How To Make Your Mondays Shine With The Slow Monday Routine

I realized recently that since I created Your Wellness Recipe, I have hardly written anything about nutrition. Almost all of my (very few) posts are about well-being, even though my area of ‘expertise’ would be nutrition. By the way, I didn’t put expertise in braces because I’m not an expert. I think in reality very few of us can call ourselves experts. No matter how well you know the topic, there’s always going to be conflicting evidence, and the research is always evolving. I think the only people who can truly call themselves experts in nutrition are those who have dedicated their lives to research and studies in this field. The rest of us are simply students. But let’s not sway off the topic. I know that I SHOULD post something about nutrition, or maybe even must, and yet I am so swept away with the wellness topic that I keep putting it off.

Hi, I’m Lana and I am the biggest procrastinator. I promise I will get my act together and post more things about Nutrition and Exercise as I initially planned. But for now, here’s another emotional wellness post, and this time it’s about Mondays.

Mondays are viewed as the biggest nemesis of the week. People dread Mondays because even thinking of it kicks your mood away, and you imagine the morning rush when you have to do e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g in as little time as possible. Thus we get tired, stressed out and frustrated before the real Monday even started. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Imagine another kind of Monday – the Monday you are waiting for, the Monday you’re excited about because you cannot wait to see what new surprises and opportunities it will bring. Imagine the Monday where there is no rush, no stress, no hassle. Just a slow, chill Monday morning when you wake up and smile and do the things you can enjoy before hitting your work/daily routine.

Well, I understand that it may not work for everybody, and may not even work every single time, but I propose A Slow Monday Routine that may help you transform your Mondays once and for all. Are you interested? Than read on!

What Makes Mondays Bad?

What I can tell you for sure is that your attitude is half-responsible for your Monday perception, and that is quite understandable. I mean, we all love weekends and don’t like realising that the fun is over. But by branding Mondays as no fun we actually let our attitude ruin the day, completely discarding a possibility of having a light and fun Monday. Changing your attitude to a more positive one will also change the Monday outlook and the day will not be half as bad.

The second factor responsible for the way your Mondays turn out is your routine. Not just the Monday morning routine, but also the Sunday night routine. Creating a relaxing and slow routine is key to having less stressful Mondays and any days in general. It may take a great effort at first, but once you tweak it to the way you feel comfortable with, once you find what works for you, Monday mornings will become breezy.

So the 2 things you need to start with are:

1. Think of Mondays in a positive way. Don’t view them just as a start of a boring week, view them as a start of something new – you can meet new people, find new opportunities or simply learn something new. Open your mind and heart to let it in.
2. Start practicing a new Slow Monday routine. See which steps you can incorporate to suit your lifestyle. Give them a try, or at least a good think before you discard them as unsuitable. Find what makes you feel good. Well-being is about making a conscious effort to feel good, remember?

Now onto the main thing.

Create a Slow Monday Routine

Sunday evening prep:

1. Think of your Monday. How do you want it to be? List a few things you want to do to make it a good day for you. Write them down if you need. Set positive intentions and practice affirmations, something like “Monday is MY day. It is my chance to start anew” or “Monday is going to be awesome”.
2. Prepare for your Monday. Choose the clothes you’re going to wear, set them aside. If you’re taking packed lunch to work, pack it the night before and keep in the fridge overnight.
3. If you are quite short on time on Monday mornings, assemble a lazy overnight breakfast, like overnight oats, or alternatively boil eggs, cut up fruit and veg and store it in the fridge (though I’d suggest you use them fresh in the morning).

Have a restful night:

1. Adopt a ‘no screens before bed’ rule and allow yourself to detox from TV and other media devices at least 2 hours before your bedtime. Blue light emitted from the screens may seriously interrupt with your sleep quality and melatonin production.
2. Create a relaxing bedtime routine for yourself: allow yourself to do something you love doing but find little time to do during the day. Read a book, paint or do a sketch, knit or crochet. Finish off with a short stretching routine and meditation if you’re into it. Take a bath or a relaxing warm shower. Take your time, don’t rush.
3. Go to bed a little earlier than usual, setting the alarm also a little earlier.

Enjoy a Slow Monday:

1. Wake up a little earlier than usual (try disabling the Snooze button) to allow yourself plenty of time before you have to leave. Remember that you should not rush yourself.
2. Smile and remember the affirmations. Repeat them in your mind to set the tone for your day.
3. Drink water. Just one cup of pure water in the morning to wake up your body and gently rehydrate it after the night’s fast.
4. Stretch and maybe even meditate a little. When it comes to meditation  even 5 minutes is enough.
5. Take time to make and eat breakfast without rush. Practice mindful eating, when your attention is turned to the meal you are having. Notice the texture and flavours and how the hunger slowly leaves you as you become satiated.
6. Treat yourself to a cup of your favourite tea (my mornings are incomplete without green tea). Try to avoid media devices at the table, but if you have to, choose to read or watch something beautiful and inspiring that will keep your mood up.

Now when you are calm and recharged and in a positive mood, you are ready to take on the Monday with all its challenges and opportunities. Welcome them as they come, remember the affirmations and be grateful to yourself for making time for a little self-care routine.

Have a beautiful Monday y’all!

Lana x