How to stop Monday anxiety. I was just scrolling through my Facebook feed and stumbled upon the following quote,

SMONDAY
The moment when Sunday stops feeling like Sunday
and the anxiety of Monday kicks in.

I’m sure we are all familiar with that awful feeling. Frankly it can be paralyzing when those Monday blues kick in and it spoils what could and should be a lovely Sunday night. There are so many other stresses whether warranted or not so why do we need to add every single Sunday night into the equation?

HOW TO STOP MONDAY ANXIETY

Identify what you are stressed about. I believe that a lot of our stresses are triggered by the unknown. We make stuff up and then we let it spiral out of control. Take some time to think about what you are stressing about specifically, is it one thing or are you overthinking things? When you identify the problem then you are taking the first step to mastering it.

Make Friday Your Sunday. Rather than leaving everything until the last minute, aka Sunday night, try getting ready for your Monday morning on Sunday. Figure out what you are going to wear and plan your Monday ahead of time. This way there is no rush and much less stress.

Meditate. Seriously, if you don’t do it any other day of the week, try meditating first thing Monday morning, or journaling, or fitting in a workout. Anything that relieves stress will do. Don’t start your day in go-go-go mode, instead start slowly. You’ll be more in control of your emotions and ready to start the week. Read, WHY YOU SHOULD TRY MEDITATION

Plan A Good Week. Rather than freaking out about everything that you have to do this week why not try focusing on all the good things. Are you meeting a friend for drinks, or attending a class you love or maybe you are working on a fun project? This may be easier said than done, but why not be grateful for the good things instead of thinking about the bad.

Don’t Leave The Fun For The Weekend. Sure, we all kind of live for the weekend, but why? Who says that we can’t do fun things during the week? There are so many enjoyable activities that can be done Monday through Friday. You can take a class you’ve always wanted to try, you can resolve to get more active, you can take up a new hobby, really the possibilities are endless.

Wake Up Early (ish) On The Weekend. The problem with sleeping in on the weekends is that you throw off your sleeping patterns and waking up on a Monday becomes harder. It’s crucial to get enough sleep to prepare you for the upcoming week. Sleep is vital to our mental health. Read WHY BEAUTY SLEEP IS A REAL THING.

Try For A Monday-Light Day. If at all possible, try not to schedule early morning meetings. Get to your office, have a cup of coffee and take a breath.

Plan Sunday Night Rituals. Instead of ending the weekend in a stressful way, why not replace it with something fun and relaxing, something you can look forward to. This could be quiet time together with a partner, an evening walk or sitting down to read a good book or watch a movie. Some time ago my husband and I started the habit of toasting the upcoming week. We sit down together and wish each other a successful week.

None of these are huge changes, you just need to adapt to a new way of thinking. It won’t always be easy and it won’t always work, but if you keep working at it, hopefully you’ll be able to keep those Monday blues at bay so that you can actually enjoy your weekend to its fullest.