How Does “Bare Minimum Mondays" Help Rekindle Productivity Enthusiasm

By Moon Harper

Feb 08, 2024 04:43 AM EST

Bare Minimum Mondays — (Photo : Unsplash/Karollyne Videira Hubert)

Have you ever felt the sense of anxiety that often appears on Sunday evenings when you begin thinking about the upcoming week, and Monday suddenly feels more like a nightmare than just another day on the calendar? Then it's probably "Sunday scaries."

Travis Lindemoen, founder of Enjoy Mondays, explains the bare minimum on Mondays means spending time on activities that bring joy and recharge your energy.

As our culture values self-care more and moves away from solely focusing on productivity, it's natural that we change how we organize our time. Lindemoen explains that more people are adopting a new work-life balance and stress management approach. Whether on a weekend or any other day, he suggests dedicating one day a week solely to oneself, free from work obligations, to break from the hectic pace of life, and to take time for self-care.

What Does "Bare Minimum Mondays" Look Like?

In a CNBC Make It interview, TikTok user Marisa Jo Mayes shared that waking up on Mondays already felt behind, overwhelmed, and anxious. She attempted to push herself to exceed expectations to combat burnout, but it didn't work. Fed up with the immediate panic she felt upon waking up, she permitted herself to do the bare minimum for work one Monday last year.

Mayes felt incredibly liberating because she had always believed her value depended on her productivity. The decision to ease the pressure and give herself a break was a crucial shift in mindset at the start of the week, allowing her to regain productivity again.

Mayes coined the term "bare minimum Monday" on TikTok, and videos with the hashtag have accumulated 2.2 million views.

So Much For Sunday Scaries

A recent study by LinkedIn and Headspace found that nearly 75% of working Americans report experiencing the Sunday scaries.

Andrew Hunter, a career expert and co-founder of job search engine Adzuna, emphasized the importance of prioritizing mental health and well-being over thinking they have to put their foot right on the gas at 9 a.m on Monday."

This trend allows employees to manage their workload evenly, aiming to decrease work-related stress and burnout, which can positively impact their engagement, productivity, and company culture.

How to Make It Work?

Whether a Bare Minimum Monday suits you depends entirely on whether it aligns with the requirements of your job.

For Jobs That Support Bare Minimum Mondays

Implementing a Bare Minimum Monday will be easier if your workplace allows for Mondays off, reduced workload, or partial days off. Depending on your workplace's policies, you can start later, finish earlier, or dedicate the whole day to self-care.

For Jobs That Do Not Support Bare Minimum Mondays

Some workplaces don't encourage a shorter workweek. If your job doesn't offer any time off on Mondays, focus on ways to support yourself while still fulfilling your job duties.

If you can, plan meetings for Tuesday to Friday. Save more manageable tasks for Mondays instead of prioritizing the toughest ones. When you take short breaks, like using the restroom, take an extra moment to relax. Treat yourself to something nice during breaks, have lunch with a coworker, or take short breaks every hour for some downtime.

What's in it for Employers?

While it's unlikely that companies will adopt Bare Minimum Mondays anytime soon, experts suggest that reflecting on the concept's essence could benefit employers.

Providing employees with greater schedule flexibility will ultimately foster a culture of trust, boost morale, and decrease burnout. Hunter stated that employers should move beyond presenteeism and offer them trust and flexibility to manage their tasks on their schedules.

Employers don't need to promote slacking off, but they should communicate to employees that prioritizing their well-being is important and encourage prioritizing mental health.