Mondays—the day Garfield hates and The Mamas & The Papas sing about. We’ve all dreaded a Monday or two, haven’t we? According to Forbes Health, a whopping 80% of all working professionals and over 90% of Millennial and Gen-Z workers suffer from what’s more recently been coined as the “Sunday scaries.”
Even we at Team Simon aren’t immune to the occasional Monday blues. But, being the Optimists we are, we’ve made it our mission to add a little positivity to your Mondays. So, in the spirit of helping others and spreading some joy, we are sharing some of our favorite Monday survival strategies that you may or may not find useful.
If you’ve found any of them helpful—or wish to share your own better-Monday strategies—we’d love to hear from you at [email protected].
1. Prep Your Morning Coffee on Sunday Night
“Did you know we literally make thousands of decisions a day? One way I reduce my Monday-morning decision-making is by prepping my coffee ahead of time. I take some time on Sunday afternoons to make a pitcher of cold brew so it’s steeped and in the fridge, ready to go. With iced coffee in hand, I can start the week feeling ahead of the game.” —Rebekah, Marketing
2. Take 15-Minutes to Walk Around the Block
“I’ve gotten in the habit of starting my week with a walk around the block, typically just before breakfast. It’s like fresh air for the soul. Too often we can overlook the enormous benefits of a simple stroll. Also, it’s excellent for your creativity and thinking through problems. If you’re feeling stuck on something, my advice is to try walking it off.” —Sara, Empowerment
3. Try a Special Monday Self-Care Routine
“I swear by my feel-good Monday self-care routine: I wait for the sun to rise, and then go for a walk with my cat. After work in the evening, I take another long walk with my cat. When we get back, I play music and do yoga in a sunlit room. Afterward, I meditate! By this point, I am feeling really happy regardless of how the day went. It’s about being kind to yourself. On an extra special day, I’ll soak in the hot tub in the evening too.” —Lisa, Tech
4. Take 5 Minutes to Tidy Your Workspace First Thing in the Morning
“As a remote worker, I’ve found that incorporating small rituals into my Monday routine makes a big difference in my productivity and mood. I always start by taking a few minutes to ensure that my workspace is clean and organized. Yes, it’s a small thing, but science has my back on this: Studies show that a clean desk can help with productivity, creativity, and a calm and clear mind. What’s more, it can instantly make you feel more professional and ready to get down to business.” — Pai, Experiences
5. Embrace “N.M.M.M.” (“No Meetings Monday Mornings”)
“I love my job, but I also love sleeping, so sometimes Mondays can be hard, even for me. I’ve been trying to uphold the hard rule of ‘No Meeting Monday Mornings.’ So, unless something is absolutely urgent and completely on fire, the calendar is blocked off. It feels like a nice soft landing into the work week, and I can focus on setting up my week for maximum success without having to rush to grab that extra Monday morning coffee between client calls.” —Sharin, Experiences
6.Take $10 to the Grocery Store and Treat Yourself
“I live within walking distance of my grocery store, so to brighten my Mondays, I usually go for a ‘superfluous’ snacks and beverage run. Anything I otherwise wouldn’t buy, I treat myself to. I will avail myself of Kettle Chips, La Croix, Outshine popsicles, or a chocolate croissant. Yes, it’s a simple pleasure, but it can make all of the difference to your mood.” —David, Production
7. Try Some High-Intensity Exercise
“Monday mornings are when I set aside time for a 45-minute virtual fitness class that I find on YouTube, usually a mix of cardio and light resistance training. I choose high-intensity routines to essentially shock my body into a higher gear to start my week, which leaves me feeling sharper, more energetic, and alert. Afterward, I’m fully prepared to dive headlong into work.” —Henrietta, CEO
8. Create a Special Monday Soundtrack
“I make my Mondays fun with music. I start my day with my favorite Spotify playlist of Animal Crossing lo-fi to trick myself into thinking that being productive matches the vibe of the music. (Am I inadvertently classical conditioning myself? Who’s to say—but all I know is I feel better doing work if my mind thinks that I’m doing that work for my little animal villager neighbors on my five-star-rated island.) Then, in the afternoon, when go for a walk, I try to listen to a new album each time. It’s the perfect combo of familiar favorites in the morning and something new and exciting to look forward to in the afternoon.” —Emily, Marketing
9. Plan a Social Outing for Monday Night
“Just because it’s Monday doesn’t mean you can’t have fun plans! It can be a game night with friends, a movie, a dinner reservation, or a bike ride. I think sprinkling activities throughout the weekdays, in general, is a great way to get out of the house (especially if you work fully remote) and a way to ensure you aren’t trying to cram all your fun into just the weekends!” —Olivia, Operations
10. Save Your Fave Food for Monday Night
“I love to indulge in a more weekend-appropriate dinner on Monday nights, like pizza, a burger, or pad Thai. I find that having something to look forward to early in the week is a real mood-booster. In terms of nutrition, Tuesdays feel like my Mondays.” —Keenan, Marketing
11. Attack Your Biggest Project Head-On
“After I’ve caught up with my team and held my morning meetings, I’ll always block out as much time as I can on Monday afternoons to hyper-focus on the biggest project that will make the rest of the week feel better once it’s complete.” —Greg, Content
12. Create a Light Landing Into Your Work Day
“Move easier meetings first, harder meetings to later in the morning. This allows me the space to embrace my weekend catch-up first and plan my day and week out a bit. It also creates space for me to relax on Sunday night knowing I don’t need to be prepped for anything first thing in the morning.” —Molly, Experiences
13. Have a Quick Catchup with Your Teammates
“Having a quick status meeting each Monday always starts the week off on a really nice foot. I get to see my awesome team, be reminded of all of the brilliant things they do, and we get clarity on who’s doing what for that week. It’s a great way to connect, say hi, support each other, and give everyone autonomy to execute from that point forward.” —Joi, Operations
14. Touch Grass!
“Yes, I know it’s a meme online, but it’s especially for remote workers to get out into the world, even if it’s for a very short amount of time. You’ve got to feel some sunshine and talk to someone—even a gas station attendant!” —Zach, Production
