Depression

Remember that big, lovable, lasagna-loving orange tabby cat from the comic strips? You know who we’re referring to. Well, one of his many familiar character traits is his hatred of Mondays. And he isn’t alone. 

As a matter of fact, a consumer insights company called Talkwalker used its AI to determine how many people express their hatred of Mondays on social media in a given year. They compared this with other days of the week too. 

According to their research, 53.8% of the 278,000 people observed said they hated Mondays. 

It’s safe to say lots of us have the Monday blues. 

What are the Monday Blues?

According to researchers, believe it or not, the Monday blues are a genuine cultural phenomenon 

In layman’s terms, the Monday blues refer to that overwhelming feeling of sadness, anxiety, and

stress about starting your workweek. Typically, they begin on Sunday evenings, when the realization hits you that your weekend is drawing to a close. And when you wake up in the morning, you have to go to work and do all of the responsible things required of you at your job. 

In more professional, scientific terms, it’s the set of negative emotions you get at the beginning of your workweek.

These feelings can include:

• tiredness
• hopelessness
• depression
• unmotivated

And as you may guess, these Monday blues are most prevalent in people who aren’t happy in their jobs. Because, let’s face it, if you were happy in your job, you wouldn’t feel sluggish, unmotivated, and hopeless. You would feel satisfied and energized. 

But even if you don’t have a “career,” you can still get the Monday blues. 

We Can Help

Maybe you’re a stay-at-home mom or dad, and your partner goes to work on Monday. The Monday blues can creep up on you, too, when you realize the man or woman you love won’t be there with you to help with the kids. And let’s face it, being a stay-at-home-parent is one of the most challenging jobs on the planet. 

Maybe you’re a student, and with Monday comes all the education responsibilities and pressure you put out of your mind over the weekends. It can be overwhelming. 

What is Depression and What Are the Best Treatments?

Beating the Monday Blues (And Other Days Too)

When considering how to beat the Monday blues, you have to take a good look at your current situation. We know not everyone’s circumstances are the same. Maybe you can’t leave your current position for any number of reasons. But there are things you can do to take the blues out of every Monday of your life. 

We’re not talking about toxic positivity here. We’re not saying you should turn your frown upside down and “just be happy.” We’re talking about actionable things you can do when considering how to beat the Monday blues. 

1. Identify the issue(s) at your job

While we know not everyone who experiences the Monday blues is working in a 9-5 job, we think it’s important to mention this. Most of the time, people experience this type of depression when they don’t want to go to work. 

Maybe you like your job, but you still get the Monday blues. Well, then, there’s another issue at play here. Examine what Mondays are like at work and identify what you dread most. Perhaps it’s the Monday morning snooze-fest meetings. Maybe you work with a toxic person. 

Whatever the case, there is likely an actionable step you can take to eliminate the overwhelming sense of dread about going to work on Monday morning. (Although, we can’t guarantee you won’t feel any Monday blues.)

2. Don’t sleep in on the weekends 

That’s right. We said don’t. We know this sounds a little counterproductive because, let’s face it, who doesn’t want to sleep more on the weekends when you don’t have to hit the ground running every day. (If you have a regularly hectic weekend schedule, see the next point.)

While you may think getting some extra Z’s will help you beat the Monday blues, you’d be wrong. When you stick to the same sleep schedule on the weekends as you do during the week, you’ll feel more rested and energized. 

Think about it: if you sleep until 10:00 am on Saturdays and Sundays but take an aggressive swing at your alarm clock at 5:30 am on Mondays, of course, you’re going to hate Mondays. 

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3. Make weekends about stuff other than work

Unplug. Don’t check work emails and voicemails. Unless you have a career where lives are dependent on you, whatever is in your email or voicemail will be waiting for you next week. 

Yes, it sounds counterintuitive, saving business for Monday. (See the next point.) But setting definitive boundaries between work and weekend time is extremely important. 

When you leave the office on Friday, leave the office. If you give in to checking emails, voicemails, and texts, when you return to work Monday morning, chances are you’ll feel resentful. You have the Monday blues because it’ll feel like you didn’t get a real weekend at all. 

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4. Make Mondays light

Yes, we know. Maybe your boss thinks it’s a brilliant idea to have brainstorming meetings, budget discussions, and client meetings on Mondays to get a jumpstart on the week. 

And maybe you can’t help but attend. 

But if at all possible, try not to overschedule your Mondays. And don’t put too much pressure on yourself to complete huge tasks or things you don’t enjoy doing on Mondays. When you schedule things for other days, you’re more likely to feel less irritated by Mondays. 

And after you have one workday under your belt, you’re better equipped to take on big things later in the week, having not just come off of a fun or relaxing weekend.

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5. Recognize when it’s time to seek help

Recognizing Signs of Clinical Depression:

While we all experience occasional sadness or low moods, persistent and intense feelings can indicate a more serious issue.

Important Notice:

This information is for general understanding and does not constitute medical advice. If you are concerned about your well-being, please seek professional help from a qualified healthcare provider.

Understanding Clinical Depression:

Clinical depression is a medical condition characterized by prolonged periods of sadness, loss of interest, and other symptoms that can significantly impact daily life. While occasional down days are normal, clinical depression persists and can even worsen without proper treatment.

Distinguishing Normal Mood Swings from Depression:

The key difference between temporary sadness and clinical depression lies in persistence and severity. While everyone experiences low moods at times, clinical depression typically involves:

• Symptoms lasting for two weeks or longer
• Symptoms impacting multiple areas of life
• Symptoms causing significant distress or impairment

Seek professional help if you experience any of the following:

• Persistent sadness, hopelessness, or worthlessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed
• Changes in appetite or sleep patterns
• Fatigue or decreased energy
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Increased restlessness or irritability
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Remember:

Early diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve outcomes for individuals with depression. Do not hesitate to seek professional help if you are concerned about your well-being.

And that’s when you need to seek quality depression therapy in San Diego.

Finding the Best Depression Treatment in San Diego

We Can Help You Beat the Monday (and Everyday) Blues

We’re here for you if you are in southern California and feel like your Monday blues are more like the blues-you-experience-everyday. Here at BOLD Health, we offer research-backed depression treatment in San Diego. Our comprehensive team of mental health experts can help you work through the Monday blues and any other blues or mental health concerns. 

Our approach is different from any other facility offering depression therapy in San Diego. Before treating your symptoms, we get to know you. So, together, we’ll gain a deeper understanding of what brought you to where you are today. We’ll create a customized treatment program for you to help you feel better and help you get to know and understand yourself better.