Why Mondays Are Actually the Worst

The termination of a weekend is a terrible way to start your week, but it’s a cruel monster we all face.

Sunday Night Blues Are Real

In a recent international poll, 78 percent of respondents reported experiencing “Sunday Night Blues.” In the US, 59 percent said they get it “really bad.”

Source: Monster.com

A survey of 3,000 people found that Sunday night was the worst for falling asleep. In fact, 40 percent said Sunday night was the worst night for sleep, which dwarfs any other day.

Source: Toluna Omnibus

Mondays Hurt

A Tokyo Women’s Medical University study shows blood pressure readings are higher on Monday than at any other time of the week. It may explain why deaths from heart attacks and strokes tend to peak on a Monday morning. There are 20 percent more heart attacks on Mondays than on any other day.

Sources: The European Journal of Epidemiology, BBC News

Google searches for health topics are 30 percent more frequent in the start of the week, according to investigations of searches from 2005 to 2012 by San Diego State University, the Santa Fe Institute, Johns Hopkins University, and the Monday Campaigns. Are we finally learning what we meant to look up over the weekend, or does Monday make us feel sick inside?

Source: American Journal of Preventive Medicine

Keys to Beating Monday

1. Live in the moment during the weekend. Don’t spend time thinking about work. Make sure you’re unplugged.
2. Schedule something during the week to look forward to. The next weekend is so far away.
3. When Monday morning hits, don’t try to internalize every task for the week. Nail down what you will get done that day. Don’t make Monday weigh more than it actually does.