Why Do Most Professionals Hate Monday?
There’s something about the word Monday that feels like a slap in the face, right? It’s not the calendar’s fault—it’s just the day after Sunday, after all—but for professionals across the board, Monday carries an almost mythic level of dread. It’s not just about the start of the workweek. It’s about what the start of the workweek represents.
So why do so many people hate Monday? And why does it matter that we hate it? Let’s dig in.
1. The Death of Freedom
Weekends are, for most professionals, sacred. They’re the only two days we feel like we own our time. No deadlines. No managers checking in. No endless meetings that could have been emails. On Saturday and Sunday, we get be the masters of our own destinies. But as Monday looms, that sense of freedom dies a slow, painful death. We feel tapped again, chained to a desk, and to the responsibilities we’ve been dreading all weekend.
I have come realize that this is a mindset problem, not a day-of-the-week problem. It’s easy to hate Mondays when you view them as the end of freedom rather than a fresh start. If you dread your job, you don’t just hate Mondays—you probably hate Tuesday through Friday too. The solution? Start focusing on how your work can serve you, rather than you serving it. Monday doesn’t have to be the enemy—it can be the day you take back control.
2. Overcommitment and Under-rest
We overextend ourselves, don’t we? We stuff our weekends with social plans, errands, and projects, thinking we’ll somehow be able to squeeze relaxation in between. Then, come Sunday night, the exhaustion hits—and Monday feels like an assault.
It’s simple: we don’t rest enough. Most professionals don’t understand the art of real rest, the kind that replenishes your energy rather than just numbing you for 48 hours. The constant rush and hustle turn Monday into a mountain when it should just be a molehill.
Want to stop hating Monday? Protect your weekends. Rest harder. Yes, you read that right. Rest harder. Don’t just sit in front of Netflix while scrolling through emails. Give yourself permission to actually relax.
3. The Anxiety Hangover
Most professionals start dreading Monday on Sunday afternoon.
You know I am right. Let’s call it “Sunday Scaries”
The anticipation of Monday can be worse than the day itself. You start thinking about all the emails you have to catch up on, the meetings you’re not prepared for, and the projects hanging over your head.
It’s no wonder so many of us can’t stand Monday—we’ve already mentally worked a full day by the time it actually arrives.
So what do you do? Change the narrative on Sunday night. Instead of filling your brain with dread about all the things you have to do, plan your Monday to be something you can look forward to. Set aside a task that energizes you, something that makes you feel accomplished early in the day. Don’t let Monday be about “catching up”—let it be about setting the tone for your entire week.
4. You’re Not In Love With Your Work
Let’s be honest. A lot of people hate Monday because they hate their job. You know this too. You see it in the attitude they use in doing their job.
They don’t like what they do, or they don’t feel valued. When you spend five days a week doing something that doesn’t inspire you, that doesn’t challenge you in a way that excites you, you’re going to hate Mondays. Period.
You know what I’m going to say here, right? Find something you love. Now, I’m not about to tell you to quit your job and go chase your dreams without a safety net, but if you’re waking up every Monday with a knot in your stomach, it might be time to ask yourself some hard questions.
What would it take to make you love Monday? What do you want to be doing? Where’s the disconnect between your passion and your paycheck?
Because the truth is, when you love what you do—even just parts of it—Monday stops feeling like a punishment. It becomes the beginning of something exciting.
5. Routine Fatigue
Here’s a fun fact — repetition kills enthusiasm. When every Monday feels like a carbon copy of the last, it’s no wonder you lose the spark. You know exactly what to expect—back-to-back meetings, a barrage of emails, the same old grind. There’s no surprise, no thrill.
You need to break up the monotony. Whether that’s rearranging your work schedule, injecting something new into your Monday routine, or tackling a new project—shake it up. Give yourself something to look forward to, even if it’s something small. Routine fatigue is real, but it’s fixable. The key is recognizing it and making a change, not just trudging through it on autopilot.
How to Stop Hating Monday
You can stop hating Mondays if you shift how you think about them. Monday isn’t the problem—you are. Your perspective, your routine, your relationship with work—those are the real culprits. Once you address those, Monday becomes just another day. And dare I say, it might even become a good day.
Here’s a cheat sheet:
- Own your work: If you hate what you’re doing, ask yourself why you’re doing it.
- Rest like it’s a job: Protect your weekends, so you can face Monday without dragging.
- Tackle your Monday with energy: Do something that excites you first thing.
So this is it for this story. I hope you will now start loving Monday? Until I write to you again, enjoy your Mondays.
