Thank God it’s Monday!

Said no one. Ever.

Why are Mondays such a buzz kill?

For myself, Monday is a hard re-boot after two days of living without the demands of the office. I’d almost rather jump into an ice bath on a 30-degree hot day than go from full-stop work to GO at my desk.

Speaking from the lens of a self-employed entrepreneur, I chose this path to have more control and flexibility so I could call my own shots. But even after twenty-plus years, I realized I was still working with an employee mindset. (Being available on-demand is part of being an employee. While you are at the office or on-call, you have expectations to put your employer first.)

I’ve learned that successful self-employed create boundaries for clients so they can set time aside to focus on project work but also manage all the other hats they wear.

Regardless of your situation, employed or self-employed, these tactics can be a framework for changing your Mondays from a buzz kill to a haven.

1 - Control your schedule.

Whatever control you have over your Monday schedule is where you nip this in the bud. Avoid booking appointments, meetings, or commitments, both personal and work-related. Hold Monday for what is important to you as much as you can. However much time you can block off is better than not blocking any.

Depending on your situation, blocking the whole day will do wonders for your ability to enjoy Monday. I love working without wondering if and when a client will reach out in the back of my mind - distracting me from moving forward on a project.

2 - Download.

Before you dive in, download everything on your mind. It could be a journal style or a list of ideas, responsibilities, deadlines, expectations, and really anything adulting requires.

3 - Intention matters.

It’s great to have uninterrupted time and space, but what you do with it is where the magic happens.

Review your download journal/list and highlight what you want to focus on today. Then out of that, pick the one to start on first. Write it down in your to-do list for Monday or right into your calendar. Finish that, then move on to the next, etc.

NOTE, avoid any task or interaction that can distract you from your focus. Yes, it’s the devil we know, social media and any kind of news source, that will fill up your brain, subtly pushing your own needs back as they take up space.

4 - Consistency.

This one is on you. Respect yourself enough to value your time and attention. Then, also establish expectations with everyone you connect with. Let others know why you schedule in ‘Mole Mode’ Mondays. Your ability to achieve great work requires respect for the space and time required to do the work.

The myWeek has been my tool that creates a more joyful Monday. Between its download page and flexible layout, I love being able to glance at the week, allowing the awareness of how much I have on my plate combined with how much time in my schedule I have to accomplish it all or maybe a part of it.

Whether you use a myLife tool or not, these tactics can be used with anything.