As you head out for your weekend, are you already dreading Monday? Does the

idea of starting the work week trigger panic and anxiety attacks? Do you feel sluggish and lack motivation?

If you’re nodding “yes” to any of these questions, you might have a case of the Monday blues.  Your Monday blues can hamper not just your own productivity and performance, but that of your co-workers as well. But there are ways to get around it. So don’t lose heart.

But first, if you find yourself facing the Monday blues most weeks, then that’s a sign that you are unhappy at work. You need to identify the issues that are making you unhappy and fix them. Or move on and find another job.

But if it’s occasional bouts of Monday anxiety, then here are some tips that can successfully cheer yourself and others up and make an otherwise dreary Monday, brighter and happier.

1. Prepare on Friday. Try to make sure that you complete as many potential “dreadful” tasks on Friday. The idea of tackling these “dreadful” tasks on Monday is a daunting one. Take care of the things that you least want to handle. If you do have unpleasant tasks on Monday, finish them off early, when you are fresher. You don’t want them hanging over your head all day. At the end of the day on Friday, make sure that your calendar is synced and you know exactly what needs to be done the following week. Make sure you clean your desk of clutter before you leave on Friday.
2. Unplug and have fun. As far as possible, try to avoid checking work emails and voicemail over the weekend. If you’re not going to get to it until Monday anyway, why mess up your weekend? Drawing clearly defined boundaries between work and personal time can help you manage things better. make sure that your weekend has enough outside and indoor time. Go out on Friday evening say and hang out at home with family or friends on Saturday. We have a family movie night on Saturdays. Netflix or Amazon Prime anyone? Or catch a game on the TV.

3. 

   Plan ahead on Sunday night and get plenty of sleep. Lay out your favorite outfit. This can help build confidence and get you compliments. Make sure your Monday lunch is packed or prepped. Try to get get between seven and nine hours of sleep.  Make sure that you set your alarm again. And set it 10 – 15 minutes earlier than other days. Give yourself a few minutes of “me time”, rather than feeling trapped in a time crunch.

4. Get some exercise. Hit the gym early or
   

   

   walk or run. Whatever is your exercise picker-upper. Exercise ramps up your endorphins, so try getting some early morning exercise in for a great start to the work-week. In a time crunch? Try this great 10 minute workout. Will get you off to great week.

5. Be positive.  Start the work week recognizing and appreciating the things that you enjoy abut work. Pump yourself up on your commute with your favorite songs. Some high-energy, upbeat music is just the thing to get you going. When you get in to work, don’t be a complainer. And don’t listen to other people’s Monday morning complaints. Not only will you be more positive, you’ll make the start of work week more positive for people around you.
6. Make someone else happy. Promise yourself that you’ll do something nice for someone on Monday morning. So pay a compliment to a co-worker, bring some donuts in to work, say something positive and smile at your barista or help out a stranger on the street. Doing nice things for others is one of the greatest mood lifters.
7. Keep your Monday schedule light and take small breaks. Knowing that Mondays are going to be busy, keep your schedule as light as possible. Try to schedule long, involved meetings for Tuesday or Wednesday. Finish off some easy tasks early on Monday, so you start off with a feeling of accomplishment.  And don’t stay glued to your desk or cubicle. Take a walk and get some fresh air. Don’t eat your lunch at your desk. If you have the time, hit the gym for a quick workout.

The key to beating the Monday blues and starting the work week on a great note is organizing your work for maximum leisure over the weekend. You really need that time to relax and de-stress. Try out these 7 habits and prepare yourself for a great work-week. If you have other tips and tricks that you use, share them with us in the comments.