Why do Mondays feel like the worst day of the week, and is there really a way to start our week off with a more positive spin? We share everything you need to know to turn that Monday feeling into something you can look forward to (or at least not dread)

Mondays. They’re the worst day of the week, aren’t they? For most of us, Monday morning signals the end of two whole days of freedom and enjoyment. The weekends are a time to relax, do something we enjoy, and put ourselves (or our loved ones) first. It's time to get out and about, do exciting things, and maybe even treat ourselves.

Yet by the time Sunday evening rolls around, we can start to feel a sense of dread for the week to come. And when Monday morning finally rolls around? We feel tired, grumpy, and reluctant to get started. Maybe you even feel anxious about the week to come, or frustrated that your precious free time has gone so quickly.

So…why is it we struggle with Monday mornings. And what can we do to turn things around and make Mondays better?

Why do I have such a hard time on Mondays?

We all struggle with Mondays for different reasons. Overwhelmingly in the UK, Monday is the start of our work, school, or college week, meaning it’s one of the most stressful days as we begin a new cycle of days before our next ‘free day’ off. But the looming week ahead isn’t the only reason why Mondays can be so tough.

If you find yourself dreading Mondays, it could be a sign that:

• You don’t like your job. Disliking what you do, or finding it particularly stressful, can both make Mondays feel hard. But actually recognising why you don’t like your job (or that it’s even your job that is the problem) can sometimes be tricky. If you feel yourself growing anxious, nervous, or dreading the week ahead on a Sunday evening, it can be a sign that something isn’t quite right. Maybe you’re dreading a specific meeting, you don’t feel prepared for the week ahead, or your to-do list is waiting for you and feels overwhelming. For others, feeling like what they do is meaningless or makes no difference can be the driving force behind their discontent.
• You feel trapped. Transitioning from two days of freedom to five days of sticking to a rigid schedule can be tough - even when we’ve been doing it for years. We’re no longer able to do things when we want, or in many cases, even to take breaks when we know they would best suit us. This can lead to a growing sense of frustration, loss, and even resentment that can be particularly prevalent on a Monday, as you try to get back into your workweek routine.
• Your work/life balance is off. Having a good work/life balance is key for so many different reasons. Without enough time to ourselves, we may not be able to de-stress, maintain or build meaningful relationships, relax, unwind, and truly find things that we enjoy. Even when we love what we do as a job, we can’t keep doing it 24/7 without a break – it’s just not healthy. If you’re answering emails outside of

Social media can seem like a drab place at times, but there are spots of positivity to be found

Most of us are familiar with the difficult side of social media. Whether that be all-hour access to bad news, furious arguments in comment sections, comparison traps, body shaming, or even cyberbullying, these once exciting technological platforms have started to lose their shine a bit.

Though, of course, there is another side. New research from Sky Mobile has found that one in three Brits actively seek out positive content on social media, with each of us spending on average two hours a day searching for uplifting content.

The study found the most popular sources of positivity included animal videos and memes, and posts describing random acts of kindness. Following closely behind was light-hearted ‘when things go wrong’ videos, travel or holiday photos, childhood TV clips, and British pop culture.

“What we consume online impacts how we feel. Even small positive mood boosts can make a difference,” says positive psychology expert Vanessa Kind. “And these don’t just feel good, science shows these can add up – for example helping us be more open to others, more flexible in our thinking, better at creative problem solving.”

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45% of respondents agree that when they view positive and inspiring posts online, their mood was boosted for the day – and the research found that Brits love to spread that positivity, with 19% going on to share the posts with friends or family.

“Connecting constructively with people we care about and doing kind things for others are important for everyone’s happiness and wellbeing,” Vanessa continues. “Showing we are thinking of others and sharing positive content online that we think loved ones will enjoy or find uplifting contributes to this.”

While the findings suggest that many of us are actively seeking out positivity, there are many things that you can do to try to create a happier social media feed, to begin with. You can schedule regular tidy-ups of your following list, removing any accounts that might be making you unhappy for any reason. You can also make use of the ‘mute’ button for those cases where you might feel uncomfortable unfollowing someone – for example, if it is someone you know in real life. It is also worth taking some time out to follow pages and accounts devoted to the things that bring you joy in life, like hobby pages, jokes and humour, or fun facts.

“It’s important we’re aware of how social media impacts our mood and manage what we access,” Vaness continues. “We of course need to keep in touch with what’s happening in the world around us, and it’s encouraging t

Try repeating these affirmations, designed to help you soothe your mind and develop a sense of calm

It can be difficult to find moments of calm and serenity when we’re going about our busy lives. Our heads may be full of mental to-do lists that we must keep ticking off, or the demands that others make of us could weigh heavy on our minds.

Affirmations are short, simple phrases that we repeat to ourselves, to give ourselves a message or to confirm something that, deep down, we know to be true. And when it comes to affirmations for creating calm, repeating your mantras can have a really grounding effect, putting the problems at hand into perspective and reminding you of your values and priorities.

Here, we’re sharing 30 affirmations to help you create a sense of calm.

1. I let go of stress
2. I can feel a sense of calm moving through my body
3. My mind is quiet
4. Setting boundaries is healthy
5. I only need to take one step at a time
6. I deserve to rest
7. If I reach my capacity, I can stop
8. I am safe
9. I breathe out stress and breathe in peace
10. I speak to myself with kindness
11. If I need it, I can ask for help
12. It’s OK to take a break
13. I deserve to feel at peace
14. I am not responsible for things I can’t control
15. I invite joy into my life
16. I don’t need to prove myself to anyone
17. I am doing the best I can
18. It’s OK to say no
19. I will have a peaceful day
20. My anxious thoughts don’t rule me
21. I let go of tension
22. I trust myself
23. I am grounded in this moment
24. I am capable
25. I let go of intrusive thoughts
26. I have the tools I need to face challenges that come my way
27. I am loved
28. External stress doesn't need to affect me
29. I deserve self-compassion
30. I am calm

Interested in working on self-belief with a life coach? Connect with a professional using lifecoach-directory.org.uk