On Mondays, Energize and Euthanize

On Mondays, Energize and Euthanize

 

Sometimes the rough days are really rough. What makes things tougher is when your week starts off on the wrong foot. Mondays have always been known as a tough day because Mondays, at times, have the ability to make or break your week. We shouldn’t let this be the case, but Monday does set the tone for the week. We need to make sure then that we are mentally and physically prepared for Mondays, and that we use our ability to change perceptions if need be. In other words, if Monday morning serves us a nasty looking menu, we can’t let it give us food poisoning for the next five days.

At a meeting a few weeks back General Horst was speaking on the importance of energizing and euthanizing certain aspects to your business, and I began to implement this theory into other parts of life. So, if your Monday has stepped off on the wrong foot this week, I challenge you to do two things, energize and euthanize. Your goal here is to energize yourself and the little itty-bits of happy thoughts you might have on this tough morning. Then, euthanize the all or nothing and negative types of thinking.

Energize:

In order to energize yourself, focus on shifting your negative mindset to a healthier one. Know that a bad attitude can last 5 days and there is no reason that your tomorrow should suffer for the works of today. Focus on what is going right and how things could be worse. I know at times it can be hard to see that anything is going right, especially on a rough morning, but think about even the smallest of things and start energizing those thoughts. You can also focus on your goals for the week and what you originally wanted to accomplish. Know that you still have the rest of Monday and the entire to week to get yourself in line and headed toward that goal. It is not too late to have a great week. Also, today, more than ever, stay focused so that you feel accomplished. This will give you a boost of confidence. And, stay away from toxic or negative people who will spiral your Monday down even more. Last, eat. Be sure to eat healthy foods today as greasy or processed foods can also play a major role in spiraling your mood down or making you extra sleepy.  

 

Euthanize:

First and foremost rid of your stubbornness. When a few bad things happen on Monday morning, it really has a way of putting us into the stubborn zone that we can’t get out of. We want to repeat the events and ruminate about what is wrong and why it went wrong. This ruminating and repeating of events is only hurting us and is going to ruin the remainder of the day and possibly the week. Step out of the stubborn zone and be open to energizing yourself.

Also, work to euthanize the all or nothing thinking. You may be thinking that the entire week is going to be rough now that XYZ happened or that you just won’t be able to get back on track at all now, but know that this is not the case. By changing your mind and euthanizing bad thoughts you will get your week on track and maybe double the good you initially projected for.

Further, it is important to get rid of your negative thoughts and rumination because you are going to bring others around you down, and that isn’t fair. Why should those you love suffer because you aren’t willing to get out of this rut? Your brain also likes to be right, so if you try and hunt down reasons why you are going to have a bad week, then you are going to find those reasons. So, be sure to euthanize the negative thinking, negative self-talk, and the hunt for all things bad.  

 

The difference between those who do really well in this world and those who struggle is that those who do well know that they will hit rough patches, and often on Mondays, but accept it and create a plan to work through it. Those who have it rough dwell on the negative events and let it ruin their weeks. This week’s challenge: if you are off to a rough Monday, change the course of your week through energizing or euthanizing.     

 

Dr. Jaime Kulaga is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Motivational Speaker. She is the author of "The SuperWoman's Guide to Super Fulfillment: Step-by-Step Strategies to Create Work-Life Balance." She is the inspirational founder of the nationally known SuperWoman Workshops. Dr. Kulaga has been featured internationally for her expertise in Work-Life Balance. http://www.mindfulrehab.com