For many of us, Monday always seems to come round too fast. Just as we are enjoying our weekend and personal time, Sunday evening arrives and we realise we have to be at work again in a few hours.
It is always better to start the week off on a bright note. Here are five ways to make your Monday better:
1) Start Your Monday on a Sunday
You may be up in arms about this, thinking that you are cutting your weekend short. However, dedicating half an hour of your Sunday to preparing what you need for Monday will greatly lessen the stress you have to face.
For example, if you intend to prepare lunch to bring to work, you can already do so on a Sunday night. You can also prepare for your dinner ahead by slicing or portioning your ingredients, so all you need to do when you get home from work on Monday is cook.
While you may want to relish every minute of your Sunday, Monday would be more manageable if you prepare for what you need the night before.
2) Have Two Alarms (And Set Them at Intervals)
If you have trouble waking up in the morning, you may want to consider two alarms set at different times, ideally five to 10 minutes apart, to make sure you wake up early. By giving yourself more time on a Monday morning, you do not have to rush to get to work, and you better prepare yourself for unexpected emergencies that may require your immediate attention.
3) Set Your Priorities for Monday
Tasks that you have yet to complete from the past weeks, along with new ones in the coming week, can overwhelm you. To avoid drowning in a sea of work on Monday, list down your tasks on a to-do list and arrange them by the level of priority. A to-do list will make it easier for you to keep tabs on what you need to focus on, one task at a time.
4) Practise ‘Mindfulness Monday’ (It is also great for the rest of the week!)
Once you get rolling on a Monday morning, do not forget to take a few moments to practise mindfulness. With a busy and overloaded schedule, it can be easy to lose yourself in work and feel completely drained at the end of the day.
Pause for short breaks throughout your workday. Step away from your desk for a coffee break, a short walk, or listen to some music to relax. This is also useful to manage stress the rest of the week.
5) Take It Easy on a Monday
This is where all the tips fall into place. If you prepare for your Monday, wake up and get to work early, and set your priorities for the day, you can start off the week feeling less overwhelmed. Taking it easy means not burying yourself in your work first thing in the morning but pacing yourself into ‘work mode’.
With over 500 academic programmes for higher learning and professional certification courses for skills development, we provide opportunities for you to always stay relevant. To speak to one of our consultants, please call 8613 8989 or email us at [email protected]