Written by: Dr. Faye Borja, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
“I can’t wait until the weekend is over so I can go to work on Monday!” said no one ever. Why do we dread Mondays? Even if we love our jobs, Monday tasks can be quite overwhelming. The benefit of growing up millennial is that our lives were highly structured and we had much encouragement from parents, school, or extracurriculars (participation trophies for 15 please). Being raised with great amounts of positive reinforcement, millennials appear to have an inflated self-esteem with high expectations of reward for all achievement. Maybe we are exhausted with the structure. Maybe we want the freedom to create our own agendas. Millennials are the Most Entrepreneurial Generation compared to Generation Xers and Baby Boomers.
This does not mean that millennials want more leisure, because let’s be honest, entrepreneurship is hard work. However, maybe being raised on the pillows of job security, structure, and positive reinforcement leads to a need to venture out into a world we can call our own. Still, there are many of us who do continue to work for big companies, yet struggle due to a lack of support in this generation’s way of being.
The article Leading Millennials: An Approach That Works, put a positive spin on the millennial characteristics that are often seen negatively. For example, the traditional way of interacting with those in positions of authority are unlike millennials who do not shy away from direct encounters. Direct forms of communication are not at all intentions of disrespect; rather, millennials have motivation for immediate results. They want to engage more and be a part of the brainstorming process, with questions of “why” procedures are needed as opposed to simply doing what is being told. Greater work ethic seems to increase with employee morale.
Maybe it isn’t just Mondays.
A shorter work week/longer weekend seems to produce more effective work-life balance. There are several countries that have Shifted To Four-Day Work Week including Spain, Ireland, Japan, Belgium, just to name a few. We perceive Monday to be stressful because of the long work week ahead. If we can reduce this, then perhaps we would perceive the work to be less daunting, thus allowing more comfortability with productivity.
How do we push through?
How do we appropriately mourn the weekend and take charge? Instead of attaching a dreadful connotation to this day, shift your mindset and set positive intentions.
Starting the morning wishing others a great day can surround you with positive energy.
Give yourself something to look forward to at the end of the day, whether it is a trip to pick up your favorite snack, movie night, or a spa-day at home. Instead of a manic Monday, make it a magic Monday.
An ”attitude of gratitude” can go a long way. We have the capability to send a quick message to a friend to ask for a jolt of encouragement. We have the technology to take a quick funny-video break. Take advantage of what this generation has to offer in aiding a lighthearted atmosphere.
Monday blues can lead to overwhelming emotions at times. If you feel that anxiety is getting in the way of your daily activities, it is best to reach out for professional help. For more tips and tricks on reducing anxiety, reach out to therapeutic practices such as GO! Therapeutic Services & Supervision, LLC or The Hardy Clinic, where expert therapists help you manage and learn skills to reduce negative thoughts or behaviors.
Dr. Faye Borja, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Dr. Faye Borja is a licensed psychotherapist. Her years of experience in mental healthcare and in leadership has allowed her the opportunity to share her insight within supervisory, training and mentorship roles. She values integrity, honesty, kindness and growth. Running her first marathon is what led her to her doctoral journey. She often says, “if you can achieve any distance, you can go even further.” She owns GO! Therapeutic Services & Supervision, LLC, and is also the Clinical Manager at The Hardy Clinic in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
