Nila Harris
By Nila Harris
Okay, so I admit it…there were times when I would do things in the workplace just to catch a reaction from people.
One of the things I did, was to say, “I am so glad it is Monday!!!” or “I can’t believe it is Friday. It makes me sad. I wish it were Monday!”
The looks people would give me were PRICELESS!
Truthfully, I have never been a huge fan of Mondays, but they don’t bother me too much.
In fact, sometimes Fridays are more challenging, because I have a thousand things to do, a million places to go, and precious few hours to accomplish everything I need to do, so upcoming weekends can be stressful in themselves. But that’s another story.
Jan. 6 is National Thank God It’s Monday Day—celebrated on the first Monday of the year.
The day was created by Dorothy Ziawin from New Jersey to help people see the opportunities available on the first day of the week and to be thankful for them.
Mondays are the days we celebrate holidays such as Presidents Day and Labor Day; it’s the day people often start new jobs, and usually the day we start vacations.
It’s also the day for Cyber Monday and the day Nutella and YouTube were invented.
Celebrate National Thank God It’s Monday Day by trying to look at Mondays through a different lens.
Instead of seeing Monday as an end to your weekend, think of it as a chance to set goals, and appreciate the opportunity for growth and accomplishment.
By embracing Mondays in a positive manner, you bring forth a mindset that lasts throughout the week and influences those around you.
Plan a special meal or activity on a Monday. In my pre-retirement workplace, “fun” things rarely happened on Mondays; they were always planned for the last day of the workweek.
Change that mentality by planning your own things like a team coffee break or bringing in doughnuts.
Changing your mindset can increase motivation, productivity, reduce anxiety, help develop a sense of accomplishment, and produce a better work atmosphere.
Creating a positive Monday mindset starts by preparing on Sunday. Setting out your outfit the night before, creating a to-do list, praying, meditating, limiting screen time before work are all ways that can reduce stress.
Reflect on things for which you are grateful. Make healthy eating a priority. Exercise, move around, or simply step outside for fresh air.
Remember to celebrate National Thank God It’s Monday every week and make 2025 the best year ever!