Once upon a time, we used to get a little anxious on a Sunday, thinking about the commute into work and a week’s worth of issues waiting in our inboxes. Known by some as the ‘Sunday Scaries’, this overwhelming sense of impending doom was enough to put us off our roast dinner and distract us from the evening’s Dragon’s Den.
Then comes Monday, and a feeling that the past weekend has gone too soon and the next is so far from reach prevails until Friday. And repeat.
You would have thought that working from home may have quelled some of those Sunday Scaries and Blue Mondays, and that the physical office space was, in fact, the primary cause of much of this turmoil. Since the weekends and weekdays now seemingly blend together, that intense division of work and play has dissipated…but this hasn’t led to a reduction in stress. Oh no.
Not surprisingly, a survey has revealed that these familiar feelings, the ones that have long crippled the country’s collective labour force each and every Monday morning, are still all present and correct during lockdown.
We don’t know about you, but Lockdown Mondays have brought their own unique sense of struggle. According to Get The Gloss, “Lockdown Mondays have brought about a whole new wave of anxiety about the week ahead, especially for freelancers wondering whether work is still going to come in, furloughed staff unsure whether their job will still be there after all of this, parents having to juggle homeschooling with working from home and small businesses worrying whether they’ll be able to stay afloat.”
Yep, we’re in a demotivation loop, brains in a grief cycle, mourning our pre-COVID lives. The uncertainty is only serving to make this worse. So what can you do to enact some positive change? Here’s a start; our 5 ways to beat Monday lockdown lows.
EASE INTO MONDAY
Perhaps you’re reading this on a Monday, procrastinating over the inevitable opening of your inbox and the week-long avalanche of deadlines and demands that inevitably follows? Well, might we suggest another few minutes of relaxation before you begin your week? Go on, you deserve it.
When you’re working from home, transitioning straight from duvet to desk, from downtime to deadline meeting, can be particularly jarring, and just seems to start the working week off on the wrong, slippered foot.
Particularly on Mondays, strive for a regular waking up pattern – alarm clock and all – and factor an activity into your timetable between getting up and sitting down to work; when you’re rolling out of bed, bleary eyed and straight onto your computer, everything can get pretty overwhelming.
This could be a brief yoga session, a jog, or even a walk around the block in lieu of a daily commute. Taking time to have a healthy, screen-free breakfast to start the day off also helps. Doing so focuses the mind and draws a distinction between the day’s disparate entities, and most importantly, helps you to ease into your Monday with renewed vigour.
GIVE YOUR WEEK SOME STRUCTURE
After a very relaxing (or, whisper it, raucous) weekend at home, the transition into work mode can be jolting. When the same space which has only recently witnessed several cold cans, a Joe Wicks workout session, an admittedly brilliant take on Simon Hopkinson’s roast chicken and a Sopranos marathon now has to host your home office, this effect is only amplified.
If you’re unable to place physical dividing lines between work and play (we’re not all blessed with a spare room which can suddenly be turned into a home office, after all), then it pays to be stricter with your schedule and structure as you enter a new week.
Though we realise we advocated easing into your week, once you’re at your desk, do endeavour to follow a fairly rigid routine for the day’s work, ideally breaking for lunch at the same time as last week and ending the day firmly and fairly at a designated time. Doing so will rid your Monday of some of that hangover of uncertainty and indiscipline left over from the weekend.
MINDSET MAKEOVER WITH APPS
As Homer Simpson once so eloquently toasted; ‘’Here’s to alcohol: the cause of, and solution to, all of life’s problems’’.
The modern day equivalent, we think, could well be apps. Social media, and smartphones in general, have undoubtedly led to increased anxiety, issues with self esteem, memory and sleep. But in the problem also lies the solution; in recent years a slew of apps have been released designed to tackle issues of mental health and wellbeing, as well as platforms designed to improve your focus and productivity, many of which could be harnessed to tackle that Monday morning listlessness.
Particularly popular with home workers looking to gain some perspective and peace during turbulent times are guided meditation apps, such as Headspace and Calm, which not only offer guided sessions, but also lessons on concentration and even curated playlists to help you focus. Check out our guide to 5 of the best meditation apps for 2021 to get the lowdown.
Also hugely useful are mood tracker apps, allowing you to record your thoughts and feelings on any given day and recognise negative thought patterns within the ebb and flow of your week (watch for those Monday mornings!). Knowledge is power, after all, and this can help you address any issues with the maximum information available. Some of our favourites include MoodKit, MoodTracker and perhaps, best of all, My Pocket Therapist, an online therapy UK company who offer tracking, tips and quick access to remote counselling.
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR FINANCES
A huge part of the Sunday Scaries and Monday Blues from those halcyon days of last decade was the ‘fear’ felt when checking your bank balance. Just how much had been spent on those carefree nights at Printworks? Did you really foot the bill for the whole delivery at the afters? Why did I take that Uber to Skegness at 3am?
Though the geography of our weekends has tightened during lockdown, our spending sadly hasn’t. To avoid those feelings of regret and concern about your finances on a Monday morning, it’s best to nurture a more mindful attitude to your spending (stating the obvious, we know) and develop some healthy financial habits to see you through 2021.
REACH OUT TO A LOVED ONE
If you’re suffering from isolation, loneliness or are simply in need of some support, exacerbated by the stresses and strains of Monday mornings, do remember that a non-judgmental ear is only a phone call or click away. Whether it’s from a friend or family member, or via the great work that some UK charities are currently doing, help is at hand. Check out these places to find companionship and support online for more.
*This article is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment given by a qualified health professional. Instead, this article only provides information, not advice. For any medical enquiries, always consult your GP first*