How to Beat the Monday Blues

Many of us don't like Mondays.  The weekend is over, and it's back to work or school for another week.

Scientists in Cardiff calculated that Monday 24th Jan 2007 would be the most depressing day of the year.  They backed it up with a scientific formula, which basically states that it is a combination of lack of motivation, lack of money (after Christmas and the January sales), dark and cold mornings, and the fact that all of the well intentioned New Years resolutions have failed (unless you read and followed my previous article).

In reality though, how you feel on a Monday morning is all a state of mind.

You can wake up and feel miserable, which is likely to set the mood for the day, or you can decide to wake up happy.

I have a few tips below to help you beat the Monday blues, I'm sure that you'll find a few that work well for you.

Prepare for Monday on Sunday - Get yourself ready the night before. Decide what it is you want to wear, have your lunch prepared and ready in the fridge, pack your bag or briefcase & make sure your car is full of fuel.  Finally get plenty of sleep on Sunday night.  All of these things will help to make Monday morning go smoothly and stress free.

Look your best - When you know you look good on the outside, you'll feel great on the inside.

Get up, open the window and take a deep breath of fresh air - It not only feels great, it starts to get you energised.

Exercise - Try to get some exercise.  If you can, ditch the car or bus,  and walk or cycle instead.  As well as missing the stressful traffice queues, you will activate those 'happy hormones' and feel great by the time you get to work.

Make Mondays a day to 'do lunch' - Make a lunchtime date with your partner, friends or colleagues.  It will give you something to look forward to, and if done regularly, makes Monday a fun day.

Plan the rest of your week - If you do social/fun things during the week, remind yourself on what they are and write them down in your weekly plan.  Then you can see all those other things that you have to look forward to as well, and the week will simply whizz by.  Before you know it, it will be the weekend again.

Play music - Nothing lightens your mood like hearing your favourite music.  make it upbeat and cheerful, play it nice and loud in your car, singing along if you like.  Go on, you know you want to....no one is listening!