Why Monday Motivation Rituals Even Matter to Me
Okay, real talk: I used to think Mondays were just another day. Like, why do we make such a big deal about them? But after one too many weeks where I started off groggy, late, and already behind on emails, I realized I needed some Monday motivation rituals to, like, not hate my life by Wednesday.
Anyway, I learned the hard way that starting the week strong sets the tone. One time, I overslept, spilled coffee on my keyboard, and sent an email to my boss with “help me” in the subject line by accident. True story. Mortifying.
Here’s what I figured out: Monday motivation rituals aren’t about being perfect. They’re about tricking your brain into thinking you’ve got this, even when you’re running on fumes. My rituals? They’re scrappy, personal, and sometimes involve way too much caffeine.
My Go-To Monday Morning Routine (It’s Kinda Chaotic)
My Monday motivation rituals start with me stumbling out of bed at 6:30 AM, cursing the universe. I live in this cramped apartment where the sunlight barely sneaks through the blinds, and it smells faintly of last night’s pizza. First thing? I blast music—usually something obnoxiously upbeat like early 2000s pop-punk. It’s embarrassing, but it works.
Here’s the breakdown of my morning routine for work success:
- Coffee, stat: I brew the cheapest coffee I can find, but I pour it into this mug that says “You Got This” in Comic Sans. It’s ironic, okay? The bitterness of the coffee matches my Monday mood, but it wakes me up.
- Five-minute journal: I scribble three things I’m grateful for, even if it’s just “Wi-Fi works” or “didn’t trip on the rug today.” It’s cheesy, but it shifts my brain from “ugh” to “okay, maybe I can do this.”
- Quick stretch: I do a half-assed yoga pose in my living room, usually while my cat judges me. It’s not Instagram-worthy, but it gets the blood flowing.
Check out this article on morning routines from Harvard Business Review for some sciencey stuff on why this works. Spoiler: it’s about priming your brain for productivity.
The Mid-Morning Monday Motivation Ritual That Saves Me
By 10 AM, I’m at my desk, surrounded by empty LaCroix cans and a laptop that’s seen better days. My next Monday motivation ritual is what I call the “panic list.” I grab a sticky note—usually one I’ve reused from last week—and jot down the three things I absolutely need to get done. Not 10, not 20, just three. Last week, I wrote “email Sarah, finish slide deck, don’t cry.” Two out of three ain’t bad. This keeps me focused when my inbox is screaming at me.
I learned this trick after a disastrous Monday where I tried to “multitask” and ended up sending a client the wrong file. Like, a meme of a dog in a hat. Yeah, I’m that guy. The panic list is my lifeline for work success tips that actually stick.
The Afternoon Slump and How I Fight It
Okay, around 2 PM, I hit the wall. Hard. The Chicago wind’s howling outside, my stomach’s growling, and I’m tempted to nap under my desk. My Monday motivation ritual for this? A walk around the block, even if it’s freezing. I bundle up in my ratty scarf, pop in some earbuds, and listen to a podcast—usually something like How I Built This to remind me that other people have their shit together, even if I don’t. The cold air slaps me awake, and I come back ready to tackle the rest of the day.
Pro tip: If you’re stuck inside, do jumping jacks for 30 seconds. It’s ridiculous, and I look like a dork, but it works. Also, hydrate. I keep forgetting, and then I wonder why I feel like a raisin.
Wrapping Up My Monday Motivation Rituals (and a Confession)
Look, my Monday motivation rituals aren’t gonna win any awards. They’re messy, like me. One time, I tried to “meditate” for work success and ended up falling asleep on my couch, drooling on a throw pillow. But these rituals—coffee, journaling, panic lists, walks—keep me from spiraling. They’re my way of telling Monday, “You’re not the boss of me.” If you’re looking for more structured productivity hacks, this Forbes article has some solid ideas, but I’m sticking with my chaotic vibe.
Outbound links :
