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Today’s podcast is inspired (and I use that term loosely!) by a client who regularly struggles with Monday-i-tis.

Each Monday as he drags himself into the gym he announces “It’s a blue Monday” which I don’t know exactly the meaning of however I’m pretty sure it doesn’t mean he’s focusing of any of the 3 key questions I’m going to frame todays show around.

It’s my belief that Monday is your chance to lay the foundation for the rest of the week.

It’s an opportunity to focus on everything that could rock about Monday OR of course everything that does not.

And, why on earth would you ever choose a does not over a could rock focus??

Let’s get rolling with:

How To Win Your Monday.

Key question #1: How do you want to feel at the end of the day?

One of the feelings I really hate (and Yes I chose that level of intensity with volition) is to feel a lack of accomplishment. To feel dissatisfied with me. To feel like I’ve let myself done.

I’m pretty sure I’m not unique in this regard.

It absolutely does not mean you need to work like a maniac 7 days a week. In fact my main goal Sunday is to rest and relax and feel fresh and focused for Monday. 

If you’re struggling with Monday-i-tis ask yourself what would need to happen for you to feel really super awesome about your Monday? To feeling like you’re winning?

=> Perhaps it’s in relation to the progress you make with work tasks?

=> Maybe it’s more about a day of great health decisions?

=> Possibly it’s more along the lines of the relationships and interactions you nurture today?

To win your Monday: First, you need to know how that’d feel. Are you seeking: Satisfaction? Connection? Progress? Fun? Integrity?

Then, you need to decide what actions will let you feel those feelings?

Key question #2: What launch pad do you want for the rest of the week?

If Monday is the first day of your working week it lays the foundation. It’s your chance to start on the best possible foot. Perhaps to get a head start on everyone else who’s dragging themselves through their Monday.

If it doesn’t come naturally you just need a simple routine to follow.

I absolutely get that not everyone wakes up full of beans, excited to launch into the week. However if you don’t, there are some steps to take to make it that HUGE bit easier. Here are my top 5 don’ts and my top 5 do’s to win your Monday:

1) Don’t hit snooze. It’s torture. It’s also telling your body “My day isn’t worth getting up for.”

DO: Get to bed 7-8 hours before your ideal wake up time to make it that mach easier to not hit snooze.

2) Don’t skip breakfast. It’s going to make poor food decisions later in the day that much more likely.

DO: Plan your ideal breakie the might before. Even better have it prepped and ready to go.

3) Don’t get sucked into low value tasks first thing. Like email. Or social media. Or those easy yet no-so-important little jobs that are really not a priority.

DO: Plan your day the night before (with the feelings you uncovered in Key question #1 in mind) and be ruthless in starting with your number ONE task.

4) Don’t get dragged down by the first thing that goes wrong. Perhaps a missed bus. Crazy traffic. Or a late client.

DO: Get really good at reframing those annoying yet inevitable obstacles that jump in your way. The fact is things will go wrong. The other fact is you can move swiftly past obstacles by finding the learning, building your tolerance muscle or feeling grateful that the situation isn’t worse (it can always be worse!) OR you can fixate, dwell on and prolong the bad.

5) Don’t let negative people rub off on you. Ideally don’t even interact with the energy-sucking-glass-half-empty-types.

DO: Start your day with someone who inspires you. I’m pretty lucky in that my 5.45am Monday client is hugely inspiring. I also wouldn’t choose to spend that early am time with someone who wasn’t. If you’re not in a place where you can chose your clients then you can choose the podcast you listen to. Or perhaps the book or blog you read?

Key question #3: What message do you want to send to YOU?

Each day and each decision reinforces your reputation with yourself. It’s a simple yet easily neglected notion.

Are you someone who follows through?

Can you rely on YOU?

Given that your body is a habit forming machine… Do you want to nurture the destructive, lazy habits?

Like: sleeping in / skipping your workout / getting sucked into social media / grumbling about how tired-busy-stressed you are?

Or, do you want to be the contrarian? That weirdly-yet-attractively motivated and positive person intent on winning your Mondays and winning your week.

I know I’m making it sound easier than it is! However I do have 4 more win your Monday facts for you:

1) What you focus on expands so focus on what you do or could love about Monday.

Perhaps: the hour of power you get done on the most important task of the day before anyone else gets to the office / a precious 5-15 minutes you take for yourself reading a book for pleasure not work at the end (or start) of the day.

2) It only gets easier.

Those good habits you’re forming might initially be hard to create however 100% without a doubt they’ll get easier. With time things that may once have been struggle-street will happen on auto-pilot.

3) You’re in the perfect position to positively influence others.

In the same way that a rubbish mood can rub off your positivity can be just as infectious. What if each Monday you set the goal to be that bright, friendly spark in someone else’s previously gloomy Monday?

4) Nurture appreciation for the little things and get to feel appreciation as regularly as you want. 

It might be: your first coffee / your first smile with a stranger / your first laugh with a colleague.

As Oprah says: “The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.”

To get actionable today let’s go with a LOVE or could LOVE audit of your regular Monday.

Sometimes it’s easier to love and appreciate something once you’ve brought it to mind. To be a little more specific and very achievable a place to start is to take a mere 60 seconds to list as many things as you’re grateful from the beginning of your Monday. I just got to 11 in my 60 seconds. I’m certain you can match me.

That’s it for me today. I hope you can join me for the Wednesday weigh-in show where we’ll cover: Inspiration Versus Implementation.

If you liked this you’ll also like: When ‘Borrowing from Tomorrow’ costs you more than weight loss results.

If you’re yet to share the Healthification love – just click here to zip over to iTunes and leave an honest rating and review. It’d help me out big time. With gratitude, Kate.