Feel an overwhelming dread on Mondays? Chances are it isn’t the day that is the problem but the things you’re doing. There could be several things responsible for that feeling of anxiety and sadness. Do you have a particular task or meeting scheduled for Mondays? Is it that you don’t love doing what you’re doing? Don’t worry, this isn’t in your head. There is scientific research behind these morning blues that make us feel like we’ve woken up on the wrong side of the bed.
What are Monday blues?
According to a 2021 study by Lehigh University’s College of Business (USA) that was published in the journal Information Systems Research, it’s a let-down feeling that comes with returning to work after a weekend.
What causes these blues?
The weekend messes up our internal clocks
The weekend can go either way–you tend to oversleep or stay up way past your usual bedtime. Once you’ve upset your body clock, you have to go way back to reset it. Think about sleeping and eating on time, and building a habit all over again so you can go back to nailing your daily routine with ease.
Not all workdays are created equal
Another 2021 study examined how employees viewed the beginning of the week compared to how they perceived the end. The study compared Monday blues with the idea that employees return to work rested and recharged on Mondays. Researchers concluded that workers are not happy to return to work Mondays because they’re about five days away from the next weekend. However, the closer they get to Friday, the more their mood picks up and they feel good about dealing with whatever stressors come their way.
We’re unhealthier on Mondays
A study carried out by Tokyo Women's Medical University was published in the American Journal of Hypertension and it stated that many workers suffer a significant increase in blood pressure as they return to the office after the weekend. Hypertension is associated with a greater risk of heart attack or stroke and these results explain where there are more heart attacks on Mondays compared to the rest of the week.
What you can do to beat the blues:
Don’t live for the weekends
The week has seven days so don’t waste five of them stressed and just waiting for the weekend. If Mondays are grim days for you, make sure you slowly build a habit around them that makes you feel happy. For example, go to bed an hour earlier so you wake up well-rested. Think about the factors that make you love the weekends. Is it spending time with friends? Catching up on zzz’s? Indulging in your favourite foods? Try spreading the joy so you make all your weekdays count.
Unplug from work over the weekend
Over the weekend, avoid checking your work email. Everybody needs some downtime from work and this is your chance to completely reset and look at everything work-related with fresh eyes on Monday.
Get enough sleep
Enough but not too much. Remember to not upset your body clock but at the same time, try to go to bed at a reasonable time to avoid sleeping during the day. On Sundays, go to bed on time so you get at least seven to nine hours in the land of nods.
Treat yourself on Mondays
This one’s a winner. Is there anything better than having something to look forward to on a day when you feel blue? It could be something as simple as eating your favourite dinner, watching a movie, playing games with loved ones, or even just taking some extra time to read a new book.