Tips for Dealing with Mondays

Some weeks we feel just about as good as a sad old teddy bear discarded onto the front lawn like this poor guy

My ideal weekend would be one where I'm not overbooked with social engagements, and I have time to keep chipping away at my creative projects. Doing a podcast that gets released every Sunday morning, in conjunction with a newsletter helps fulfil this goal in some way. Pair that with a guitar lesson on Saturday or Sunday afternoon, and it feels like I have a serious job as a musician on the weekend.

However, looking at the income statements from being a musician does not scream financial independence so the weekdays are mostly spent helping clients with their projects. Therefore it's not uncommon for me to wake up on Monday and feel an onslaught of stress as the early morning fades away and I can feel the world waking up, getting ready to steamroll through whatever business the world is up to that week.

Here are a few tips I've thought about for dealing with the "Mondaysss" as they said in an annoying voice in the movie Office Space.

Resist the urge to jump on the busy train

You might think that I'm suggesting that you don't do anything on Monday morning, but I think that staying calm and centered is work in itself. I'm up for getting things done on Monday, but I prefer to treat this day as one where I'm easing myself into the week.

Probably a good time for affirmations

Growing up Jewish, I always found it funny to see people 'cross themselves' in movies. As I've gotten older I have come to realize that this action makes a lot of sense. It's a way of reminding oneself of their beliefs and calling in faith. Affirmations are helpful when you're dealing with overwhelm. I imagine that some people are affirmation crazy and use them all the time, yet I find that a bit excessive.

You can come up with a few statements that you say out loud or to yourself on Monday mornings, such as, "This week will be as perfect as it needs to be", or "I'm up for the challenge of returning to work". To me, an affirmation helps set some sort of intention in the mind for having a bit of a positive bent on life.

Set up an easy day for yourself on Sunday night

It might be helpful to plan out a simple Monday for yourself, the night before. That way you can skip having to feel like a chicken without a head when it's time to do stuff on Monday. This also speaks to the idea of easing yourself into the workweek.

What’s Your Take?

I just came up with a few ideas and I really don't expect that they will necessarily be a good fit for you, but hopefully this was a good opportunity for you to think about that sensation of Monday rolling around again, and perhaps come up with some strategies of your own to manage things. If you come up with something good, be sure to contact me and let me know!

Want more tips like these? My ebook has a handful of strategies for navigating the world of being a creator in the never-ending age of social media and newsfeeds.