How You Deal With Monday Blues, By Personality Type
Somewhere around 8 pm on a Sunday evening, you feel a sense of dread and anxiety creeping in. The weekend is over and Monday is just around the corner. You start to feel the weight of responsibilities and tasks that await you at work and, suddenly, your mood takes a nosedive.
Even if you love your job, it's difficult to get yourself motivated and energized on a Monday morning. Difficult, but not impossible. Here's how you can keep the Monday Blues away, based on your personality type.
ISTJ - Know Exactly What to Expect
For the ISTJ personality type, Mondays are seen as an opportunity to tackle responsibilities head-on. Your practical nature means you probably created a structured plan for the week before you left the office on Friday afternoon. If possible, block out your Monday mornings for completing tasks according to your plan. Your happy place is when everything goes according to schedule, so stick to it as closely as possible.
ISFJ - Find Comfort in Familiarity
As an ISFJ personality type, you may feel overwhelmed and anxious on Mondays. The change of pace from family-and-friends time at the weekend can leave you feeling unbalanced and out of sorts. To combat this, find comfort in familiarity. Try starting your Monday with a routine that feels familiar and comforting to you, such as making yourself a cup of coffee or taking a few moments for meditation. This will help ease any anxiety and give you a sense of control over your day.
INFJ - Set Meaningful Goals
If there's one thing INFJs hate, it's struggling through a pile of admin or other mundane tasks that come with a Monday. Instead of allowing yourself to feel bogged down and unmotivated, try to schedule a meaningful task for Monday. It could be something as small as reaching out to a colleague who may need support or working on a pet project that always gets pushed aside. This will give you something to look forward to and help keep your spirits high on Mondays.
INTJ - Drill Through the Tasks
For the INTJ personality type, Mondays are seen as an opportunity to get things done. As a goal-oriented and efficient individual, you likely have a list of tasks and goals for the week ahead. Start your Monday morning by tackling them head-on and drilling through any mundane or tedious tasks that need to be completed. This will give you a sense of accomplishment and set the tone for a productive week.
ISTP - Start Big Then Slow Down
ISTPs thrive in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment. But even for you, Mondays can be overwhelming with a sudden influx of tasks and responsibilities. A helpful approach is the Eisenhower Matrix, which helps you prioritize tasks and focus on what's most important and urgent first. You can push other tasks back without feeling guilty, knowing that they will be taken care of in due time.
ISFP - First Do Something Creative
Mondays can feel stifling for ISFPs who want to go with their muse and their energy, not with the clock. A tip for you is to start your Monday morning with something creative and fulfilling, whether it's writing a proposal or designing a new project. This will help you start the week on a positive and inspiring note.
INFP - Set Boundaries for Work-Life Balance
INFPs are known to have difficulty separating work from personal life, especially on Mondays when there's pressure to jump right back into work mode. To combat this, set clear boundaries between your work and personal time. The minute you close the door to your home on Monday morning, switch on your work brain. Read a newspaper, listen to a work-related or personal development podcast, or review your schedule for the week. This will help you ease into a productive mindset and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
INTP - Tackle the Most Challenging Tasks First
As an INTP, mundane tasks are your worst enemy. To avoid feeling unmotivated on Mondays, focus on tackling the most challenging and intellectually stimulating tasks first. You'll feel more accomplished and motivated to continue working through the day. And whatever you do, don't schedule any meetings for Monday mornings - you'll thank yourself later.
ESTP - Start with a Workout
ESTPs are known for their outgoing and energetic nature. To combat the Monday Blues, try starting your day with a workout or some physical activity. It will help release any tension or stress you may be feeling and give you the energy boost you need to start your week off strong.
ESFP - Connect with Coworkers
For ESFPs, Mondays can feel lonely after spending the weekend socializing with friends and family. Combat this by connecting with your coworkers. Use Monday morning as a time to catch up with them, share stories from the weekend, or plan a group activity for the week. This will help you feel less isolated and bring some of that social energy into your work environment.
ENFP - Set Aside Time for Reflection
As an ENFP, Mondays can feel overwhelming with all the tasks and responsibilities ahead. Staring at a long to-do list can make you feel stressed and all over the place. To avoid feeling scattered, take some time in the morning to reflect on your goals and priorities for the week. If it's not important, don't add it to your list. This will help you stay focused and on track for a successful week.
ENTP - Try Something New
ENTPs thrive on new experiences and challenges. To combat the Monday Blues, try starting your day with something new - whether it's a new task at work or a new route to your office. This will help keep things interesting and prevent you from feeling bored or unmotivated.
ESTJ - Stick to Your Routine
Pretty much the opposite advice applies to ESTJs. Structure and routine are essential for you, so keep things consistent on Monday morning to help ease you into the workweek. Stick to your usual schedule, and make sure everything is in place for a productive day. This will give you a sense of control and stability, helping you start your week off on the right foot.
ESFJ - Get Organized
ESFJs are known for their organized nature and love for planning ahead. To avoid feeling overwhelmed by the tasks ahead, use Monday morning as a time to get organized and prepare for the week. Make lists, schedule meetings, or tidy up your workspace - whatever helps you feel more in control of your workload.
ENFJ - Set Aside Time for Team-Building
As an ENFJ, you thrive on connecting with others and building relationships. Use Monday as a time to connect with your coworkers, whether it's through team-building activities, one-on-one conversations, or a group huddle. Creating the feeling that you're all in this together will help you start the week off on a positive and collaborative note.
ENTJ - Plan Strategy, Not Tasks
ENTJs are natural planners and strategists. Use Monday morning as a time to look at the big picture, not get bogged down in execution. Plan your strategy for the week ahead, set goals and milestones, and delegate tasks accordingly. Your goal is to finish Monday feeling like you have a clear plan of action for success.