Career & Education

I Couldn’t Escape The Monday Blues Until I Discovered Bare Minimum Mondays

Mondays used to be my nemesis.  I’d often spend Sunday nights anxious, thinking about the pile of work that awaited me. When Monday morning came, I was immediately hit with the Monday blues—overwhelmed, exhausted, and endlessly frustrated with my inability to be as productive as I thought I should be. Then, there was Lisa, my colleague. Every Monday, she was relaxed, smiling, and not at all stressed like most people in the office—the start of the workweek didn’t faze her at all. One particularly rough morning, Lisa approached me as I was struggling with a seemingly ever-growing to-do list.  “You look like you’re about to collapse,” she said chuckling. “Why not try Bare Minimum Mondays?”  I blinked, confused. “Bare what?”  With a grin, she explained. Bare Minimum Mondays, she said, is a strategy for easing into the week. Instead of tackling everything at once, you focus on the essentials—just the bare minimum. It’s not about avoiding responsibilities but about creating space to breathe and setting a steady pace for the rest of the week. I was sceptical. How could I accomplish anything if I only did the bare minimum? But Lisa encouraged me to give it a go.  The following Monday, I gave it a shot. I set myself three simple tasks: respond to urgent emails, organise my work schedule for the week, and tidy my desk. I also allowed myself the luxury of a leisurely breakfast at my desk, something I hadn’t done in ages.  The result? I felt calmer, more focused, and far less rushed. It was as if I had hit a reset button on my Mondays. Now, I understand why Lisa always seems so composed at the start of the week.  Bare Minimum Mondays has completely transformed how I face my most dreaded day. Sometimes, the smallest adjustments lead to the most profound changes. How about you—thinking about giving it a try? This article is part of TSS Confessions, a weekly column where we delve into personal finance topics that are unscripted and genuine real accounts from people.