I Don’t Hate Mondays
I was sitting in Starbucks this morning when a young guy came up to the counter. When the Barrista asked him how he was he grunted and said “I hate Mondays”. He couldn’t have sounded more pathetic if he wanted to. He acted as if waking up Monday morning was like a trip to the electric chair. If you hate what you do each week so much — DON’T DO IT!I understand that my comments may be ignorant of his situation, but his words forced me to think. How many people wake up each day dreading going to work? If this is you, then what are you doing about it? Are you trying to get out of the rut you’re in and start doing something you love?
I am still working a couple days each week doing web/graphics for an athletic club. I don’t hate that job, but I don’t LOVE it either. I love helping churches design and build amazing websites. That’s what I’m excited to wake up and start doing. So I’m working my tail off to build my business and eventually be able to focus solely on that.
Here are a couple great books that I’ve read recently on this topic:
- 48 Days To The Work You Love — by Dan Miller
- Crush It — by Gary Vaynerchuk
- The 4 Hour Work Week — by Timothy Ferriss
When you love what you’re doing, you don’t hate Mondays anymore!
17 Responses to “I Don’t Hate Mondays”
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Despite the fact that I do an entire Monday series, I don’t hate on it either. Nor do I hate my job.
You don’t hate it, or you love it?
I just meant that I don’t hate on Mondays. I can’t say that I love Mondays, but they aren’t a burden for me.
my song, “new hope” is written about this very idea. most people get caught up in the idea that change has to be a grandiose leap into oblivion, resulting in lavish happiness and fulfillment (and enjoying waking up on mondays). it’s much like the christian life, it’s not as much about a huge one-time decision as it is about consciously making small decisions every day, taking one step towards a defined goal (which may or may not have come as a huge revelation), and never giving up!
So true Nate! Do you have a link to that song for us to listen?
When you work a lot, as I tend to do, the days just seem to melt together. Sunday is kinda like Monday and Thursday is really no different than Friday. But I guess that if I didn’t love what I did, it would be much more difficult to cope with the mundane. But I agree, if you’re not going what you love, it’s time to change.
I can’t say I hate Mondays nor do I hate my job but I do feel that there seems to be an extra sense of pressure and stress that likes to accompany the start of the new week for me. I think it may be due to the hounding 50 emails I wake up to and the uncertainty of how the rest of the week will unfold.
But jumping into Mondays with a pessimistic attitude can only lead the rest of the week down the wrong path. I always try to mark stressful days as challenges. It’s kind of like working out to me. I always dread actually getting myself started but once I’m there and actually in the flow of it I love it. But that initial reaction seems to always be dreadful.
Yeah, it usually takes me a couple hours before I’m back in the swing of things on Monday morning. Sometimes it’s hard to get going, but since I am doing what I love, it’s not too bad. Coffee helps…
lol ya I guess Im missing out on that power booster you call coffee. I wish my hot cocoa had the same effect :)
Exactly, Similar to you, my glass is always half-full, never half-empty. Monday’s are great because it’s the start of another week full of possibilities. Who know’s what’s going to happen. Do I love not being solely independent on my own, running my own ship 100%, NO. But I like the fact that anything is possible if you work hard. We have to learn to enjoy each day and the process of having to bust our butts to get to where we want to be. I love the process and the possibilities each day brings. Everywhere I go and all the people I come in contact with, I try to keep this positive outlook. First, we have to be thankful what God gives us each day. Also, negative thinking just puts you in a rut. To many people go around half-empty. And like the Word says, you reap what you sow. Thanks for the pick-me-upper this morning! ;)
Awesome! That’s how I feel to the tee. Even though I am not exactly where I’d like to be, I am working hard to get there. I am not going to wallow in self-pity. I am striving each day to move closer to my achieving my goals.
It is a shame when someone has to work a job they hate, but, that doesn’t always mean hating Mondays is due to the job they have. It may be because of how they handle having that job. I highly recommend you add the book The Fred Factor in regards to a topic like this. If you haven’t read it, you should. Its quick, and touches on a very important topic, of how to approach your current job, even if it isn’t your dream job, and do your best at that job. While its noble to pursue your dreams, it is in fact a pursuit, and can take time to make the transition.
For those that have a job they love, but hate Mondays, I second your recommendation on the Four Hour Work week. It has a good many steps to take to reduce the feeling of being behind and overwhelmed. In the end, stress isn’t caused by the environment we are in, its caused by how we react and handle the situation. Myself? I love Monday’s. I chomp at the bit for Monday morning so I can get started. The only time I dread a monday, is if Ive allowed myself to get burned out or didn’t properly set myself up for a good Monday, on the previous work day.
Yeah, I know that sometimes we can’t just drop everything and pursue our dreams. But you can take steps to get there. Too many people just give up and don’t even try anymore. My whole point is that if you hate what you’re doing, you should be willing to put some old fashioned sweat into changing your circumstances.
Thanks for the book recommendation. It looks like a good read: http://www.fredfactor.com/
Totally agree with you on putting in an effort. If there is one thing in life that annoys me more than anything else, its hearing people complain when they aren’t doing anything about the situation they are complaining about. If you hate your job, but aren’t willing to work hard to change it, then the only thing you should complain about is your own laziness. I believe in being content in your current situation (Fred Factor) while busting your butt to improve or change your situation (4 hr work week, crush it).
I have to say, I use to hate Mondays.. but what kid going to school doesn’t? I feel that for some, Mondays are an end to a great weekend… Which was the case for me. However, that is still no excuse to hate Mondays. The dawning of a new week brings forth new opportunities and even the mundane situations. Though, I may not have my dream job at the moment and the week maybe hard.. I go forth happily knowing that my efforts will not be unrewarded. Working hard always pays off sooner or later.
I was thinking about this the other day. How stupid of us to hate school? High School was a breeze! I wish I had that little responsibility now :)
It’s a tough life going to see your friends all day to learn and have fun.
Well of coarse looking back on our high school years, we wonder why we hated it. I’m sure there’s good reasons, but that’s a whole different topic.
I totally agree, I wish that life now was as simple as life then.. I could live without worrying about most things “grown-ups” deal with. However, there are many life lessons recently learned that are good growth experiences. So, in essence I wouldn’t trade it.