Voluntary turnover, at an all-time high, is costing US businesses over 1 trillion dollars a year. With up to 40% of employees expressing job-related dissatisfaction and stress, corporate leaders have reason to be concerned. Consider, for example, the Monday Morning Blues or the stress employees feel about heading back to offices or work after the weekend.
Those that have the Monday Blues might feel anxious or depressed, and dread the work week. For those who are unhappy with their jobs, have ineffective managers or work with disengaged co-workers, symptoms and pain are exacerbated.
According to a recent article in , Mondays are linked to increases in work-related accidents, stress, suicides and even heart attacks. And much of the Monday stress is often explained by weekend changes in sleep patterns that cause adverse psychological and behavioral effects. Consider the impact of daylight savings time weekends. Studies suggest that even one to two hours less sleep can lead to cognitive disruption.
As a leader, if you notice the Monday Blues in yourself or others, there are five steps to help build resilience and improve everyone’s mental outlook for the week ahead:
1. Keep a consistent sleep-wake schedule on the weekend. Maintaining similar bedtimes across the week and weekends helps individuals feel and function better.
2. Avoid over-scheduling on Mondays. Rather than starting the day with back-to-back meetings and calls, protect time to complete important items on your to-do list. If you need to participate in evening events, work to schedule them during the middle of the week rather than on Mondays.
3. Build in self-care rituals or habits that are important to you. Think about something that puts you in a good mood or makes you feel good about yourself. You might play a favorite song (Happy, Gratitude, Joy, etc.), make a special drink (coffee, smoothie, etc.), exercise/walk or meditate to begin the day.
4. On Monday, make time for what you enjoy most about your job and plan something positive with someone. Those who are most satisfied with work build connections with others. Without important relationships at work, employees often feel isolated and alone. Social interactions are important. Taking time for coffee, lunch or a quick chat increases a sense of belonging and inclusion.
5. Prepare for the week ahead. For some, this might mean completing all you can on Friday so that nothing is left hanging with pressure for Monday. For others, it might be making time to get organized over the weekend for an hour or two. Consider writing down any concerns and/or things you know you need to address on Monday.
Another point to keep in mind is that passion—to lead, to serve the customer, to support a cause or a product—is what drives most of us. When we disconnect from that passion, we start to question the meaning of our work and then struggle to perform at our best. Look for ways to reawaken the passion and reconnect with what’s meaningful for you and your team. Initiate a conversation about your team’s purpose, vision and mission. How are you adding value to your customers and clients? What difference are you making? By focusing on these powerful questions, you will help each other re-ignite your passion for the work.
As a leader, you serve as a role model for others. If you experience the Monday Blues yourself, others notice. Positivity and resilience are contagious, so identify changes you can make to start your week with energy and focus. Acknowledge that Mondays can be challenging. Share with your team the five steps outlined above, along with additional habits you’ve discovered work for you. Invite others to share their best practices, too. When we engage with others and live with intention, we achieve multiple benefits: greater mental health along with increased satisfaction and productivity.
Innolect helps create cultures to eliminate Monday Morning Blues. Reach out to discover how we collaborate to build environments where employees want to stay.
Kittie W. Watson, Ph.D., President & Founder
kittiew@innolectinc.com