CONQUER the Monday Anxiety

Here are a few things you can do to avoid feeling overwhelmed at the start of a new week.

The key is reducing your decision-making. Reducing the amount of decisions you have to make will help the week feel smooth and free up your mental energy for other things.

START ON FRIDAY

It’s super tempting to just take it easy on Friday, believe me, I get it. But on the Fridays that I complete just a couple of extra work tasks, I notice it makes the following Monday much less hectic. Try not to leave extra tasks for yourself to do on Monday, you will thank yourself. 

At the end of your day on Friday, set yourself up for a smooth morning on Monday. Clean off your desk / work area, tidy up, organize your space, and lay out anything you may need to use first thing on Monday. This will help you transition more easily into the week and avoid additional chaos.

WEEKEND PLANNING

With my job, I don’t always know what will be going on each day of the week, so I usually plan my work tasks, day-by-day. I do spend some time reviewing the week, filling in any deadlines, meetings, or appointments, just so I have an overview of how the week looks. I also like to brain dump and make a list of the tasks, work related or personal, that I know need to get done the following week. 

This is also a good time to review monthly goals. What tasks can you add to your week to stay on track? For example, if your goal is to workout 3 days the following week, make a note of which days you think will be best to accomplish this. Or if you have a large project to finish this month, which tasks can you complete this week to keep you on track with your deadline?

I also like to meal-prep on the weekend. I usually make enough for 2-3 lunches during my work week. That’s 2 or 3 days I don’t even have to think about what to eat for lunch. I can start off the week with healthy choices and not have to decide what to eat / order.

The key is reducing your decision-making. Reducing the amount of decisions you have to make will help the week feel smooth and free up your mental energy for other things.

SUNDAY PREP

Take some time on Sunday to prep for the following week. In addition to planning and meal prepping, there are other things you can do to help ease you into Monday. 

Plan your outfit the night before. Leave your clothing in an easily accessible space. Prep your bathroom with all the items you will need in the morning. Pack your work bag and lunch bag with all the items you can pack ahead of time. Get your coffee maker ready to go, wash up any dishes, tidy up your spaces.

These few small tasks will help reduce the morning shuffle and stress. You can use those extra 5 or 10 minutes to enjoy your coffee, read, or stretch. Prep the night before so that you can start the day on a positive note.