How to Motivate Your Mondays To Start the Week Strong

I don’t know about you but Mondays can feel rough sometimes. After a relaxing weekend, jumping back into a demanding schedule isn’t exactly the highlight of the week. The alarm feels louder, and the coffee doesn’t taste strong enough. If this sounds familiar, i’ve got you! If you’re someone who spends Sunday evening dreading the next morning, you’re not alone. All you have to do is master how to motivate your Mondays to start the week strong.

People often have a challenging time feeling positive and motivated on Mondays. After a few days of rest and fun, returning to work can feel disruptive.

But here’s the good news: Mondays don’t have to suck. I promise. With just a few small mindset shifts, you can actually look forward to starting your week.

In this post, we’re sharing a list of motivating and practical tips on how to motivate your Mondays. They will help you shake off the Monday blues and kickstart your week with energy, focus, and purpose.

Here are the tips to motivate your Mondays:

Monday Motivational Quotes

Motivational Mondays Questions

Monday Motivation Affirmations

Motivational Monday Ideas

How to Motivate Your Mondays To Start the Week Strong: Monday Motivational Quotes

Sometimes, a well-timed quote is all we need to reframe our thinking. To start your week strong, one of the tips to motivate your Mondays is through motivational quotes. They are a great way to help us feel capable despite our limited energy and willpower.

A simple quote might not solve all your problems, but it can gently nudge your mindset in the right direction. Whether you write them in a journal, stick them on your bathroom mirror, or use them as your phone wallpaper, these motivational Monday quotes are perfect for setting a positive tone:

“This is your Monday morning reminder that you can handle whatever this week throws at you.” — Unknown
“Hey, I know it’s Monday. But it’s also a new day and a new week. And in that lies a new opportunity for something special to happen.” — Michael Ely
“Your Monday morning thoughts set the tone for your whole week. See yourself getting stronger, and living a fulfilling, happier and healthier life.” — Germany Kent
“OK, it’s Monday but who said Mondays have to suck? Be a rebel and have a great day anyway.” — Kimberly Jiménez
“Believe on Monday the way you believe on Sunday.” — Rita Schiano
“You don’t need a New Year to make a change. All you need is a Monday.” — Unknown
“Every day, think as you wake up: Today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it.” — Dalai Lama XIV
“Mondays are tough only for those people, who don’t know how to spend them cheerfully. Get up and have fun today!” — Unknown
“Even the best weeks start with Monday.” — Nice Peter
“What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.” — Ralph Marston

How to Motivate Your Mondays To Start the Week Strong: Motivational Monday Questions

Another tip on how to motivate your Mondays to start the week strong is through motivational Monday questions. Do you want to build a more mindful Monday routine? Just take 5 – 10 minutes of your day as part of your morning or bedtime routine to reflect. Reflecting can help you move from overwhelm to clarity—and start your week with greater intention and purpose. So, journal journal or simply reflect on these questions:

How can I be more positive?
What do I expect from this week?
What do I need to feel my best today?
What is my primary goal for today?
What is the best thing that happened last week?
What am I looking forward to most this week?
What is one thing I can do today that will make me smile?
What does the best version of myself look like this week?
Did I rest enough over the weekend? If not, can I find some space to recharge today?
What is one thing I am grateful for that I can focus on this week?
How can I make time to move my body today?

How to Motivate Your Mondays To Start the Week Strong: Monday Motivation Affirmations

Positive affirmations is also one of the tips on how to motivate your Mondays to start the week strong. In fact, they can improve your self-image and boost your ability to cope with challenging situations (Cohen & Sherman, 2014). A positive view of yourself and your capabilities is a critical factor in feeling motivated, and being able to cope well with challenging situations is critical for sustaining motivation. If you’re having a hard time getting motivated on a Monday, positive affirmations might just be the solution. Here are some example affirmations:

I am motivated, determined, and ready to slay the day.
I choose to live today with gratitude, positivity, and joy.
I will live today to the fullest.
I appreciate all the good things around me.
I am compassionate and I am kind.
I can do hard things.
Today I will be my very best self.
I can handle challenges with grace and ease.
I know who I am and I love myself.
I am proud of myself for how much I am growing.
I can do this.
Today is going to be a beautiful day.

How to Motivate Your Mondays To Start the Week Strong: Motivational Monday Ideas

Another tip on how to motivate your Mondays to start your week strong is to create a positive environment for your co-workers. This way, Monday doesn’t just have to be a solo effort—small changes in your environment and workplace can lift everyone’s spirits.

Here are a few ideas for improving Mondays around the office:

Office Breakfast

Research shows that having a balanced breakfast improves cognition and intellectual performance (Hoyland et al., 2009). Providing a delicious healthy breakfast for your employees or coworkers is a fun, thoughtful way to boost Monday morale and can help improve everyone’s performance throughout the day.

Outdoor Meetings

Being outside has been scientifically demonstrated to improve enthusiasm, aliveness, energy, and overall well-being. Being outside can also improve mood and the ability to cope with stress (Ryan et al., 2010).

So, by holding meetings outside on a Monday, you can help elevate the spirits of the entire office and set them up for success throughout the day and into the rest of the week.

Weekend Catch-Up Time

Humans are a social beings, which means that it is important that we have the opportunity to connect with each other. Social scientists have found that a need for connection is actually one of our primary motivations (Ryan & Deci, 2000).

According to Self-Determination Theory, spending time with people who have similar goals, values, and interests is a powerful motivator. The motivational power of being part of an exercise class compared to exercising on your own is a good example of this principle.

Therefore, creating an environment in which people feel connected to each other and feel like part of a team by providing protected catch-up time is a great way to boost everyone’s moods and increase motivation on a Monday.

Weekly Goal Setting

Setting clearly-defined short-term goals is a highly effective strategy for improving motivation and persistence in the face of challenges (Latham & Seijts, 1999). Studies have shown that identifying achievable subgoals makes the long-term objective feel less difficult and enhances the perceived attainability of the goal.

That’s why setting aside some time to set weekly goals can help provide much-needed structure on a Monday. Knowing exactly what needs to get done and where to start can increase productivity and reduce stress.

Casual Mondays

Mondays are hard enough without having to wear something stuffy and uncomfortable. Giving people the option to wear something that is comfortable or makes them feel good is a great way to help ease the pain of a Monday morning.

Dressing casually can also help facilitate connections between coworkers because people can more authentically express themselves when they don’t have to adhere to a strict dress code.

Bottom Line

Tired of Dreading Mondays: Tips to Motivate Your Mondays and Start the Week Strong

Dreading Mondays may be unavoidable. Re-setting from a restful weekend and getting back to your responsibilities can be challenging regardless of how you feel about your job.

But there are some strategies you can employ to improve your motivation and get through Mondays with a little more ease—strategies such as reflecting on motivational quotes, reflection, connecting with our coworkers, and motivational affirmations.

I hope these tips help motivate your Mondays and start the week strong. Now, your turn. Which strategy will you try first? Share with us in the comments below 🙂

References

Hoyland, A., Dye, L., & Lawton, C. L. (2009). A systematic review of the effect of breakfast on the cognitive performance of children and adolescents. Nutrition research reviews, 22(2), 220-243.

Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American psychologist, 55(1), 68.

Ryan, R. M., Weinstein, N., Bernstein, J., Brown, K. W., Mistretta, L., & Gagne, M. (2010). Vitalizing effects of being outdoors and in nature. Journal of environmental psychology, 30(2), 159-168.