Goodbye Grumpy Mondays

Do you wake up grumpy on Mondays? It doesn’t matter whether you own your business or work for someone else; Monday mornings, especially after a long weekend like the one we just had are often a huge mental hurdle that can throw your whole week off.

Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to help you get your week started right. They take a little extra effort at first, but once you form these great habits, you will find they are easy to follow and offer a tremendous benefit to your sanity.
No grumpiness or constant reach for coffee to keep your eyes open.

1. Plan your week on Sunday.
If you wait until Monday morning to plan and schedule your week, it will not take long before you find yourself engulfed in daily business “fires” and adding tasks and meetings before you even finish your planning. Instead, consider planning your week on Sunday evening, when it is quiet and you have the time and space to concentrate. You will sleep better knowing the task is done and you can devote more time to a morning routine that eases you into the week.

2. Create a morning routine.
There is plenty of evidence that shows that getting out of bed early, rather than snoozing your way through your morning, has tremendous benefits to your mental and physical wellness. If you have a tough time in the mornings, try getting up and taking a quick and brisk walk around your block, which will get your blood flowing and tell your body and mind that it is time to wake.
You can also jump in your room if you’re not inclined to go out, the idea is to do something that gets your heart beating fast and wakes you up.

3. Call a friend.
On Monday, take five or 10 minutes to call a good friend or reconnect with an old friend, one with whom you can have a casual conversation. These conversations often offer perspective to my life and typically end in a smile and they help two people ease into the week.

4. Take one new personal risk.
There is a great deal of benefit to writing out your goals. I like to spend five minutes each day ( or most days. Sometimes it seems like too much of a chore! I’m only human.) to review my ongoing goals and priorities. On Mondays, however, I make it a point to set one new and personal goal for the week, such as trying new exercise, reading a book, or jogging a new route. Lagos traffic can be hectic so you can pick an activity to indulge in while you wait out the traffic. It doesn’t have to be serious stuff; one time I made it my goal to try one new cocktail daily (now I can almost describe the taste of 10 different cocktails. LOL!) The point is to provide you motivation during your busy week to pursue an interest that you enjoy outside of work.
That way You have something to keep you happy while You work.

5. Be Kind, be happy. 
Keep in mind that you are sharing this Monday with everyone on earth, so to help relieve the stress of the beginning of the week, consider an unselfish act of kindness during your morning, such as a compliment to a complete stranger or leaving a co-worker a kind note. Maybe even a tip for the cleaning lady. It will make both of your days a little better. Half the world is frustrated, don’t join them.

You can make your Mondays fun thus setting the pace for a great week!