Making the most of your Monday

Nothing sends your productivity into overdrive like getting a flying start to the week. Although you might classify Mondays as the ‘weekend hangover’, it’s better to use the day as an opportunity to establish your priorities and beat your deadlines. Whether you’re facing five days filled with client meetings or the last phase of a project that requires your analytical skills to be razor-sharp, here are four top tips for making the most of your Monday.

Get an early start

There is a directly proportional relationship between waking up early and getting the most out of your day. According to recent research, those with a tendency to wake up early were found to feel happier, more productive and energetic than those who rose at an average time – a finding that can work wonders for productivity. From avoiding caffeine after midday to bringing your alarm forward, there’s plenty you can do to rise early on a Monday and prepare yourself for the week.

Factor exercise into your schedule

Do you find yourself spending long hours hunched over reading documents or staring at spreadsheets on a screen? Making exercise part of your Monday schedule can supercharge your concentration levels and help you focus on the task at hand. Whether you attend an early-morning yoga class before commuting to the office or swapping the train to cycle or walk into work, upping your endorphin levels after the weekend can make you more efficient in the days to come.

Build a buffer into your diary

We’ve all arrived at work on a Monday only to find there’s been an issue with a client’s financials or an obstacle that will delay a project. But setting aside time to troubleshoot on a Monday – even if it turns out you don’t need it – can help you sail into Tuesday calm, cool and prepared.

Prioritise the week’s most important tasks

When you’re staring at a week shaped by round-the-clock deadlines, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Unfortunately, this can give rise to the kind of reactive mindset that can create stress during the next five days. On Monday morning, spend some time looking at your diary, re-evaluating your goals and prioritising the week’s most important tasks. That way, you know when you’re hitting your professional targets and can change your course when you start to drift.

From fast-tracking your wake-up call to setting aside time to resolve issues that will inevitably arise, committing to making the most of your Monday can work wonders throughout the week. What do you do to get the most out of your Monday?

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