How can you love Mondays?
The reason you hate Monday is your Sunday routine.
Hey,
This is Darshak from Medium, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Today, let’s talk about Monday fever!
Weekdays are okay-ish, tolerable, and manageable. But Monday blues never seem to leave us. We’re instantly caught up in the myriad of anxious Monday thoughts right after the Sunday afternoon meal.
According to a survey, 81 percent of people report feeling anxious on Sunday afternoons, anticipating the upcoming week.
Dreading Mondays is understandable, given that you’ve only had two days of relaxation before a five-day working stretch. Poor Monday! Everyone hates it!
I hated Mondays for my entire life because I had no clear vision of my week, lack of enthusiasm for my work, and many more unfathomable reasons.
The more I forced myself to love Mondays, the more I dreaded them.
Since I couldn’t change my relationship with Mondays, I started maximizing Sundays.
When I unlocked the hidden potential of Sundays, I regretted wasting a lot of my life getting up late, going out for breakfast, and binge-watching Netflix the entire day.
The reason you hate Mondays is your Sunday routine because what happens on Sundays stays with you the entire week!
If you use your Sundays instead of spending it, you can recharge your mental, physical and emotional batteries and set yourselves up for a terrific, productive Monday/week.
I know you want your Sundays to be work-free, routine-free, playful, guilt-free enjoyment, and relaxing.
That’s exactly why this article is for you — I am sharing my Sunday routine that made me fall in love with Mondays. It also rewired my brain to perform at my best levels during the entire week (and keep my stress levels low). I am sure it will do the same for you.
It will also enable you to tap into your unexplored self by listening to your mind, body, and soul.
Translate Theoretical Lessons Into Practical
Every day, we’re inundated with information. We are constantly being bombarded by information, whether it’s from podcasts, social media, books, or news.
Soaking information is one thing, but applying it is quite another.
So, use your Sundays to experiment with what you’ve learned. If you’ve read an article or watched a video, reflect on the learnings. Take 30 seconds to quickly understand what was taught and how it will impact your life.
Don’t make this difficult; make it simple by making a list of new things you wish to try out. Work through the list and discover how thrilling it is to take positive steps ahead.
You won’t believe how much pleasure and satisfaction you’ll have each day.
However, you may occasionally encounter obstacles, especially while building a new habit or being calm.
But don’t be alarmed!
As long as you have a motive in life, your Mondays won’t overwhelm you. They simply can’t!
Instead, they’ll excite you and make you feel happy. There’s the psychology behind this happiness.
Researcher Rich Walker of Winston-Salem State University studied over 500 diaries and 30,000 event memories to conclude:
“In contrast to persons who have fewer experiences, people who engage in a diversity of events are more likely to maintain pleasant feelings for a longer time and minimize negative ones.”
Sunday Time + Creativity = Passive Income + Freedom
When you’re working on creating a passive income stream, you’re using the time to invest in yourself and your future. You’re setting yourself up for a future where you won’t have to rely on someone else for your income.
Sundays are a great day to work on this because you have the time to focus without worrying about work distractions.
Also, if you want to earn additional income using your creative energy, there’s no better day than Sundays.
Before quitting my 9–5, I extensively used my weekends to build a foundation for my blogging.
Here are a few ideas to monetize your Sundays while keeping the entertainment and relaxation factors intact:
If you’re an orator who loves local history and monuments, consider becoming a tour guide in your city.
If you’re a little outgoing, you can earn money by watching people’s pets or watering their plants.
If you have a few hours on the weekend, delivering food and groceries might be a rewarding side job.
Look around your flat or house for items you can rent out. Begin by renting a space. I got this tip from my neighbor — he rents out his bike, canoe, camping kit, etc. He says it’s a bonus as he gets to meet new people and socialize.
People may host a party in your backyard or homeroom if you’re comfortable.
If spending the weekend with kids seems fun, consider being a weekend nanny.
Take advantage of your talents by working at weddings on weekends. You can list your services on “The Knot” or “GigSalad” or on a more general party website like “Thumbtack.”
Even if you don’t need money, you must engage in activities that keep your brain active. Researchers have found that keeping your brain engaged enhances its vitality.
“Doing new things preserves brain cells and connections. It may even regenerate brain cells.
To put it simply, using your creativity can help your brain stay fit.
Being active gives you more energy during the day and sleep better at night, making you wake up on Monday morning 2x energized.
Take Back What’s Yours
As we get to the end of this list of activities to do on Sundays, the final item that you should include in your Sunday routine is “me-time” — take back what’s yours!
A productive week demands a properly charged battery.
Give yourself the much-needed attention, care, and pampering on Sundays. Don’t ignore yourself.
If you’re lost, you can’t gain anything. If you’re consumed, you can refill anything in your life.
Some me-time activities include:
Resting
Baking/ Painting/ Creative DIY projects
A walk in the park
Body grooming
Catching up with your family
Eating scrumptious food
Engaging in some light aerobics
Reading a book
Writing a journal
Getting a massage
Me-time doesn’t involve:
Doomscrolling on social media
Netflix or binge-watching shows
Video games
Dating apps
Getting drunk
Me-time is about paying attention to your body and mind and tuning them together.
Spending time to recharge will leave you feeling energized, focused, and prepared to face whatever obstacles may arise in the future.
As a result, you’ll be equipped to be more productive than ever before when the week begins.
According to Healthline, me-time is an excellent method of reducing overwhelm.
A Final Word
So, having a productive week or a recharged Monday is directly proportional to your Sunday rituals.
I’m not implying that you should jam your Sunday with all of these activities — it’s up to you which ones fits your lifestyle. Do things that bring you the most happiness and the most benefit.
Sunday is more than just a relaxation day — it’s an opportunity to do things you might not otherwise have the time or opportunity to do.
Don’t spend your Sundays lying in bed binge-watching your favorite TV shows!
I hope you enjoyed reading my story as much I did writing it.
If you did, don’t forget to share it with your friends and family.
Before you go, I will leave you with a powerful quote from David Dweck
“Mondays are the start of the work week which offer new beginnings 52 times a year!”
Thanks for reading.
Stay happy, blessed, and safe!
See you next Wednesday!
With love,
Darshak
Very insightful article, Darshak! Loved it