If you noticed I’ve been (extra) quiet the past couple of weeks, there is a reason.
I was on vacation. I tossed work aside and put my energy towards visiting with family, frolicking by the ocean, and eating too much ice cream. Now that my vacation is over, I have that old familiar feeling. You know the one.
It’s that sinking, sad feeling you used to get at back-to-school time every year. You feel a dull sense of dread about what is to come. At the same time you mourn the passing of another fun-filled summer vacation.
Nowadays, you might experience a similar reaction whenever Monday morning rolls around. With the end of the weekend comes the grim realization that another full work week is eminent. For introverts who are prone to overwhelm, this is especially daunting.
Since I’m experiencing the double whammy of the Mondays plus the end of my vacation, I could use a pick-me-up. In case you feel the same, here are three ways introverts can overcome the Mondays.
Reduce stimulation
One of the reasons that introverts feel so drained during the work week is that we are highly susceptible to overstimulation. The hustle and bustle of our daily lives can wear us out fast.
Overstimulation occurs more quickly when we are in busy environments with lots of interaction, noise, and commotion. One thing many introverts overlook is that we can also feel mentally exhausted by electronics.
Going on social media, web surfing, and other online activities can quickly lead to information overload and energy depletion for introverts.
It’s important to start the week off right by creating space for the mind to wander without interruption. Sitting in silence with your morning coffee can work wonders. I am also a big advocate for meditation.
As introverts, we’re really good at making time to think. Now it’s time to make space to NOT think.
Do this for 5 mins
The mind-body connection is undeniable. We were made to move. For those of us who have largely sedentary careers, it might be tempting to ignore this proven principle.
But movement is the fastest way to transform our mood when we have the Mondays. It boosts the flow of endorphins, gets oxygen flowing, and generally makes us less crabby.
Many of us avoid moving our bodies because we’ve bought into the “no pain, no gain” philosophy. We think that our choices are, do nothing, or hit the gym for an hour-long workout.
How about five minutes of stretching? Or seven minutes of high intensity interval training (this is my preference). A little movement goes a long way.
Just F-ing Do it
Have you ever noticed that the pain of putting something off is usually worse than the pain of actually doing it?
Often what we most dread doing on Monday is the very thing that will instantly make us feel better. By dragging our feet, and having internal arguments about whether or not to do it, we actually waste energy.
Do you think I wanted to write this blog post this morning? Hell no! Every time I take a break from writing, I feel certain that I’ve forgotten how to do it. I begin to fear it. The more I avoid it, the worse I feel. When I put on my big girl pants and just f-ing do it, I feel happy.
Now it’s time for me to take some of my own medicine and go exercise, then meditate. Or meditate then exercise …
The order doesn’t really matter as long as I just f-ing do it.
And you?
Do you get the Mondays, too?
How do you overcome the end-of-vacation blues?
Please do share your comments below.
Lots of love,
Thank you, Michaela, for summoning up the energy to overcome your inertia and for writing this post. You’re absolutely spot on. It’s so great for us introverts to know there are others out there who feel the way we do.
You’re welcome, Miriam! xxo
I worked at a shipyard that made us stretch before the workday and yes it truly is amazing difference
Not all introverts dread going to work on Mondays… I love my wife and kids, and they are the reason I get out of bed in the mornings. However, my work environment is actually less stressful than at home. I also just came off of a vacation week, and I have been looking forward to getting back to work since last Tuesday. I gain a great sense of accomplishment when I’ve put in a productive day at work, allowing me the serenity I need when I walk in the door and 5 people all want my time and attention (being at work is the only real “alone time” I get most days). I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way… right?
Thanks for sharing your perspective on this Adam. I’m sure you’re not the only one who feels this way. Once I actually get back into things, I feel happy to be working again. 🙂
Michaela – 1. beginning of September I’ll visit my old parents and I will be “Little Matthi” for a couple of days again, which always is a little confusing for me because later I’ve to struggle like an “adult” again and all alone! 2. Since I’m a freelancer I don’t remember that “monday feeling” anymore, because “living” and “working” in my life has become a kind of “marriage” which are not two parts but an entity. 3. The same with vacation: I haven’t been on vacation since more than 15 years and so I also can’t remember a “vacation-is-over-feeling”. – I just live my life like my cats from Monday to Sunday. I’m sure my cats wouldn’t care about “Sunday”, “Monday” or “vacation” – they just live their lifes – isn’t that great? 🙂 4. “Overwhelming electronics”: I’ve an “inside filter” which works like a “firewall” (haha). What’s good (inspiring) for me has the permission to enter, the other stuff is blocked by the “firewall” and this works perfect for me! 5. Meditation: Drawing & painting is a kind of “meditation” for me, sometimes I’m so lost in my paintings that I even forget myself for a couple of hours… 🙂 6. finally: Movement like stretching is great, I try to practice this every morning. I like to use a “gymball” (or so called “swissball”) I have a huge one and I can sit on it, hoping like a rodeo rider … that’s sportive and a relaxing fun at the same time! 🙂 – Matthias
Hi Michaela,
Thank you for sharing! Hope you enjoyed your holidays.
