“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain
What are your Monday mornings like?
Are you refreshed and recharged, ready to tackle another week of productivity?
Or, are you dragging yourself out of bed twenty minutes late, desperately hoping that someone’s already started up the coffeemaker?
Five Ways to Have a Better Monday
Mondays are important. Just as eating a good breakfast helps you launch a great day, having a good Monday helps you launch a great week. Here are five effective ways to make sure your Monday goes well:
- Plan ahead. As much as you hate working on the weekends, doing just a little planning ahead of time can make your Mondays much better. This can be as simple as getting a full night’s sleep (instead of staying up late on Sunday) or packing your lunch the night before. One of my personal favorites, though, is taking five minutes during the weekend to “pre-prioritize” your Monday. Grab a notepad or planner and jot down the first three tasks you need to complete Monday morning. Then stick to them.
- Wake up earlier than you need to. Time management is a lot easier when you have a lot of time to spare. Plan on getting up at least a half hour earlier than you think you really need to. It might be difficult to roll out of bed early, but that extra 30 minutes will save your day when (not if) something unexpected happens.
- Eat a good breakfast. Eating breakfast prepares your body for a hard day’s work. Studies have shown time and time again that without a good dose of fuel to jolt it out of sleep mode, your body (and your brain) won’t be up and running in time for work. If you don’t have time to sit down to a leisurely breakfast (I totally understand), be sure to grab something on the way. Just stay away from the fast food.
- Drop the caffeine. That cup of coffee may help you keep your eyes open, but it’s not a substitute for a good breakfast (see above). Instead of using caffeine as a crutch, try: a) allocating more time for sleep on Sunday night; and b) substituting an apple for that cup of joe. Some studies show that eating an apple in the morning helps keep you going longer (and healthier) than coffee.
- Be the motivator. Remember, you’re not the only one with a case of the Mondays. More than likely, you’ve got a few co-workers who aren’t ready for the weekend to be over just yet. Be the person who helps them wake up and get energized for the day – even if you’re still groggy yourself. Be encouraging and upbeat for their sake, and you might wind up giving yourself a boost in the process.
Got Anything to Add?
If you’ve got a great tip for making Mondays better, why not share it with the rest of us by leaving a comment? I, for one, will be very grateful.
Happy Monday to you all! Here’s to a great week!
- Jeffrey