How many
times did you hit the snooze button this morning? For me, I think it was 6 times as I really didn’t
want to get out of bed. Long story
short, I think I have a case of the Mondays and I know I can’t be alone. But according
to an article I just found, getting out of bed on a Monday doesn’t necessarily
have to be a nightmare. Also a little
motivation can go a long way –maybe even long enough to make Monday a primo day
for a healthy kick start. You might
think Monday sucks because:
Mood
You think it sucks. Perception is a powerful thing. If you start the week
channeling
Garfield the cat
's
catchphrase “I hate Mondays,” having a non-crappy day will be a
challenge. Make It Suck Less-Come up with a fun tradition to kick off each week
like a fancy latte, or grabbing lunch with a pal. With something to look
forward to, you can gradually rewrite your mental script.
Sleep
Your circadian rhythms are out of whack. Staying up late on the weekend and
then sleeping in the next day creates a mini jet lag that's akin to flying from
New York to Los Angeles on Friday and back again on Sunday. Make It Suck
Less-Keep weekend sleep/wake times within an hour of weekday ones. If you veer
off schedule, throw open the shades as soon as you get up; a.m. light
suppresses the sleep hormone melatonin and sends a “rise and shine”
cue to your brain for a less-rude awakening.
Heart
Shifting from a rest and relaxation filled Sunday to a busy work week is
stressful for your mind and your body. It can cause your blood pressure to
surge, which may be why doctors see more heart attacks and strokes on Mondays
than any other day. Make It Suck Less-Try a calming breathing exercise upon
waking (inhale and exhale deeply for 30 seconds) to keep your Blood Pressure in
check. Then include half a cup of spinach in your lunch: It's high in
heart-healthy nutrients like magnesium, potassium, and calcium.
Immunity
You partied too hard. A single episode of binge drinking (four cocktails or
glasses of wine) blunts the ability of
Pac-Man
-like
cells called macrophages to destroy viruses and bacteria for up to a day
afterward, making you more vulnerable to illness. Make It Suck Less-Limit
weekend imbibing to just two or three drinks a night, make each last one hour,
and have food with those beverages. Don't forget to chase each drink with a
tall glass of water to literally water down booze's effects.
Muscles
You overdid it during your boot-camp classes or whatever workouts you're into.
These intense bouts of exercise can cause inflammation that has your muscles
screaming for mercy on Monday. Make It Suck Less-Do gentle yoga or take a brisk
walk, which will drive blood flow to muscles, easing soreness. Weekend loafers:
same gentle prescription for you. A bust-your-ass Monday workout can make you
too achy to exercise Tuesday.
Not bad tips to help start Monday on a better foot. I definitely know I’ll be trying some of
these for a better Monday next week. Do
you have any tricks to not loathe Monday so much? Favorite part of doing this blog is hearing
from you! Leave your comments on this
post over on Facebook, and you never know how it might help someone else
struggling! – Butter
