When I was in high school, Mondays were exciting and thrilling. I would generally jump out of bed, throw on my uniform, tie my hair in a bun and scoot out the door-- for a whole new week was just beyond my cereal bowl.
Mondays meant five full days ahead of me with friends, laughter and the incredible feeling of loving and being loved in return.
I did not quite understand the whole "I hate Mondays" mantra until college, when my eight AM class seemed more like a death sentence than a fresh start. I never have felt more disdain for a day of the week.
It now did not represent a whole new week of hope and excitement, but only exemplified notes, tests, monotone lectures and burnt coffee at two AM.
I have since changed schools, majors and even the color of my hair (the most extreme of the three obviously). Which is why I have decided to change back to my high school perspective of when Mondays were simply the start of a new week. For new memories, new friendships, a new start.
So, in case you wanted to jump on the almost annoyingly optimistic bandwagon with me, I am here to help you out.
Here are ways to making your Mondays, Great Days.
1. On Monday morning, write a list of five things you are excited about that is happening that week!
Whether you have a big concert that weekend, or just have a good dinner waiting for you when you get home from a long day, give yourself the pleasure of being excited! Celebrate the little victories and luxuries within your day. It makes it so much easier to find the joy and not focus on the fact that you have a six AM alarm waiting for you.
2. When buying yourself a coffee to jumpstart your day, buy one more for a friend!
It is incredible how being generous and thoughtful can not only make another person's Monday suck a little less, but in consequence, it lifts up your day too! Can you say coffee with a side of good karma!?
3. Don't shrug off compliments, just accept them!
Sometimes, Mondays are when you feel the worst. You just ate a ton of food you probably shouldn't have over the weekend and I am assuming you skipped your workout too. So come Monday morning, you probably feel a little more sluggish than usual. But when someone compliments you on your outfit or your smile, just say thank you! I know when someone points something out when you don't feel your best, it can make you feel even worse, but please just try. Try and believe them- because they wouldn't say it if it wasn't true.
4. Do something each day that you know will make you feel good!
Sometimes, on a bad day, it is easy to eat bad food and want to do nothing for the rest of the day- but that will just make you feel worse. Instead, go out for a walk on your lunch break, facetime with a friend over coffee, go get yourself a smoothie (a sweet but healthy treat!) or maybe go get your nails done. Positivity starts from within, so if you let yourself experience the good, you too will give out that same goodness.
5. Believe in something!
Whether it be God, Buddha or another higher power, just believe in something. I truly feel that if you believe in an entity that is higher than yourself, and it helps you live kindly and compassionately, you cannot go wrong. When you are able to step outside of yourself and know there is someone or something bigger than you and above you, it helps put your seemingly huge problems into perspective.
So, today is a new day, and even though the alarm clock is begging me to hit the snooze button, I won't.
At least I will try not to.
Instead, I will jump out of bed with an eagerness to start this new, exciting week. With love and laughter and full of surprises...
Are you all with me?!
