8 Mood Boosters for Monday Mornings

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8 Mood Boosters for Monday Mornings

By Saltiel

Take the misery out of Mondays with these eight soothing strategies.

Be Prepared

Whether you're a career woman or a stay-at-home mom, you no doubt

look forward to the weekend as a mini vacation away from the daily

grind. You might even get a chance to have a grown-ups-only dinner

on Saturday night! No matter what your weekend holds, it always

seems that Monday morning arrives too quickly, and getting motivated

for the week is harder than ever before. These eight simple

strategies will help you wake up energized, instead of miserable.

1. Start your to-do list Sunday night. Instead of starting the week

feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work you have to do, get a jump-

start by accomplishing a few tasks the night before, such as

replying to a handful of e-mails, preparing a meeting agenda, or

making your grocery list. Using Sunday evening to get oriented and

organized will help you feel in control all week long.

2. Plan a low-key activity for Sunday night. If you're the type of

person who dreads Sunday night as much as Monday morning, then

starting your to-do list early is probably the wrong move for you.

Instead, plan a relaxing activity to extend the weekend and take

your mind off tomorrow's woes. A family game, a movie with your

spouse, or even an early dinner at home with friends may be just the

special treat you need. Sunday is still the weekend, after all!

3. Clean your desk on Friday afternoon. The last few hours of the

Friday workday are frequently unproductive. Take advantage of that

down-time to straighten up your space. Put priority items in a neat

pile. File away and throw away as much as possible. Update your to-

do list. Check your calendar for Monday and get out the items you'll

need now. Your clean workspace will feel refreshing come Monday

morning, and you'll be able to focus and get to work quickly.

Healthy Strategies

4. Start the day with exercise. Whether it's 100 jumping jacks in

your living room or a 30-minute jog in the park, exercise is a sure

way to beat the Monday blues. Studies have shown that exercise leads

to the production of serotonin, one of the chemicals in your brain

that prevents depression. In addition to heart-healthy benefits, 30-

minutes of cardio is just enough to open those sweat pores, so your

skin will have a healthy glow, too. How blue can you really feel if

your skin is glowing?

5. Eat a healthy breakfast. Wolfing down a doughnut, or worse,

having no breakfast at all, will leave you feeling cranky and

sluggish. A nutritious meal, such as a vegetable omelet, oatmeal

with raisins, cottage cheese topped with berries, or a protein-

enriched fruit smoothie will help you stay energized all morning

long.

All the Right Stuff

6. Wear the right clothes. Make a point to wear your favorite outfit

on Mondays. Wearing something that makes you feel attractive and

comfortable will do wonders for your mood, no matter what day of the

week it is. For a little daring flair, accessorize an old standby

with a scarf, funky pair of earrings, or unique necklace. Pick out

your outfit the night before to make sure it's wrinkle- and stain-

free and you'll save time (and agony) during your morning rush.

7. Make a lunch or dinner date. Knowing you're meeting a friend

later in the day will help you feel more excited in the morning. If

money is an issue, bring a bag lunch and meet in a public space or

even in your office. Consider scheduling a get-together every

Monday. If you don't have time for lunch, take a 3 p.m. coffee break

with a coworker for a quick fix.

8. Make green tea Your afternoon snack. There's something about the

ritual of drinking a warm cup of tea that's soothing all by itself.

Studies have shown that green tea is loaded with the antioxidants

that can help prevent cancer and other health conditions. But if

green tea doesn't do it for you, select any herbal tea that makes

you happy. Peppermint, lemon -- as long as it doesn't have caffeine,

you're in for a relaxing treat on what, by now, should be your

favorite day of the week.

Originally published on LHJ.com, March 2005.