I Used To Hate Mondays
As someone who used to work as a corporate creative director, I can certainly relate to the feeling of dreading, loathing, and hating Mondays. It was th...
I spent decades running creative departments and now running Ad Zombies, and I can tell you flat out: I used to hate Mondays. Loathed them. It was the day I had to survive so I could start counting down to Friday.
My perspective on Mondays has changed significantly over the years. While I used to see Mondays as a burden, I now see them as an opportunity. Yes, I like Mondays. I've written somewhere north of 100,000 ads in my career, and I can tell you the best ones almost always started on a Monday, when the week was still a blank page.
A Shift In My Thinking
One of the main reasons for this shift in perspective is that I now approach my work with a different mindset. Rather than seeing Monday as a chore or something I have to endure, I now see it as a source of opportunity, a new beginning filled with purpose. This has made all the difference in how I feel about Mondays. Don't get me wrong, I am human, and there are a few Mondays I still dread, like the Mondays after winter break when I have to motivate the kids for school. I'd gladly pay someone else to live that Monday for me. Those Mondays SUCK! But most Mondays are not that.
In addition to this shift in mindset, there are a few other things that have contributed to my newfound love for Mondays. For one, I have learned to appreciate the sense of structure and routine that the start of a new week brings. There are no failures, losses, or wins yet. I've yet to paint the picture. I also find that I am more productive and focused on Monday mornings, which helps me get a lot of work done and feel accomplished. For example, I had the idea for this blog on a Monday morning and wrote it that same Monday. From idea to execution, it was done in fewer than 30 minutes -- same as I'd expect from any headline I write. If you can't nail the opening fast, you're overthinking it.
There's Data To Back Up My Insanity, How Cool Is That?
But it's not just my personal experience that suggests Mondays can be a great day of the week. There's research that backs this up too. A study out of the University of Toronto found that people are more likely to make positive lifestyle changes on Mondays -- a new exercise routine, quitting a bad habit, whatever it is. How many diets have you started on a Monday? I know, me too.
Another study, this one out of the University of Vermont, found that people report feeling more motivated and energized on Monday mornings. Part of that's the fresh-start effect; part of it's just that people sleep more on weekends and show up with a fuller tank.
Like I said, I used to dread, loathe, and hate Mondays. Now I see them as the day I get to start the week on my terms and make real progress toward my goals -- the same way I'd approach a new client brief. You don't wait until Wednesday to figure out your angle. Mondays may not be everyone's favorite day, but between the research and 40-plus years of watching my own output, I'll take Monday over any other day to get real work done.
Monday Is A State Of Mind
For me, Monday is now a state of mind. I choose to make Monday my favorite day of the week, and you can too. It's the same choice I make every time I sit down to write an ad -- decide the outcome before the work starts, instead of waiting to see how you feel about it. That mindset shift is basically free, which makes it one of the better deals in building trust with the work you actually finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
As a corporate creative director, Ken saw Mondays as something he just had to get through to start counting down to the weekend. He dreaded, loathed, and hated them because he viewed Monday as a burden or chore he had to endure.
Ken shifted his mindset to see Mondays as a source of opportunity and a new beginning filled with purpose, rather than a chore. He also learned to appreciate the sense of structure and routine that Mondays bring, plus the fact that there are no failures, losses, or wins yet—he's yet to paint the picture.
Yes, Ken admits he's human and still dreads certain Mondays, particularly the ones after winter break when he has to motivate his kids for school. He says he'd gladly pay someone else to live those Mondays for him because they SUCK, but most Mondays are not that.
A University of Toronto study found that people are more likely to make positive lifestyle changes on Mondays, like starting a new exercise routine or quitting a bad habit. A University of Vermont study found that people are more likely to feel motivated and energized on Monday mornings, possibly due to the feeling of a fresh start and getting more sleep on weekends.
Ken finds he's more productive and focused on Monday mornings, which helps him get a lot of work done and feel accomplished. As proof, he came up with the idea for this blog on a Monday morning and wrote it that same Monday—from idea to execution in fewer than 30 minutes.
