I Am Excited for Monday

Is that a controversial statement? Well, it took me two years to get to the point where I am excited for Monday.

Back in the day, when I was studying or working in a corporate environment, Monday was always the day my tasks piled up. My strategy for the “too complicated,” “not urgent,” and “need a fresh mind” tasks was to simply move them to the next Monday. I know I’m not alone in this habit; several people I know have done the same. Essentially, everything unfinished or that I didn’t want to finish during the week ended up on my Monday to-do list.

It was like Pandora’s box. I never knew what awaited me, and that unpredictability was probably why I wasn’t excited for Monday. Or more, I was actually quite anxious...

There was also a time between my “past life” and “current life” when I felt stuck in a limbo. I’ll share more about that another time, but during that period, Monday meant I had lost another week. It meant I had to come up with a plan to prevent losing another one, perpetuating a vicious cycle that lasted for weeks, if not months. I wish I hadn’t been so strict with myself, as that time was essential for my recovery.

So, how am I now actually excited for Monday?

Working for Myself and on My Own Terms

First and foremost, I am now working for myself and on my terms. This means I usually engage in activities I enjoy, and if I feel tired, frustrated, or overstimulated, I can take my time to regulate myself and take a real break. Not a break to catch up on other projects, chat with colleagues about work-related matters, or scroll through Instagram for a dopamine hit that leaves me even more tired and frustrated. But a break I need - a nap, a walk or yoga. Monday is no longer a stressor because I know that no matter how much there is to do, I can do it at my own pace.

Taking Weekends Off to Recharge

Second, and very importantly, I take weekends off. Everything I do on the weekend is something I want to do, not something I should do. In the corporate world, I often spent hours, or even entire days, catching up on work. Now, even if I occasionally catch up on tasks, I do so with a different mindset. I focus on things that are important to me. I also try to squeeze in all my social activities between Monday and Friday so that weekends are truly for recharging. This way, I feel refreshed and ready (and even excited!) for that Monday boost!

Changing My Approach to Tasks and Deadlines

In recent months, I’ve changed my mindset about committing to tasks and setting deadlines. Of course, I can do this now that I’m not an employee, but it’s something I could have implemented earlier. It’s not that I don’t have deadlines—I do, along with some fixed activities related to my health that are difficult to move. However, I now approach deadlines mindfully. I prioritise my task list to focus on the most important tasks first, and if I need to move something, I reschedule it for Tuesday or Wednesday, the earliest days of the week. This approach may not work for everyone, but looking back, I believe I could have benefited from it.

Taking Inspiration from Other Solo Entrepreneurs

I’ve been inspired by many solo entrepreneurs who treat Mondays as “internal days” rather than regular workdays. They avoid client meetings and project work, using the day instead to plan the week ahead and organise themselves. So, if there is nothing urgent, I usually am excited to sit down and plan all the good things that are supposed to happen the coming week!

Treating Every Monday Like a Fresh Start

Even if all my other habits and routines fail—if I promised to do something I’m not keen on, if my weekend is full of plans and I didn’t catch my breath, if I managed my time poorly and have a pile of tasks from the previous week—what excites me about Monday is that it’s a new start. My first day of the new week. And have the ability to use it the way I want and to plan my next week better, proving to myself how organised I can be.

So here they are. My five reasons to get excited for Monday!

I hope you had a great Monday and if not, next one is just around the corner!!!