Monday 6th January 2014 was the day famously known as Blue Monday. The term refers to the post Christmas depression, 
as people around the globe find themselves lost among the mounting credit card statements and decaying Christmas tree pines. January can feel like a long month, with many companies paying employees early in December in preparation for Christmas. Blue Monday finds itself slap back in the middle of when the majority of UK companies release wages for the holiday season, and when the next chunk is deposited. With so long to go before payday, the guilt after the obligatory chocolate binge, and the return to normal routine, many people find that this day truly is a blue one.
Mondays are tainted by the preceding reputation of being, well, pretty rubbish. How often do you hear people at 9am on a Monday morning exclaiming “THANK GOD IT’S MONDAY! I can’t wait to get stuck into my to do list!” I’d hazard a guess that it’s pretty rare. Mondays are often met with a sea of grunts and grumbles, as people feel cheated that their weekend is over so quickly, and it’s the longest possible time before the next one.
I’ll let you into a bit of a secret…I absolutely love Mondays.
Now, I’m not just saying this for the sake of a good article – honestly. Monday is one of my favourite days of the week. I’m at my most productive on a Monday; I feel recharged and energised for the week ahead.
It’s really important that we stop seeing Monday as the worst day of the week. Of course, many people and organisations who embrace employee engagement don’t suffer from the Monday morning blues, because they really believe in what they do and can’t wait for the week to start again. However, even people who claim they’re engaged at work and love their jobs can still find Mondays a bit of a drag. So here’s 5 tips we’ve put together, designed to help you make more of your Mondays:
1. Start your day with an Inspiration Hour
Some of my best ideas pop into my head over the weekend. It can happen at any point, and I email myself whenever I think of something new to try at work. I’ll then spend the first hour on a Monday morning reading through my ideas, and brainstorming for the week ahead. I call this my Inspiration Hour, and it really helps me to kick-start the week.
2. Plan, plan, plan
Many people spend the first half of the day on Monday wading through emails and scrambling through paperwork, abandoned at 5pm on Friday in favour of the pub. Instead of wondering where you left things on Friday, prioritise your to do list for the week ahead. Having a weekly plan in front of me by 11am on a Monday means I can get stuck in to my work without wasting time.
3. Ignore the grumbles of others
Grumpiness can be contagious, and it’s a mood particularly common on a Monday. It’s often the case that we mimic the moods and body language of those around us to fit in and be accepted socially, so if someone’s moaning about it being Monday, it’s all too easy to join in. Avoid doing this, as it’ll bring down your day – and your happy and confident approach could inspire others to embrace the day.
4. Give the day a purpose
Don’t see Monday as a day to catch up on emails and invoices. Plan ahead for the week, then get stuck in to the gritty stuff. Give yourself a Power Hour on a Monday afternoon, to achieve something you can feel proud of doing. It’ll set the pace for the rest of your week, and you’ll feel really productive.
5. Don’t put it off
It can be very tempting to leave big or unappealing tasks until later in the week. Don’t put it off – get it done on a Monday and you’ll be glad you did for the rest of the week. You can finish the day on a high, with the rest of the week to look forward to.
At People Lab, we’re really passionate about changing this perception because we want people to LOVE what they do. Employee Engagement isn’t something that can be achieved overnight – but it can help to start tackling the small stuff sooner rather than later. Every little thing adds up when it comes to engagement – so making your working life a bit easier with these simple tips can really help to make a difference.
