Who's Got a Case of "The Mondays?"

Tue Feb 20, 2007 3:02AM EST

See Comments (36)

I don't know about you, but the morning is always when I'm at my least productive. It's not that I'm especially lazy or incapable of operating before noon, but I just seem so scattered, so overwhelmed with different projects and leftover remnants of to-do lists from the previous day that I find it difficult to get started. But on a Monday morning, (or worse, right after a three-day weekend) when a full weekend's worth of notes, printouts, and mail have accumulated on the desk of my home office? Fuggedaboudit.

With this in mind, Bert Webb put together some thoughts on increasing productivity in the early hours of the day. There's a fair amount of common sense here (and only a few technically-oriented tips), but you'll likely find his insights worth a quick read. After all, you probably had the day off yesterday, and you're likely finding it hard to get started on the workday.

A highlight from his blog post: The key is in accomplishing the following in the last half-hour of the previous workday:

  • File loose papers to eliminate as much clutter as possible.
  • Empty your physical and email inbox and voice mail as much as possible.
  • Preview the next day's work to get it set in your mind.
  • Put the following day's most important task front and center in your workspace so you have to confront it first.
Webb offers strategy for that next morning as well, but I'll let you read it for yourself. Before you decide to get to work...

Comments on Who's Got a Case of "The Mondays?"

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  • 26 Posted by twigtwig on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    Wow. Thought that I was being paid to work at work. Would feel guilty if I read Yahoo & newspaper there, etc. I "Just Do It," as that's what I'm getting paid for. I dive right into my work at all times because I like to be able to pay my mortgage, etc. Then again, I'm an anal rule-follower... darn.

  • 27 Posted by montdave on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    I get paid half of what I'm worth, so I give 'em four good hours a day. Thr rest of the time is spank city. In all seriousness, we get bonused on our productivity, which is the best incentive out there. D.D.

  • 28 Posted by cjsada on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:26PM EDT Report Abuse

    When you have a lot of small items for the next day, one thing that can help if you are a slow starter in the morning, is the classical to-do short list at the end of the day, and read it first thing in the morning. You will start it in a hidden part of your sleeping brain while you shower, get coffee, drive, get coffee, awake, get coffee . . . start working already prioritized.

  • 29 Posted by artistman75 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:58PM EDT Report Abuse

    Who pays this guys to reiterate what someone else has already written and to do so, so poorly? To the writer/editor. Please if your're going to write something, make it worth reading so we are not wasting our mornings reading your dribbled

  • 31 Posted by lflores90 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    ....uhm what if you don't like to work, period?

  • 32 Posted by rmpellegrin on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is a good article. Maybe people need to be more grateful for the jobs they have. A attitude of gratitude is the only thing that can make one productive. Grab a good ole cup of java and sit back for a few moments and reflect on everything that is good and positive. Once you have that in order, the rest will fall in place.

  • 33 Posted by breaks-on@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    littlechevy1099, what do you mean now what?? Now that you've figured out that you hve work to do you go to your boss (e-mail, it's easier) and tell her you're sick as heck and need to go back home. Have somebody else do your work, while you go home and play. You can go to a spa, a coffee shop, Best Buy.... who gives a rats-#$% about stupid work anyway?? Go home, live a little, take the rest of the month off.

  • 34 Posted by zanasta1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    it presents itself in the title as an article that will discuss being bummed in the morning to start your day...but instead it discusses post-it notes...what about the vast amount of people who don't start their days staring at sticky notes but still feel they need some kick-start advice?

  • 36 Posted by screaminshout on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    Clutter is a good thing, better chance of not getting fired if it looks like you have a messy desk, more of a chance that yes you are doing work plus, the less time you spend clearing off your desk the more time you spend working.

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