We’ve all been there…its 8 p.m. on a Sunday and you already start feeling the Monday morning blues. After a nice weekend with our friends and family, and away from the hectic nature of work, waking up on Monday morning with a good attitude can be a challenge. These feelings can be difficult to escape and often lead to us missing out on joy in the current moment or deciding if we feel this bad on Sunday nights we must be in the wrong job. The Monday morning blues can keep us feeling discontent and is often a tactic used by Satan to distract us from the blessings and work God has called us to.Here are 7 tactics for a happier, more meaningful Monday:
- Prepare for Monday on Friday. Mondays are always harder when we get into the office unorganized and stressed. Spend some time on Friday afternoon reflecting on your week. Make a list of what went well, what didn’t go well and what your priorities for the next week need to be. This way, when you come into the office on Monday you already have perspective on your work and you are prepared to tackle the most important things.
“Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.” Proverbs 24:27
- Be diligent about gratitude. Taking time to just be thankful and recognize the blessings in our life does wonders for our attitude. When you start feeling the Monday morning blues get out a pen and paper and start writing down all the things you are thankful for in your work. Some examples might be: work is an outlet for your creativity, it provides for your family, it provides challenge, or it allows you to serve others. Scripture is full of encouragement to be grateful. It’s an important part of living a faithful, obedient life.
“Giving thanks always for all things…” Ephesians 5:20
- Stop complaining to your co-workers. It’s really easy to give in to the temptation and complain about Mondays with your co-workers. It may even feel like you’re building camaraderie, but in fact, you are just perpetuating your misery. If you stop complaining the people you work around will notice and will most likely gravitate toward your positive attitude. Imagine what work would feel like if you changed the conversation about Mondays in your office.
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29
- Make a list of the things you are excited about for the week. There are things you’re looking forward to in the week ahead and it will greatly change your attitude if you are intentional about shifting your focus and changing your perspective.
“And the Lord answered me: ‘Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.’” Habakkuk 2:2
- Do something enjoyable to draw your weekend to a close. My husband and I have very different schedules on Sundays so we make dessert dates a priority around 8 p.m. each Sunday. This allows us to savor that time and re-connect before the busyness of Monday and the following week begins.
”There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil.” Ecclesiastes 2:24
- Reflect on why you chose your job. When you accepted your job there was most likely something about it that motivated and excited you. Maybe it was a good opportunity for your career, provided needed balance for your family, or the overall mission of the organization is inspiring. Too often we forget why God called us to the place we’re in. When we take time to remember we will most likely be reinvigorated for the work He has for us.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
- Decide to be obedient. We are called by God to work and he reminds us that work is good because he too works. It may be difficult and stressful at times, but part of being obedient to Christ is being faithful in our work. Work is an opportunity to worship our creator and sometimes just remembering the blessing it is to do His work is an incredible motivator.
“To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
