Sunday afternoon is my favourite time of the week. It’s time to languidly while away, to do absolutely nothing knowing that’s exactly what I should be (not) doing.
Because, if I’d planned my week well, by then all my goals will have been accomplished, I will be well rested and sated with all the entertainment and socialising I need.
This doesn’t always happen. Sometimes I’m still hazzled and tired by Sunday afternoon. It’d take another weekend to set me straight, and I’d have to contend with a week of subpar productivity.
But most Sunday afternoons, you’ll find me at my most content. For reasons already mentioned, but also because—you’ll think me weird for saying this—Monday is coming.
My love for Mondays
I don’t remember when my love for Mondays materialised. But one thing’s for sure: it has come and gone many times over three decades of my life.
There were times when I loved and hated going to school, times when I couldn’t wait to and loathed attending my Monday 9am lectures, times when I hastened back to work and dragged my feet like a petulant child.
These days, I fall squarely in the “I love Mondays” phase. With the exception of weeks where I’d messed up my weekend, Monday is a day I eagerly look forward to.
A big part of this is because I love my work. I love who I’m working for and with. I love what we’re trying to accomplish. I love the sense of achievement I get from completing tasks and learning new skills (HTML? Bring it on).
I don’t love everything—there are tasks I dread and countless moments of frustration. But I love the aspects that matter. And this is a big reason why I love Mondays.
But it’s not the only reason.
I also love Mondays because it’s the day my routine returns after the weekend hiatus. Work on my boss’ newsletter in the morning, teach English at 10am, lunch at the neighbourhood food stall with my partner at 11, back to set up my boss’ newsletter social shares after the post goes live at midnight NYC time, then all the other tasks I’d set myself for the day, including the first stab at my newsletter to go out that Friday (guess when I’m writing these words). Then, on eagerly-awaited weeks, dinner with my good friend at 6pm as the cherry on top.
Anyone who knows me knows I love planning and structure, and Monday offers both aplenty.
Another reason I love Mondays: it’s a new beginning, a fresh start. I get to tackle new tasks at work and come up with new ways to tame old ones. I get to cook a new dish for the week. I get to spend time with a new roster of people. I get to make a fresh attempt at optimising productivity. I get to reset my workouts at the gym, plan new café working sessions.
What’s not to love?
Why you don’t love Mondays
Depending on how you feel about Mondays, by now you’re either eagerly nodding along or wondering if something’s not right in my head.
If you’re not a fellow lover of Mondays, it’s time to ask why:
Is it because you hate your job?
Is it because you hate working in general?
Is it because two days aren’t enough for you to feel rested and sated?
Is it because you’re always busy?
Is it because Mondays stress you out?
Is it because you really, really love weekends?
Is it because something horrible happened to you one faithful Monday too long ago for you to remember anything but the trauma?
And once you’ve got your answer, is there anything you can do about it?
If it’s your job, can you get a new one? A lot of people think they can’t quit their job. But if your finances are in order, you’ve got a roof over your head and enough to live on for a few months, you probably can quit that job that’s making you miserable. Unless you’re in a contract that can’t be broken, the only person chaining you to your desk is, well, you.
What is it about the nature of your work that you don’t like? Is there a different type of work that suits you better? Something more/less repetitive/creative/physical/etc.?
Is there a way for you to claw back more of your work week, have a three-day weekend? I did that for a while. It was nice, though I find two-day weekends strangely more satisfying.
Are you taking on too many tasks? Can you say “No” more often?
So on and so forth.
If you think you don’t have a choice, that you’re forever stuck being a Monday hater, you’re probably wrong. We always have a choice. We just don’t want to face the harsh consequences of our choice, and therefore—to our own detriment—choose to do nothing.
What do you think?
You know what I’m about to ask:
Are you a lover of Mondays?
If yes, why? If not, why not? And most importantly: what will you do about it? Please hit “reply” or leave a comment—I read every response and I’d love to hear from you. If you want, share this with someone who makes your Mondays better.
Until next Friday… Stay thoughtful,
Val