“Tell me why, I don’t like Mondays”, so the Boomtown Rats song goes, and Bob Geldof was certainly onto something. Monday mornings, or even Sunday evenings, are full of dread and loathing for the week ahead for so many of us. 

But it doesn’t have to be like that! If we start the week positively and on the right foot, then we can set ourselves up for a productive week that we’re proud of. Meaning that come the following Monday, we can be ready and raring to go again, making the Monday blues a thing of the past. 

Here’s five things you can do on a Monday to give your week the best start.

1. Get an early night – technically this tip starts on a Sunday night, but it’s super important to invest in your sleep, especially at the beginning of the week. A lack of sleep will make us feel lethargic, grumpy and out of sorts and if we wake up sleep deprived on a Monday, we could be playing catch up all week. If you’re struggling, try our tips for getting a good night’s sleep. 
2. Exercise! We can’t highlight this one enough – if we start the week with exercise then we’re more likely to carry on with healthy habits for the rest of the week. The benefits of exercise are endless – physically it helps us to manage our weight, build lean muscle mass, improve our metabolism and protect our long term health. Mentally it helps to lift the mood, improve our sleep and make us more productive. Whatever time of day is best for you to exercise, make sure you plan it into your Monday. 
3. Eat a healthy, wholesome breakfast – breakfast really is the most important meal of the day as it sets us up for the morning. Choose protein rich meals, with wholewheat carbs to keep you energised until lunchtime – which will also help you avoid sugary snacks to keep you going! Try our Mushroom Eggy Bread or our Peanut Butter and Banana Toastie. 
4. Use positive affirmations – positive affirmations are words, phrases or sentences that you repeat to yourself, either out loud or in your mind, like a mantra. They help to negate the over critical, negative self-talk that can bring us down and make us believe that we’re not good enough. You ARE good enough, and tell yourself that every day, especially on a Monday! Here’s some affirmations that may help you. 
5. Plan something fun for the upcoming weekend – we all need something to look forward to, so why not use Monday evenings to plan something? It can be as small as a Saturday afternoon spent tinkering in the garden or spending time with that book you’ve been meaning to start. How about a family walk in a local park, no matter the weather, or a trip to the beach? Trying out a new recipe can be fun too, so you could plan a romantic meal at home or go all out on a date night. Either way, make it something about you, that brings you joy. 

Happy Monday!