The trend started with TikToker Marisa Jo Mayes in response to the stress caused by the mountain of work pending on Monday. In an interview with Business Insider, she said that initially, she thought that it was hustle culture that was leaving her overworked and burnt out but later she realized it actually the pressure of Monday, which she would start anticipating on Sunday itself. She said,“ Every week, the “Sunday scaries” would hit, and every Monday, I’d sleep in until the absolute last second because I knew that list was waiting for me. The pressure I was putting on myself was paralyzing, and I realized something had to change.”
We all dread Mondays so much that when it finally arrives, we loose all our productivity because most of the time has been spent in anticipation of the workload, so there is no mental space left for productivity. The originator of the trend appreciated it saying that following the bare minimum Monday hack increased her productivity. She said, “I gave myself permission to do the absolute bare minimum for work, and it was like some magic spell came over me. I felt better. I wasn’t overwhelmed, and I actually got more done than I expected”.
How does the hack function
Marisa Jo Mayes explained how she goes about with the bare minimum Monday productivity hack to Business Insider. Here is a step-by-step guide to her routine.
- Step 1Slow start- On Mondays, start the day in a relaxed manner. Don’t schedule any meetings, and take it slow for the first two hours. During this time, engage in activities like reading, journaling, and attending to household tasks. Restrict the use of technology by not checking emails or using electronic devices right away first thing in the morning. The goal of this phase is to set a positive tone for the day and focus on personal well-being.
Creative work- Around 10 A.M, shift focus to creative work. This should be work related to the job but is specifically chosen keeping in mind that it is something you enjoy and is creative in nature. This creative work lasts for about an hour.
Lunch or Walk- After the creative work session, take a break for either lunch or a walk. This break is likely meant to recharge and provide a mental break from work.
Focused work- Following the break, engage in main work tasks. During this period, do not multitask, do not get distracted, and do not use your phone. This suggests a high level of focus and productivity during this time. If necessary, extend this focused work for an additional hour, limited to a maximum of three hours.