I don't suffer from Mondayitis... and I have worked out why. It's cause I don't really stop properly on the weekend; I just motor through them at the same hectic pace that sees Monday to Friday out.
It's not like I work or anything like that, but because I know that I only have two days off before Monday, I feel the need to squash as much as I can into those two days; packing my time with 'valid' pursuits that don't actually allow me to rest properly.
The sad part is that so ingrained is this type of behaviour, I don't know how to stop even when my body tells me too. My life is often so frenetic (from the Latin, phrenitis "inflammation of the brain"), that even when vegging out on the couch, I have to feel in motion; I have to be moving something, or playing with something (leave your innuendos at the door!)
But what is interesting is that I feel like I am betraying my employer more than myself when I am less productive than I like to be at work.
I know that rest and rejuvenation are important to higher levels of productivity. All production without a recharge results in lower production, which was me today!
I read an interesting story over at Dan Bobinski's Management Issues that highlighted the importance of rest:
During WWII Factory workers in England were working ten-hour days, seven days per week. You can imagine the burden, and the dedication. But somewhere along the line it was decided to give people a day off, plus reduce the number of hours they worked in a day. With fewer hours of “production,” the factories expected lower production numbers. But the contrary was true: Production went up.
The standard axiom is that all work and no play makes Shannon a dull boy, but a pile of research since WWII shows it also makes Shannon less productive.
Maybe I should try some of Dan's tips:
* Take off your watch and leave it (along with your diary) on the bedroom dresser.
* Leave all your business reading behind. Only non-work related reading material allowed.
* Avoid making firm time commitments wherever possible. Instead of being someplace “right at 3:00,” plan on being somewhere “in the afternoon” or “between 2:00 and 4:00.” Remember, the objective is to relax.
I could actually do those things! It might even help me.
I'll let you know next Monday!
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