Combating Monday-itis

Feeling stressed, depressed or anxious? Or perhaps just downright glum. Ah, Monday mornings. Don’t we all hate them. I always seem to have the song by the Boomtown Rats “I Don’t Like Mondays” in my head when I arise. The song was written about 16 year old Brenda Ann Spencer, who fired at children in a school playground. Her explanation - "I don't like Mondays, this livens up the day”.
Whilst I have never had the urge to kill small children, it does suck starting off the week feeling downright horrible.

Here are some tips I feel help me shake off the feeling and hopefully can help you too!

Exercise
I know when you have downed a few too many jager bombs on the weekend exercise is the last thing you feel like doing. However, a morning walk gets the endorphins pumping and makes you feel so much better! The fresh morning air and a chance to clear your head all help in lifting my mood. I plan to start Pilates and yoga on a regular basis soon, I hear this has great physical and mental benefits.

Tea
Drinking a cup of tea makes me feel wonderful. I have mine white with sugar, but whatever floats your boat. Black tea, chamomile, peppermint. Whatever you choose I guarantee you will feel better after you have finished it! Better yet, whilst the kettle boils, do some gentle neck and shoulder exercises.

Relax
Always make sure you take at least a 20 minute lunch break. Preferably 30 mins – hour but I know in a lot of jobs this is nearly impossible! I always make sure to once a week get a 20 minute massage in my lunch break and it does me a world of good. Not only does it help my headaches and neck and shoulder pain, it’s great to relax if work and life is stressing me out.

Sunlight
Anyone who knows me is aware of my aversion to sunlight. I am as pale as a ghost and burn easily. However, since I was little my dad has been regularly dragging me out into the early morning sunlight for some need Vitamin D. I find it actually does lift my mood in the long term, and even short term it is nice to feel the soft sun on your face. I think all the stories you hear about people living in the far north suffering from serious depression in the long winters enough proof. Just don’t burn!! If you must do it during the middle of the day when the sun is strongest, wear sun block!

Cooking
I don’t cook much, but when I am stressed or feeling down nothing makes me feel better than baking. Specifically naughty treats! Dark chocolate fudge, caramel slice, chocolate cake… you name it, I bake it.

Spoil yourself occasionally
Whether it be a massage (as mentioned above) or even just curling up with a good book and some Tim Tams – make some time to spoil yourself! Get a facial, a body wrap, buy yourself something pretty. Just make sure it’s only on special occasions, as not only will the treats lose their effect but your credit card bill will be looking pretty unhappy!

Give something to another person
I can be in the darkest of moods, feeling so sorry for myself. Then I buy the Big Issue off a homeless person and tell them to keep the $1 change. $1 means so little to me, but to her – her smile was huge and she couldn’t stop thanking me. Just doing a little thing like that made me feel so much better, knowing I had made someone else happier. Volunteer at an animal shelter, do a fun run and raise some money for cancer. Even help your mum out with the vacuuming!

Cat humour
If all else fails, then check out http://icanhascheezburger.com Nothing cheers me up more than animals doing silly things (even better if you have an actual cat or dog, pet them!)

xx Love Swah