Fighting the Monday Morning Blues
How is it Sunday already? It was JUST Friday, a day that promised a seemingly endless amount of leisure time ahead of you, time you would fill with readings of Pulitzer-worthy novels, fascinating dinners with friends and several tubs of Chunky Monkey eaten during the "I Love the '80s" marathon on VH1. But suddenly, merely one tub of ice cream in and your Oprah's Book Club pick untouched, you're wondering: Where did the weekend go? Did Saturday even happen?
You look at the clock to see just how many precious minutes of the weekend you still have left to savor. Your shoulders tense, stomach weakens, teeth clench, and, oh dear, did you just... ? Was that a mini-heart attack?
This is not good. It's already 11:30.
In the morning.
If you dread Mondays, you're not alone. The common feeling of nervousness, anxiety or an inability to sleep is often referred to as "Sunday Syndrome." A recent study by the Tokyo Women's Medical University found that blood pressure readings are higher than at any other time of the week. The sudden return from weekend leisure activities to Monday work activities may factor into the notable rise in blood pressure, researchers suggest, citing that those volunteers in the study who were not going to work didn't experience a comparable increase in blood pressure.
Though not working is always an option to temporarily banish your Monday morning apprehension, chances are the anxiety will skyrocket once you realize that not working equals not getting paid. So until you win the Powerball or come into a great inheritance and retire early, try these tactics to ease the Sunday despair:
Work for the Weekend
Try to wrap up as much office work as you can on Friday, even if that means cutting back on your coveted Friday afternoon watching-the-minutes-tick-by ritual. Then on Monday morning, when you don't feel overwhelmed by impending projects, you can thank yourself.
Work Even Harder for Sunday
Sunday is often the day on which people run errands, contributing to the feeling that the weekend is over by Sunday morning. Instead of saving -- or putting off -- all your chores until Sunday, spread your errands out over the course of the week, and reserve Sunday for leisure: spending time with friends or family, having a lazy brunch or catching a matinee.
Break Out the Palm Pilot
Plan out your week on Sunday nights and make a to-do list. By breaking your work down into manageable projects, you will feel more prepared for the week ahead.
Monday? Uh, More Like Fun-day
Make Monday a day to look forward to. Schedule at least one activity every Monday that you really enjoy -- rent or go to a movie, have dinner with a friend, or attend a yoga class -- so you will have something positive to look forward to at the beginning of the work week.
Analyze This
Unless you're a blues singer, you should only spend so much time complaining about work. Try to get to the bottom of your anxiety. Ask yourself what you specifically dread about your job and whether there's anything you can do to improve it. Ask yourself, "How can I do more of what I like about my job while at work?" or "What could I do to make my job even better?" Answering these questions will help you determine what you want from your job, what motivates you and what is needed to re-invigorate your job.
If you've tried all of these things and still can't seem to shake that Sunday sadness, it might be time to look for a new job or perhaps even try a different career.
Career counselors suggest that, before you start looking for a new job, you conduct a cost-benefit analysis. Consider the "cost" of loss of seniority, pension benefits and any other aspects of your current job that have a value versus what might be available at another company.
Also, keep in mind those aspects of your current job that you dislike and avoid them at all costs. For example, if your two-hour commute is a source of contention, look at companies closer to your home or consider moving to an area that is more convenient to potential employers. Or if frequent business trips cause distress, pursue opportunities that require less travel. Most job postings will advise job seekers if travel is a requirement and what percentage of their time will be spent on the road.
Don't prolong your agony or endure another dreaded Monday without taking control of your current job or seeking a new position outside the company.
Mary Lorenz is a special contributor to CareerBuilder.com
You look at the clock to see just how many precious minutes of the weekend you still have left to savor. Your shoulders tense, stomach weakens, teeth clench, and, oh dear, did you just... ? Was that a mini-heart attack?
This is not good. It's already 11:30.
In the morning.
If you dread Mondays, you're not alone. The common feeling of nervousness, anxiety or an inability to sleep is often referred to as "Sunday Syndrome." A recent study by the Tokyo Women's Medical University found that blood pressure readings are higher than at any other time of the week. The sudden return from weekend leisure activities to Monday work activities may factor into the notable rise in blood pressure, researchers suggest, citing that those volunteers in the study who were not going to work didn't experience a comparable increase in blood pressure.
Though not working is always an option to temporarily banish your Monday morning apprehension, chances are the anxiety will skyrocket once you realize that not working equals not getting paid. So until you win the Powerball or come into a great inheritance and retire early, try these tactics to ease the Sunday despair:
Work for the Weekend
Try to wrap up as much office work as you can on Friday, even if that means cutting back on your coveted Friday afternoon watching-the-minutes-tick-by ritual. Then on Monday morning, when you don't feel overwhelmed by impending projects, you can thank yourself.
Work Even Harder for Sunday
Sunday is often the day on which people run errands, contributing to the feeling that the weekend is over by Sunday morning. Instead of saving -- or putting off -- all your chores until Sunday, spread your errands out over the course of the week, and reserve Sunday for leisure: spending time with friends or family, having a lazy brunch or catching a matinee.
Break Out the Palm Pilot
Plan out your week on Sunday nights and make a to-do list. By breaking your work down into manageable projects, you will feel more prepared for the week ahead.
Monday? Uh, More Like Fun-day
Make Monday a day to look forward to. Schedule at least one activity every Monday that you really enjoy -- rent or go to a movie, have dinner with a friend, or attend a yoga class -- so you will have something positive to look forward to at the beginning of the work week.
Analyze This
Unless you're a blues singer, you should only spend so much time complaining about work. Try to get to the bottom of your anxiety. Ask yourself what you specifically dread about your job and whether there's anything you can do to improve it. Ask yourself, "How can I do more of what I like about my job while at work?" or "What could I do to make my job even better?" Answering these questions will help you determine what you want from your job, what motivates you and what is needed to re-invigorate your job.
If you've tried all of these things and still can't seem to shake that Sunday sadness, it might be time to look for a new job or perhaps even try a different career.
Career counselors suggest that, before you start looking for a new job, you conduct a cost-benefit analysis. Consider the "cost" of loss of seniority, pension benefits and any other aspects of your current job that have a value versus what might be available at another company.
Also, keep in mind those aspects of your current job that you dislike and avoid them at all costs. For example, if your two-hour commute is a source of contention, look at companies closer to your home or consider moving to an area that is more convenient to potential employers. Or if frequent business trips cause distress, pursue opportunities that require less travel. Most job postings will advise job seekers if travel is a requirement and what percentage of their time will be spent on the road.
Don't prolong your agony or endure another dreaded Monday without taking control of your current job or seeking a new position outside the company.
Mary Lorenz is a special contributor to CareerBuilder.com
Story Filed Monday, September 24, 2007 - 3:50 PM
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