I envy my toddler for so many reasons. No one bats an eye if he spills on himself. Naps are part of his daily routine. Making friends is a piece of cake. And he loves Mondays.
Truthfully, he loves every day. He never stops adventuring and always finds something to look forward to.
I’m positive that right about the time this post goes live, he will be trying to convince us to let him sleep a little bit longer. But once he’s awake, he’ll bound through the morning with unlimited enthusiasm and spend the rest of the day doing much the same.
I, on the other hand, am less enthusiastic about Mondays. I love my job. I have fantastic coworkers, and I find my work to be deeply rewarding. But teaching is also really hard, and I love spending time with my family. Transitioning back from the weekend always feels bittersweet.
While I might not have my toddler’s never-ending energy, I do think I’ve cobbled together a fairly effective arsenal of ways to combat a case of the Mondays.
Here’s what I do to make sure Mondays don’t get me down.
Spend Money When I Want
I’ve written about this at length before, and it continues to be one of my favorite things to do.
No, I’m not talking about anything particularly lavish. But we do still try to plan our little splurges to coincide with Mondays. For instance, if we know we want to go out to eat once or a twice a month, we’ll make at least one of those days a Monday. Why? It’s not just something to look forward to. It’s also the promise of convenience and less clean up. Meal prepping be darned, someone still has to scrub the darn slow cooker.
RELATED POST: On Mondays, We Spend Money
Remember Why I Work
Uh. Because I have to?
When I frame it like that, work feels like a punishment. But it’s not. Really.
I love what I do, and I feel so incredibly fortunate to be able to blend my passions and interests with a steady paycheck. I am not a fan of clutter at work (mostly because my desk always looks like it’s buried under papers anyway!), but I do keep a family photo in a frame. I also display a poster that my first group of students made me when I finished student teaching. Both help me remember that I work to support my family and do what’s best for my students.
RELATED POST: To Everyone Who Went to Work Today
Take Time to Be Kind
I don’t look Italian, but I am nearly 100%. As such, I firmly believe that it is stamped in my DNA that I show affection via saturated fat. We have a community candy bowl at work, and I try to fill it up at least once or twice a month. Last week, to commemorate the last Monday of the longest month of my life (why was January 2020 948432161325 days long?!), I grabbed two dozen cookies from a local bakery. I also brought in two dozen donuts for my students who completed a reading challenge. (Side note: I guess I know where my money went last month!)
Kindness doesn’t have to mean cookies, though. I also try to start my week by sending a positive email home to at least one family about their child and recognizing a coworker via a little staff nomination system our building has set up.
It doesn’t cost much–or anything!–and I think it really does shift the tone of the week. Or at least a few minutes of the day!
RELATED POST: Kindness Costs Nothing
A Book Giveaway – CLOSED
A surefire way for me to cheer myself up is to do something unexpected and kind for someone else. I also really love to read. Can you see where this is headed?
Work isn’t optional for me yet. But I do think that Work Optional is a phenomenal read. (I’ve actually reviewed it before!) Plus, Tanja devotes a significant portion of the book to exploring what work optional living looks like. If you’re someone like me who is fairly certain you want to keep working, it’s really refreshing to see an author dive into options like sabbaticals and part-time work.
If you haven’t yet had a chance to read it or simply want to own your own copy (it’s so worth writing notes in the margin of this book!), drop me a comment. I’ll pick an email from the comments at random by the end of this week and send you a copy. The catch? I’m doing this totally on my own which means US addresses only, and I’m sending it slow-as-molasses Media Mail. Frugal to my core.
So Tell Me…How do you cope with a case of the Mondays? What should I add to my list of strategies?
Thank you for the Monday inspiration!
I’d love a copy of work optional? I’m a sucker for owning good books
You’re welcome! I hope tomorrow is the start of a good week for you, Shannon!
I have not read this book yet but would love to do so! If I win, promise to donate it when I’m done reading it?
I love the idea of donating it! Spreading the wealth 😀
I heard Tanja on the Young House Love podcast and have been interested in reading her book since then! It’s actually kind of what launched me into this journey of reading financial blogs…. I think she shouted you guys out on the one I listened to actually.
Thanks for the Monday motivation. Definitely needing it today after staying up late watching the Super Bowl last night.
That is so cool that you found personal finance thought the Young House Love show. Tanja did mention my blog, which I’m still pinching myself over. Welcome to the community!
This has been a rough few months with my job, so it’s hard to work up the energy to go in on Monday morning. But this weekend, i spent time at my parent’s house with my partner and we planned part of a trip to Europe this summer so the four of us can watch a metric crapton of soccer. A bit easier to go in to work when i have plans for a vacation soon(ish).
