In 1966, an American band called the "The Mamas and the Papas" released a song about Monday that captured the mood of millions of people regarding that dreaded first day of the workweek:
"Monday, Monday, can't trust that day.
Monday, Monday, sometimes it just turns out that way . .
Every other day, every other day, every other day of the week is fine, yeah . . .
But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes . . . you can find me cryin' all of the time."
How to Kick Those Monday Blues
It's true. Not many of us look forward to the start of the week.
Half of all workers will be late to their jobs on Monday mornings. The abrupt transition from a free weekend to the grind makes many people miserable. But Mondays don't have to be a drag. While you can't magically get your team excited to head back to work on Mondays, there are a few things you can do to make Mondays a bit better.
Ax Monday Meetings
How often do you say something like, "let's follow up on that first thing Monday morning?"
The start of the week may feel like the perfect time to reconnect and launch a new week. However, research shows that Monday mornings are actually a time when many people are at their most energetic and creative levels.
Rick's investment team found that, when scheduling Monday morning meetings, they unwittingly drained energy levels and decreased momentum. By giving team members several hours alone to start the day, Monday morning "jump starts" made mid-day meetings much more effective.
Team Breakfast
Pivotal, a software company based in San Francisco, believes company breakfasts are the key to building a cohesive company culture.
They actually serve breakfast EVERY DAY of the work week!
What makes Mondays better? Breakfast! Serving food warms people's hearts and bonds your co-workers. Occasional Monday breakfasts can soften the workweek blues, build camaraderie in your team, and give people healthy fuel to launch into the routine.
A team breakfast doesn't have to be strictly social. You can also use this time to brief people on announcements, share upcoming projects, or celebrate workplace wins for your team.
Friday Fun Days
A typical five-day workweek is a given for most managers.
But, did you know that 15 percent of companies have started implementing four-day workweeks?
Reusser Design, an Indiana Web app development company, slashed their hours from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Thursdays. Founder Nate Reusser says that the policy motivates everyone to work faster and with greater focus, much like the way people work just before going on vacation.
"You wouldn't believe how much we get done," Reusser said.
Four-day workweeks can boost morale and increase productivity. Employees with a shorter workweek are usually more enthusiastic when returning to work, and those energy levels fuel higher outputs.
Could your business consider taking one Friday off each month, or implementing half days on summer Fridays? A happier, more productive workforce may be worth the sacrifice!
Lighten That Monday Mood
In the US, approximately 100 million full-time employees aren't engaged at work, which means a staggering 51 percent of people are slogging through their days on the payroll.
Underperformers can have a devastating effect on your company, but often a simple remedy can transform a negative work culture.
Look for ways to lighten up the Monday mood, and Mondays will lighten up on you!
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