Happy(ish?) Monday!
Before you get mad at me for using such a blasphemous term, (Jess, there is no such thing as a happy Monday!) I’m here to tell you–girl, there really is such a thing as a happy first day of the week. It might take a few extra creative tricks up your sleeve (ahem, the below) but it’s not so impossible after all.
Have you tried any of these tricks yet?
1. JAM OUT, THE SECOND YOUR ALARM GOES OFF
This, I promise you, is the best Monday trick I know. When I was 19 I spent a summer in LA with my best friend Alex, interning for a PR firm. We were poor (sustaining only on granola bars and vodka sodas) and shared a king size bed for 3 straight months. Quickly growing accustomed to running up bar tabs until the wee hours in West Hollywood, you can imagine that Mondays quickly became likened to sticking our heads into a Magic Bullet on a weekly basis. The only thing that got me into my pencil skirt and out the door was the fact that we started a tradition of blaring this song the second the alarm went off. There was something about it that instantly put a spring in our step and kicked the week off on the right note. If you don’t share the same taste in music as my 19 year old self, you might find success in my other amazing (yet, at times admittedly embarrassing) Monday morning rotation options: Sweat,Rich Girl, Drive, Centerfold, Shake, Departed, Naturally, Raspberry Beret, Say My Name and Wildcard.
2. GET YOUR HANDS ON A CROCK POT
Assemble what you need Sunday night (check out these recipes for starters), cram it all in that magical little contraption on Monday morning and you’ll be mentally salivating all day looking forward to that delicious dinner! Not to mention you’ll have zero cooking to do when you get home. And less cooking=more time to have another glass of wine! Hello, best day ever?
3. PLAN A GIRLS DATE ON MONDAY NIGHT
Why do we never suggest Monday as an option when getting together with friends? We really should. Excitement to see someone you love makes the day go by so much faster! Not to mention, you need a reason to celebrate the fact that Monday is over! Bonus points if you invite your friends over for the dinner you assembled… in your crock pot!
4. GET OUT OF BED EARLIER
Waking up early has become a big one for me. This gives me some extra time to get out of bed and wrap up what I meant to finish on Sunday night (but chose to watch another episode of House Hunters International instead.) 60 extra minutes or so to linger in those comfy PJ’s, slowly sip your coffee, and even read a magazine will make a huge difference in your mental clarity once it’s time to get to work. If you haven’t heard of Hal Elrod’s Miracle Morning routine, listen to his interview with Pat Flynn (one of my favorite podcasters) and it will change your life!
5. TRY SOMETHING NEW WITH YOUR HAIR
We’ve all heard “dress to impress” as a go-to piece of Monday advice. But what about your hair? Nobody ever talks about your hair. What an easy way to make a huge impact on your appearance! I’m not talking about spending an extra 30 minutes in the bathroom with a round brush. Try a new hairstyle–be it a braid, twist, updo, whatever. Usually these are WAY easier than (gasp!) actually washing and blow drying your hair, so it’s pretty much a double win. Check out my hair board on Pinterest for some inspiration. Think of this as another version of my old lipstick trick. When you try something new, people will notice–and they’ll compliment you! When do you need nice ego boosters more than ever? Bingo. On. A. Monday.
6. START A MONDAY MORNING BREAKFAST CLUB WITH YOUR COWORKERS
A lot of people do this on Fridays, but Fridays are already one of the best days of the week. Why not have breakfast to look forward to on the worst day of the week? Grab a group of coworkers and rotate bringing in bagels, donuts, coffee, whatever it takes to get everyone excited to come into work.
7. WAIT UNTIL MONDAY TO START A NEW BOOK, TV SHOW, OR READ A NEW MAGAZINE
Think of how excited you’ll be to wake up on Monday knowing that today is the day you come home and finally start watching the new season of House Of Cards, get around to actually reading Divergent or that new issue of Vanity Fair you’ve been patiently storing in your desk since last Wednesday.
What about you? What are your tricks for making Mondays more bearable?
Photo via Larsen Sotelo
BOO HISS MONDAYS. But okay I guess these are legit tips…my friend and I started eating breakfast in the lunchroom together every day, and even if it’s for the purpose of bitching about work, it’s a nice little morning break. Happy almost Tuesday! 😉
http://www.theclydescope.com
Bitching about work breakfasts totally count 🙂
I love starting my week off on a great note!
Her Heartland Soul
http://herheartlandsoul.com
Glad you liked it! Thanks, Erin! 🙂
Mondays are the worst – but I think Tuesday is by far the very worst. Please write a follow up 😉 Hehe xx
Hahaha unfortunately I don’t think there’s hope for Tuesdays. 8-|
Such great tips, Jess! Totally agree about the crockpot tip. I’ve been meaning to make some crockpot apple cinnamon oatmeal that I saw on Pinterest.
One of my tricks to start my Monday off right is just having a great attitude!
Meghan, http://www.lincolnparkminute.com
I think that’s a great tip, Meghan! Attitude is everything 🙂
I just heard about the Miracle Morning on another podcast last week and I’m legit reading it this weekend! Getting up early to exercise everyday has already had such a positive impact on my energy level so I can’t wait to learn more about how I can get the most out of my my mornings (and life!). That tip about scheduling a date with your girlfriends on Mondays? And the breakfast club? GENIUS! I already start every day with a solo dance party or singalong to whatever’s new on spotify. They’re playlists are always on point and save me the trouble of having to use my brain before I’ve had coffee. Great tips, Jess! This was a really good one!
Love these!