Although perhaps the ‘Monday’ feeling is less evident for people who are self-employed and work flexible hours, indeed it remains an Issue in one form or another.
I have difficulty getting started and also with the same risk of over-stimulation.
My remedy is usually: even on holidays I try to wake up more or less the same time every day and practice Qi Gong and some stretching, before the kids are awake. When driving I let my mind wander and try not to think about tasks and challenges ahead. Even at the office I do not instantly open my email.
As for writing, I once read some advice that originally came from Jerry Seinfeld: don’t break the chain. Just be productive, regardless of the quality. Just write – every day.
My warmest regards, Marcel
Most definitely. 🙂 I dread Mondays, especially after a vacation simply because there’s a 100 things to do that I stopped doing while I was on a vacation. My rule when I am on a vacation is to totally disconnect from the outside world, and that includes the internet. So when I turn my PC on, boom! mails and messages everywhere! 🙂 Sometimes, like in Your case Michaela, start of my work week and end of holiday happends and collide on a Monday, and I am simply overwhelmed by the quantity of information I am receiving. To overcome the end-of-vacation blues, I also love to meditate, in some cases with silent music rolling in the background, whether it’s Eric Whitacre or irish music, and sometimes in silence. 🙂 It helps calm me down and prepares my mind for a week – full of informations. 🙂 But I have to admit, after a difficult start after a vacation, I feel really good when I start working again, it makes me feel happy and fulfilled. 🙂
I agree, Marko. I already feel happy to be working again now that I’ve overcome the Mondays! 🙂
Have you ever noticed that the pain of putting something off is usually worse than the pain of actually doing it?
So painfully true! I definitely have times when I am delaying something as simple as returning a phone call. (Geezy peezy, can’t we just text about it? ; ) And you’re right – it drains good energy. Better to just do a 5-minute drill, as you mentioned, and then get it the hell over with! : )
Then there are things I delay, such as personal creative writing or complex emails for work. I have learned that if my free time doesn’t sync with my creative writing, I don’t need to feel guilty for using that time in some other way to fill my cup. As long as I have access to some form of getting the words down, when they do come – like I did today from work, squeezing in a few minutes to let the words fly across my keyboard via MS Word.
I have also learned that while I am delaying something such as a complex email or project for work, and bumping up against the deadline – all the information is still processing in the background. I’m still working on it, and I’ve become more conscious of that. Similar to how we introverts process all day, sleep on it, and have the moment of clarity in the shower the next morning! : ) Then the complexities form into a concise message to communicate. At least, that works for me.
Mainly, though, whatever it is I am delaying, I try to separate my responsibility in it from guilting or shaming myself because of my unique personality as an awesome introvert.
Thanks for the great shared thoughts, Michaela! And welcome back! I hope your time away filled your cup to the brim. Dawn : )
Thanks for the warm welcome back, Dawn! So true about the information processing in the background. I can completely relate to that. 🙂
This blog is so spot on. I hate Mondays with a passion. Is funny really that my Monday blues begin the moment I am leaving my weekend getaway from everything hiking trips i take every week as I know I have to return back to the daily grind of work, running errands etc. It is almost depressing really. My way to combat this is to weight train during the week for a few hrs before heading off to work. Also reading helps a lot as well to calm my mind.
This is my first post on this site so I want to take the time to thank you for all your wonderful and insightful blogs. I have learned quite a lot from them and no longer suppress my introversion side of me. I have you to thank for that. Cheers.
Thanks for sharing that, Erick. Happy you’re embracing your introversion. xxo
Just F-ing Do It is right! Just about the only thing I’ve succeeded at learning and applying (I just found your site today!), and something I value highly. Like a bandaid right? We torture ourselves enough, introverts, we owe it to ourselves to save us from some of the pain!