It seems to be the least-liked day of the week: Monday! Now, you may be the minority of the crowd and actually look forward to Mondays, every week. But it seems that the overwhelming feeling about the day can best be expressed by a big groan, with a hint of, "really?" thrown in. So how do we resolve this predicament, seeing that we can't just erase a whole day? Thanks to writer Amy Shearn, there are a couple of ways to seize the day and see it in a softer light.
Dangle a Week-Carrot
Look, the world of happy moments doesn't have to end just because Monday must be spent wearing real clothes. Gretchen Rubin, author of bestsellers Happier at Home and The Happiness Project, says, "Give yourself a reason to anticipate the coming week: Plan lunch with a friend, or a movie outing, or a trip to an office-supply store -- or am I the only one who loves to go to office-supply stores? -- and when the Sunday blues hit, remind yourself of everything fun that will happen."
Make A List (But Just One)
There is an art to making a very fine list.This I know, as a descendant of a long line of inveterate list-makers. Lists can get you through any knotty moment, from packing a suitcase to keeping track of love letters:
Here is a list for your Sunday-night list:
- Make your list on paper, with a pen or pencil.
- Feel free, but not obligated, to make it pretty.
- Include on this list some concrete things you hope to accomplish in the coming week.
- Limit yourself to no more than 10 items, so that you don’t make it impossible to succeed in crossing off every last item.
- Watch your stress dissolve as you write each thing down.