I feel you on this! We are visiting a friend in Montreal this summer, and it instantly boosts my mood when we plan a piece of that trip.
Mondays don’t have the same negative feeling attached as they used to. When you don’t have to work you know you are going because you want to. And always doing what you want to is a joy and a gift. It is truly the best thing about FI.
As you know, my wife is also a teacher. I tell her, and this is as true for you as it is for her, that at the end of every school day you get to spend with your students, the world is just a little better off than it was before. When kids learn from people who love them, that ripple in the pond goes out pretty far and affects things we can’t see.
You are lucky indeed, Penny, to have that kind of influence for good. And we are lucky too to have you in our world.
Oh, Oldster. You make my day with every single one of your comments!
Teachers (myself included!) are so lucky to be able to make an impact — even when it’s difficult or downright impossible-seeming at times!
I need to try all three of your suggestions to help with Mondays and Tuesday-Friday too :). Thanks for the great post.
I hope they help, Chelsey!
I’m working as an Assistant English Teacher in a high school in Spain this year. This gig is my first exposure to teaching in a classroom.
I have no idea how you and all those other career teachers do it. Teachers should all be nominated for sainthood.
Oh, I would love to know more about this experience, Veronica. It sounds fascinating!
Would be happy to have a copy of the book. And as to Mondays… This likely wouldn’t apply to everyone, but I’m a runner and training for some races later this spring. I tend to schedule my speed workouts on Monday mornings (I run when I wake up, before work). Something about spending your first awake hour of the week doing punishing sprints makes everything else feel a little more doable. “Well, I already did THAT, so how hard can writing this report/analyzing this budget/drafting this scope of work be? At least I get to sit down while doing it.”
It’s all downhill after a morning like that, I bet! 😀
Love your first one… we do something similar- we call it Recovery Monday- which means recover from the weekend/ease into the week. Dinner is whatever works (takeout, frozen pizza, cereal- no expectations of anything fancy/complete). And no chore expectations either. If it gets done, fine…. but nothing is “on the list.” It makes getting through the workday feel that much sweeter, because it’s pure relaxation (if desired) once home. I do like my job, and kind of feel like it’s semi-retirement (mid-life) so that helps too! I also really liked Tanja’s book.
Recovery Monday is GENIUS! What a fantastic idea, Lindsey!
You are the best! I don’t need a copy of Work Optional but wanted to send you some positive energy this Monday. I love that you chose giving as a way to make it through Monday!
You are the best!
Completely relate to this on so many levels. I am blessed to have a job and coworkers that I like but just returning to work after the weekends is always tough.
I’m glad it’s not just me!
I was privileged to read your post. and I left a comment. so great to meet you. I’m “following” you. I hope you have a great weekend.
Thank you!
I don’t need a copy of Tanja’s book, as I scored a Kindle copy on sale. I just popped on here to say that Mondays are also the slowest night of the week for restaurants, so going out to eat on Monday nights means a less crowded dining experience (YMMV with kid-friendly fast food establishments).
That is a GREAT tip. So really I’m doing something kind for servers 😉 Kidding!
Thank you for sharing! As a second year teacher, it’s really helpful to hear when experienced, dedicated teachers who love their jobs also struggle to transition back to Monday.
It’s so easy to emphasize all the joys of teaching. And it is an absolute joy! But I think we can find joy in other parts of our lives, and I don’t think we should feel bad about that.
I still struggle with this after 12 years in the profession, though! 🙂
My best idea for Monday’s is not to schedule any meetings on Monday. I hate having to remember a meeting on Sunday night. Also, it leaves Monday free to handle the drama that seems to happen in a nonprofit. I would love a copy of the book. I have heard about it but not purchased yet.
Oh, this is a fantastic idea! Puts some breathing room into your day!
I would love a copy. Thanks for the opportunity!
Thanks for commenting, Tabitha!
I don’t need a copy of Work Optional since I already read it(great book and thanks Tanja) but thanks for the motivation for how to handle Mondays. I think why you work will give you the reason not to be down when Monday comes. If your job is something you like and passionate about then you should look forward to Monday and the challenges at work at may come. If work is only for the paycheck then try to think of who you are providing your paycheck for especially if you have a family.
I think when ppl have a case of the Mondays, they should read your post, Penny. That will cheer them up. 🙂
Kris, you are too kind! Even though I really do love my job, it helps on bad days to remember that I can use my money to do a lot of things for my family!
I try to make Monday’s productive so the rest of the week isn’t as challenging. Taking the time to plan ahead and prep makes future Mondays a little easier too because I’m less likely to come in and face a lot that has to be done that day.
Just discovered your site this weekend! 🙂
I’ve heard from several people about looking into different ways to ease into Monday. It’s a great idea, Ashley! So glad you stopped by 😀