Rise and Shine
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of Monday morning, am I right? You may think that I’m going to hop on the bandwagon of showing my disdain for the end of the weekend and the beginning of the five day grind, but I’m being serious. Mondays are one of my favorite times of the week, even more specifically, early Monday morning.
Call me crazy, but I love the Monday through Friday work-life blending grind. I know that with this single statement, you may be contemplating closing your browser over the fact that I am a self-proclaimed workaholic… and proud of it, but I advise you to continue reading (please). Mondays are the first chance that you have to not only gain a competitive edge over your competition, but to establish the mindset and momentum that will carry you through the rest of the week. It’s funny how over the years my perception of Mondays has changed. When I was in the corporate funk of living for the weekend, those two days of freedom were never long enough for my liking. However, with time, I have come to value and truly embrace what this time has to offer to not only myself, but also to my company.
Habits Start Early
I first developed my crazy work ethic as an extremely young child. At the age of six, I was a competitive gymnast, training under coaches who were former Russian Olympians. I would train with the team for three hours a day, six days a week, and then Sundays typically included either a competition, or a one-two hour private lesson. On top of being a full time athlete, I was still a student attending a private Catholic school, trying to maintain a somewhat “normal” life of hanging out with friends and–believe it or not–playing on the school’s basketball team. Life was the definition of busy, time management skills were non-negotiable, and I had to develop a strong work ethic while most kids my age were focused on just being kids. My coach used to tell us something on a daily basis that still is ingrained in my head to this day: “time is money”, and boy is he right.
The reason that I share my personal experience is because I understand that I am not like most people. Let’s be honest, not every person out there will tell you that they live for Monday mornings. The habits that have shaped my mentality since I was young are something that I hope can inspire anyone reading this to dig deep and find your own. Maybe you are completely starting from scratch and this is all new… that is OK, it’s actually AMAZING! I see you, and I fully support you.
Look Forward to Mondays
As part of my support, I also challenge you to make Monday mornings something that you yearn for. It’s said that, “A Sunday well spent brings a week of content”. Try to set yourself up for further success by using Sundays as a way to mentally and physically rest yourself, but also to prepare yourself for the week ahead, starting with Mondays. Investing an hour–or even thirty minutes–of time to get things in order will help you enter into each week feeling more equipped to tackle whatever may come, more confident that you are ready, and more time to be spent on other things. If you work a traditional Monday-Friday corporate office role, challenge yourself to prepare for Monday before you leave the office on Friday; I used to do this, and I promise it will make your life so much easier when you get back to your desk Monday morning.
“A Sunday well spent brings a week of content”
I firmly believe that life is meant to be enjoyed, not just lived. When you have healthy habits and techniques in place, you ultimately have more freedom to enjoy the other little things in life before they pass you by. Remember to do something for yourself each day. Don’t get so caught up in a routine where your days only include work, a quick trip to the gym, and sleep (you know who you are). Even if it is something small, try it–even better, try it on a Monday if you need something to look forward to. Sip a glass of wine or tea while reading a chapter in a book or the Bible before bed. Go for a scenic run before work instead of hitting the gym, or step outside for a quick walk during lunch. Manis and pedis are game changers–you never feel quite as put together as you do with freshly done nails. Or, one of my favorites, take a few minutes to meditate and just be still.
I will finish this post in the same way that I began it: There’s nothing quite like the feeling of Monday morning. Not only is it the start to another day of God waking you up, but it’s a chance to remember that you have purpose on this earth. Work hard, but spend as much, if not more time, enjoying it.
With Love,
– LW
LIFE WITH LW 