Blue Monday, the most depressing day of the year. At least, that’s what we’re told today should be. As always, it’s not the fact that it’s a Monday in January, but rather our opinion of this fact that influences ourselves. Personally, this Monday was just like any other for me. I’ve had a good first day of the week and I had a great weekend, so why let the fact that it’s Monday influence me? We can’t change the fact that time moves on, so inevitably it will be Monday again.

From hating Mondays, to seeing a fresh new start

Mondays are loathed by many people and this already starts on Sunday, when there’s this little voice inside their heads saying: “You know what, buddy, tomorrow is Monday.” and BOOM! They’re instantly sad and this influences the rest of their Sunday. But what is stopping you from enjoying your Sunday? One of the main reasons we tend to hate Mondays is that we have to act like responsible adults and the weekend seems like an afterthought and we have to struggle to make it to Friday again.

So, how then do you stop this rather negative mindset? Well, one way would to take on a stoic mindset, which means that you should not worry about the things you can’t change. Just like you can’t change the time from passing, or the sun from setting, you can’t change the fact that Monday will eventually come. Rather, you could spend the time enjoying yourself, instead of thinking about the future. Living in the moment and being grateful that you have the entire Sunday to do whatever you want. That’s what Sundays are for, after all!

A clean slate

What I like about Mondays is that it gives me the opportunity to evaluate my goals and putting on a list what it is I want to achieve this week. From just writing on my manuscripts, new blog articles, or finishing a review book. Anything can be on the list, as long as it’s achievable in the timespan of a week. If you’re working on a big project, this can be hard, but one way of dealing with that is by chopping it up into smaller steps. It’s very rare for a project not to be able to divide it into smaller, more manageable pieces.

For instance, I usually write 500 words per day on any given story I’m working on. But when I’m close to finishing a big chapter, or when I am really in the zone, I’d rather put in some more effort and finish the chapter. I know that a chapter will typically be about ten pages, so that means it takes around five days to finish a chapter of my current book. That usually leaves me with an unfinished chapter at the end of the week. So setting a goal to finish two chapters should be doable, if I put in some extra effort.

Make it a good one!

So, if we try to look at Mondays a little differently, perhaps we can change our mindset about this day that is dreaded by so many. Of course, your personal situation really influences how you view Mondays. Don’t like that deadbeat job? Don’t stay, but try to find something better. Or, if that’s not an option, try to put things in perspective. At least you have a job. The Stoics used to say: “You have to want the things to happen as they happen.” Of course, a lot of things happen that we don’t want to happen, but it is always within our power to change what we think about these facts and how we act upon the things we can and can’t influence.

Have a great week all!

~Jeffrey