Mondays don’t have to be so heavy as the Monday morning blues are something every employee faces. Whether they are veteran employees or new joiners. This is amplified, especially when the brain is suddenly forced to work after two days of rest. Well, there’s a new social media trend going on to escape these Monday morning blues. It’s called – Minimum Monday. The trend started with TikToker Marisa Jo Mayes dealing with the stress of a mountain of pending work on Monday. In an interview with Business Insider, she said that at first, she thought it was the hustle culture that made her overworked and exhausted but then she realized it was actually the pressure of work. Monday, which she will begin to anticipate on Sunday itself. She said, “Every week, “Sunday dread” would set in and every Monday, I would sleep until the last second because I knew that list was waiting for me. The pressure I was putting on myself was crippling, and I realized something had to change.” We all dread Monday so much that when it finally comes, we lose all productivity because most of the time has been spent anticipating the workload, so there is no mental space left for productivity. The trend setter appreciated it and said that following Monday’s minimal hack increased her productivity. She said, “I allowed myself to work the absolute minimum and it was like some magic happened to me. I feel better. I wasn’t overwhelmed at all and I actually got more done than I expected.”
How does hacking work?
Marisa Jo Mayes explained how she takes the minimal productivity approach on Monday to Business Insider. Here’s a step-by-step guide to her routine.
- Step 1 Start slow- On Monday, start your day comfortably. Don’t schedule any meetings and take it slow for the first two hours. During this time, engage in activities such as reading, journaling, and doing household chores. Limit technology use by not checking email or using electronic devices first thing in the morning. The goal of this phase is to set a positive tone for the day and focus on personal health.
Creative work- Around 10 a.m., shift focus to creative work. This should be work-related but specifically chosen with in mind that it is work you enjoy and is creative in nature. This creative work lasts about an hour. Lunch or a walk- After a creative session, take a break for lunch or a walk. This break can be for the purpose of recharging and helping the mind rest after work. Focused Work- After a break, engage in core work tasks. During this time, don’t multitask, don’t get distracted, and don’t use your phone. This shows a high level of focus and productivity during this time. If necessary, extend this focused work for another hour, up to a maximum of three hours.
