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally. It comes from what you do consistently.”

Good luck with your Monday. You’ve got this.

How do you feel about Mondays? 

Sincerely,

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