Mondays can be hard on your mental health because you are aware they are the start of another work week. When you have a weekend of freedom and relaxation, your stress comes back up as soon as you have to go to work. To avoid Monday stress, it is best to find things to look forward to during the week so you can stay positive and focus on improving your mental health.
Use Sunday to Prepare
Instead of letting all your stress and worries attack you on Monday, you can take time the day before to prepare for it. You can go through the emails that you avoided during the weekend. Take a look at your schedule for Monday and any special projects you have to accomplish so that nothing is a surprise. Instead of spending your Sunday night scrolling through social media, try to get to sleep early so that waking up the next morning is not so difficult.
Find Something to Look Forward To
Monday does not have to be a dreadful day if you can find something to look forward to. It can be something simple like having your favorite breakfast or lunch, or you can get takeout from one of your favorite restaurants to avoid cooking. You can give yourself a personal reward to create joyful anticipation for what is to come, like hanging out with your friends or a fun workout class. You can even give yourself an extra break or create a lighter schedule for Monday so that you do not overwhelm yourself. If you are excited about even one aspect of the day, it will drive you to start the day with positivity and anticipation instead of worries.
Focus on Your Mental Health
Use your Mondays to self-soothe yourself. This can be things like meditation, hot baths, or journaling. Before your daily demands, you can take a 20-minute walk around your neighborhood to help de-stress yourself. Facetiming a friend or relative before work starts or after working, depending on that person’s schedule, can make a difference in how you view your day. You can trick your brain into focusing on the positive things of the day instead of the pain, fear, and sadness. By focusing on your mental health and the positive aspects that await you for the day, you will not see Monday as a time of worry but the start of an exciting new week.
Mondays may seem like a nerve-wracking day — not only is it the start of another work week but the start of a week’s worth of responsibilities. It is important to change your way of thinking when Monday starts so that you can focus on your mental health and find positivity in the day. At Alta Loma, we can teach you all about how to treat your anxiety. Located in Georgetown, Texas, we can provide you with individualized therapy, therapeutic recreational activities, life and coping skills education, and more. Please call give us a call at (866) 457-3843 to learn more.
