Hey everyone, today I thought I’d do a little advice post based on what I’ve learnt during my free time at uni.
As you can see from the title, I decided to discuss the dreaded Monday Blues. Mondays are pretty much the same for everyone. With the prospect of a week full of lectures, essays and hangovers, no-one escapes the feeling of dread that slowly settles into your stomach as Sunday afternoon becomes Sunday evening, and all too soon it’s time to prepare for the impossible burden of tomorrow.
Why do we hate Mondays so much? For me, and I imagine most of us, Mondays signify a long week ahead, full of potential stress, work, and boredom. My Monday begins with a not-so-kind 5-9 lecture, with the slightly daunting prospect of the week ahead, where I have to juggle assignments, lectures and work, as well as finding time to socialise. To make things a little easier, this is what I do:
- Write a list of productive things to do each day
My worst habit is disorganization, and if I let it get the better of me, I end up feeling frazzled at even the thought of all the jobs- big and small- I’m yet to do over the week. Writing a list on Sunday night is a really good way to make sure everything is done in time and on order. Tell yourself you HAVE to stick to the list each day and get everything done (providing your bestie isn’t having a crisis or your flatmate hasn’t set your kitchen on fire). Reward yourself with something small every day for completing your list. Being the food lover that I am, I find rewarding myself with food works every time!
- Set goals
Setting goals is different to your daily list. Half the reason why your week can feel so boring is if you’re not pushing yourself to step off the straight, narrow line you’re so used to following. Maybe it’s time to set yourself some mini challenges to make you feel like you have achieved more out of your day. As an anxiety sufferer, I set myself challenges such as asking a friend out for a meal or opening up to strangers in group work. They may seem like little achievements to some but to me, they make me feel on top of the world! You might also want to set yourself a bigger challenge that’s fun to spend time on, such as creating a YouTube channel or a blog. Even if only you and your mum are viewing your content, sometimes it’s great to have a secondary motivation running alongside work.
- Say yes to everything!
This is something I have only just now learnt to do. When I look back to my past, I find that the only things I regret is the opportunities I didn’t take. I’m not implying you should follow your friend into some crazy illegal activity, but if the reason you’re saying no is because something scares you, or it’s out of your comfort zone, or you don’t think you’ll like it, say yes anyway. You might just surprise yourself and find you have an amazing time.
- Make time for the things you enjoy
The mistake I so often make is to give myself absolutely no time for the things that I enjoy. Its so important to give yourself time to relax and have some time to yourself. Whether it’s cooking, reading, watching Netflix or chilling with your cat, don’t be afraid to do what you love, and make sure you leave enough time every day to do a bit of it- even if it’s just scrolling down your Instagram and Facebook newsfeeds.
- Don’t compare your week with other people’s
There’s always going to be someone smarter, richer, more popular and more beautiful out there. It’s a fact. But you should never focus on these people. Focus on your own goals; what you’re aiming for in the long run. There’s no point feeling jealous about the person who’s already made it when you need to figure out how to do it yourself. I spent far too much time comparing myself to others through high school (and even sometimes now) but it’s never done anything in my favour. Believing in yourself and more importantly, loving yourself, will make you feel more inspired and motivated than any “role model” ever will.
I hope this goes even a short way to inspiring everyone to make the most out of their Mondays! Do you have any #mondaymotivation tips you’d like to share? Let me know in the comments below!
Beauty With Em 