words by nerissa

…observations, thoughts and questions

Tell me why….I don’t like Mondays

Monday. All you need is Monday

What’s your reaction to that word? It’s just another day of the week, isn’t it?

Apparently not.

Because most posts I see on Facebook on Mondays are negative ones. In fact, there are far more negative quotes about Mondays on the internet than positive ones.

So what’s going on?

Are our weekends that fabulous that we can’t face the thought of it all coming to an end on a Monday? Are our jobs that bad, that the thought of going back to them is almost unbearable? Or has it become the norm to whinge? Just because it’s Monday and everyone else is doing it?

So to find out the answers, I turned to science. Yes, there are scientific studies for this kind of stuff!

In 2005, a study carried out in Japan (which was later published in the American Journal of Hypertension), showed that many workers suffer a significant increase in blood pressure as they return to work after their weekend.

A few years prior to that, a study in Britain showed that there was a 20 per cent rise in the number of heart attacks at the beginning of the week. It was believed that work-related stress was to blame.

Recent studies in the UK have focused on which day of the week is more ‘dangerous’. And guess what? Monday is relatively low on the danger scale. It’s on Friday that you should be more careful!

More recent studies in the US have shown that there really is no difference in mood between Monday and any other day of the working week, except for Friday. Funnily enough, mood tends to rise on a Friday afternoon. So why does Monday get such bad press?

One researcher believes it’s because the contrast in mood from Sunday to Monday is the greatest, which leads to Monday being singled out.

And therein lies the key. The contrast in mood between your weekend and your working week.

Which leads me to this question — what is it about your working week that is so bad? Is there no purpose, no meaning, no joy in those five days? Are you only enjoying two days of the week?

Because that’s only about 104 days of happiness each year. And at last count, there is 365-366 days in a year. To make matters worse, I am sure that not every weekend of yours is bursting at the seams with happiness, joy and purpose. So how much of your life are you really enjoying?

Why are you wasting your time complaining about what day it is?

It’s really childish and self-indulgent.

There are many people in this world who would give anything for another year of Mondays. But unfortunately, their terminal disease means that’s not possible

There are plenty of people who have lost loved ones — who would probably live through a life-time of Mondays if it meant they could have that person back.

I realise that some people out there may be going through life-saving chemotherapy (or any other necessary medical treatment) on a Monday. In those cases, I totally understand why they may not enjoy Mondays. However, on the flip-side, they are probably the ones who can see the positive amongst the negative.

Wake up and realise what you’ve got.

You need to realise how lucky you are compared to so many other people. Mondays come around every seven days. So grow up, get over yourself and change your attitude. You’re not the only one who has to live through a Monday (or a working week for that matter).

There. I said it. End of rant.

Now for some more positive thoughts about Mondays.

  • Without them (and the rest of the working week), you’d be broke, have nowhere to live, and would probably be terribly bored.
  • Mondays can be a time when you recommit to a healthier lifestyle. The working week can be when you focus on eating well and exercising, so you can let go a little on the weekends, without compromising your overall health.
  • Routine is good. Without it, we probably wouldn’t get much done.
  • Mondays can represent a brand new slate. New beginnings, new goals, new focus.

However, if the above is still too hard to get your head around, then try incorporating some of your weekends into your working week.

Why save going to the movies for a Saturday night? Go mid-week instead.

Cook French toast on a Tuesday, rather than saving it for Sunday.

Go for a walk on a Monday instead of the usual Saturday.

Hit the shops on Thursday night, instead of waiting for the weekend.

You need to find the miraculous, the pleasurable, the inspirational throughout your whole week. Not just on the weekends.

Life really has so much to offer. However, if you spend five out of seven days with your head in your hands bemoaning the fact that it’s not the weekend, then you are missing out. Big Time.

What will you say on your deathbed?

“Man, I hated Mondays”?
“Gee, I wish I had enjoyed more of my life”?

Are Mondays really that bad?






Single Post Navigation

Leave a Reply


WordPress.com Logo


Google photo


Twitter picture


Facebook photo


Connecting to %s

Allison Tait

writing, whimsy ... life

Write Way to Health

Promoting happy, healthy living

Write ... to the Point

- writing tips and tricks

The WordPress.com Blog

The latest news on WordPress.com and the WordPress community.

The Eclectic Moose


Chocolate Covered Race Medals

Where I race to the chocolate bar

Made by you and I

Cooking -- and photography -- are personalization


Food and Culture Shenanigans

exercise oncology australia

Supporting cancer patients through their journey one step at a time


Smile! You’re at the best WordPress.com site ever


You Are Stronger Than You Think

The Real Me and Life

Finding me without a uniform.

Hart Helps

explore ways to win the wars waged within the mind

words by nerissa

...observations, thoughts and questions

%d bloggers like this: