Many of us have just had a long weekend over Easter, or perhaps have taken some time off for the school holidays. Once this is over, it can be hard to re-gain that motivation to return to your normal working hours. Perhaps even you had a busy weekend with very little time to unwind from the previous week and are finding it hard to beat those Monday blues. Whatever your reasons, it’s so important to always find a way to overcome that Monday feeling, or holiday blues, and kick start your week to help you achieve your best work possible.

That first day back at work after the weekend or holiday can always seem like a hard thought. An important factor to remember ahead of going back to work is to make sure you catch plenty of sleep the night before. Life can sometimes be hectic and cause us to miss that longed for peaceful and restful weekend, but whatever happens make sure you get a good nights sleep before returning to work. So, plan a relaxing evening and clock in those 8 hours of sleep to ensure that you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the week ahead.

Always remember to plan your week accordingly. Get that list written in advance, perhaps before you sign out for the weekend, and prioritise tasks so that you know exactly what needs done when you next come in. Although it’s always best to finish tasks you’ve started on the Friday so you can start a fresh week of work, we know this isn’t always possible. If you couldn’t complete your tasks, then make sure you prioritise the unfinished work first. This simple 5-minute task can really help you out come Monday morning and you can’t quite remember where you left off before the weekend started.

Another thing to really help you shake off those Monday blues is to drink plenty of water. Water is the best thing you can do for your mind and body, much better than that cup of tea or can of fizzy juice. Even better, try and eat well as well to keep your body feeling active and motivated. So, don’t skip breakfast in favour of a cup of coffee! Start your day (and week) right by grabbing a slice of toast or bowl of cereal and help your brain get into the right gear.

Lastly, try planning something to look forward to! It doesn’t have to be work related, it could be planning a catch-up with friends over Zoom, or even saving the new episode of your favourite TV show for a specific day. Perhaps it might help Friday seem not so far away by breaking up your week and planning something mid-week. Doing this gives you something to work towards, something to make your week feel a bit more exciting.

However you prepare for a week of work, always try to start it the best way you can! Have a great week!

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