How To Own Your Monday Mornings Like A Boss

Monday morning, even one in the summertime, can be daunting. It’s not uncommon—the start of the workweek can bring on a serious case of sadness. (Sometimes an episode of Our Perfect Wedding isn’t enough to battle the Monday-morning gloom.) Luckily we’ve got some tips to help turn Monday’s into the best day of the week.

1. Get up earlier

If you really want to change your Monday mindset, start as you mean to go on.

Try waking up ten minutes earlier, and slow your morning routine right down. No more brushing your teeth in the shower, or doing your make-up on the train, can only be a good thing. Multitasking is overrated anyway

2. Get up later

Ok, you’ve skipped number one. Turns out you’re not so much of a morning person. That’s cool. We all have different strengths. If yours involves a snooze button, a flannel wash and a mad dash to the station, who are we to judge?

Take full advantage of any flexible working hours offered. And if they’re not? There’s always the late shift…

3. Eat breakfast

The nutritional and mental benefits of the day’s first meal are well-documented. What isn’t quite as well documented is just how easy a gourmet breakfast can be on-the-go.

There’s brioche, baps, bagels. Let’s face it, bacon practically cooks itself*.

4. Don’t go back to sleep

Feel like you can’t function without an extra half an hour doze on the way into Charing Cross? Change it. You’ll only end up waking up in a foul mood, possibly covered in a puddle of your own dribble.

Fight the temptation to slip into slumber, and you’ll feel better for it. The person who sits next to you certainly will.

5. Make more of your commute

If you’re bored on the bus, why not put your sudden lack of stimulation to good use? Read a book you’ve always put off, or learn a new skill while you’re stuck in traffic.

(N.B. Binge-watching box-sets also counts)

6. Make someone’s day

Random acts of kindness are cool. Also, surprisingly easy. So buy the next person in line a coffee, or pay the cashier a compliment. It will make you feel good, and it will make them feel good. It’s basically science.

7. Make Monday your cheat day

‘My diet starts on Monday’. This is a common refrain, often uttered by unrealistic people. But face facts: if you’re trying to battle the Monday blues, the last thing you need is a few ropey bits of kale and a Cuppa Soup.

Eat like a king on Monday, and make your diet Tuesday’s problem.

8. Remind yourself about other successful Mondays

Successful things that have happened on a Monday: man first walked on the moon; the UK’s first cinema opened; the Deathstar was blown up (probably). The list is practically endless.

Just think of it this way: if Mondays never existed, there would be no lifts and worse, there would be no Bullseye (both invented on a Monday). Remember that next time you’re running late for a rooftop meeting with Jim Bowen.

9. Put things in perspective

Global warming. Deforestation. The fact that Justin Bieber exists. To paraphrase the great Mr.Z, there are many problems in the world, but Monday ain’t one… isn’t one… You get the idea.

You may be sleepy. You may lack motivation. You may have even forgotten your umbrella on the day you finally brave the suit/short combo. But no matter how bad your day is, it could almost always be worse. If all else fails, hey, at least it’s not Wednesday.

10. Find a Monday happy place

The sure-fire way to ensure your Monday morning morale remains high is to make it stand out. Think of all the things which make you happiest, and find ingenious ways to work them into your day.