Case of the Mondays

Peter: Let me ask you something. When you come in on Monday and you're not feeling real well, does anyone ever say to you, 'Sounds like someone has a case of the Mondays'?

Lawrence: No. No man. Shit, no, man. I believe you'd get your ass kicked sayin' something like that, man.

ANNND SCENE.

If you're looking for a movie with a plot thinner than a Post-it note with a pace slower than a snail on a coffee break, then "Office Space" might just be the film for you! But now, if you've ever wanted to live out your printer-smashing fantasies vicariously through disgruntled office workers, then this movie might just be your jam. (See what I did there?)

In our house, I don't allow any speak of Monday until, well, MONDAY. I don't want to hear Sunday after church how much you hate your job and dread going back. I just got me some Jesus. I don't want to hear about what SALLY did on Friday at 4:42 that got you all hot and bothered and you've drank up it's negativity all weekend, ready to point your magical wand at her with a POTRONOUS spell come Monday. Hermione ain't here friend and I don't care. It's SUNDAY. The Lord's day. Day of rest, day of fun, day of enjoying as much as we possibly can until our very last moment. Netflix & naps. Gardening, football, friends, books. Whatever. Sunday is delicious. DRINK. IT. UP.

Have you ever noticed how Mondays feel like a cruel joke played on us by the universe? It's like we get a taste of freedom over the weekend, only to be dragged back into the daily grind on Monday morning. But hey, at least we get to choose our own version of voluntary imprisonment, right?

And let's not forget the classic case of the MANIC MONDAY - when you realize you left something undone on Friday and now it's haunting you like a ghost. The struggle of rushing to get it done or facing the consequences is all too real!

That being said, when I think about Monday, I'm more trying to figure out how I can make THIS week better than last. Can't help it. I was born that way. I don't have time for Negative Nancy who clings to criticism or like Bitter Betty who is unable to move on from her co-worker's disapproval of her latest idea. Betty, it's time to move past it. Just because some people don't grasp your idea, it doesn't mean it super sucks. Improve your presentation and pitch it again!

I tried to Google why Mondays suck. This is what came up...

• Studies show that the average employee doesn't smile until 11:16 a.m. on a Monday.

• Monday is the day when the most coffee is consumed in the workplace.

• Employees are most likely to make typos in emails on Monday mornings.

• The "Monday Blues" is a real phenomenon where productivity can drop by 30%.

• Research suggests that most people don't crack their first smile until 11:16 a.m. on Monday.

  
  

WEAK.

Then I searched how to improve your dread of going back to work on Monday, and got this...

1. **Plan Your Weekend:** Make sure to plan enjoyable activities for your weekend to relax and recharge before the workweek begins.

2. **Set Realistic Goals:** Break down your tasks for the week into manageable goals. This can help reduce feelings of overwhelm.

3. **Practice Self-Care:** Prioritize self-care activities such as exercise, meditation, or hobbies that help you unwind and de-stress.

4. **Stay Organized:** Use a planner or digital tools to organize your tasks and schedule for the week ahead. This can help you feel more in control.

5. **Focus on Positivity:** Try to shift your mindset by focusing on the positive aspects of your job and the opportunities it provides.

6. **Connect with Colleagues:** Building positive relationships with your coworkers can make the work environment more enjoyable and supportive.

7. **Seek Support:** If your dread of Mondays is persistent, consider talking to a therapist or counselor to explore underlying issues and coping strategies.

ALSO WEAK! SO... if we are going to strategize on how to be more prepared for Monday, I think it goes more like this...

-**Plan Your Weekend:** Make sure to plan enjoyable activities for your weekend, like attempting to break the world record for most naps taken in a day. Allow for recovery time for all the fun you'll have.

- **Set Realistic Goals:** Break down your tasks for the week into manageable goals, such as aiming to only hit the snooze button three times instead of the usual ten. It's the little things.

- **Practice Self-Care:** Prioritize self-care activities like starting your day with a Bloody Mary and a pound of bacon, binge-watching your favorite TV show or indulging in a pint of ice cream the size of your head before bed. Don't forget the chocolate syrup.

- **Stay Organized:** Use a planner or digital tools to organize your tasks and schedule for the week ahead, because we all know you can't remember what day it is without a reminder. Setting out an old margarine tub to collect beer caps, tabs or wine corks will allow you to recap just how much you consumed over the weekend so you can be sure you have enough beverages on hand for NEXT weekend. We all know running out of libations is a rookie mistake.

- **Focus on Positivity:** Try to shift your mindset by focusing on the positive aspects of your job, like the free office coffee that tastes like regret but keeps you going.

- **Connect with Colleagues:** Building positive relationships with your coworkers can make the work environment more enjoyable, especially when you have someone to share your conspiracy theories about the office microwave with and trying and figure out how big that stick is that's stuck up Nancy's a$$.

- **Seek Support:** FINALLY, If your dread of Mondays is persistent, consider talking to a therapist or counselor to explore underlying issues and coping strategies, or better yet, just vent to your pet rock named Steve.

Enough talk about Monday. It's time for Naked & Afraid.

Love & Light