Bare Minimum Mondays: An opportunity to work as little as possible or a form of self-care?

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You may have heard the term used, though it is fairly new in today’s workplace. And, did you know it all started from a viral TikTok trend… Which I haven’t posted about before. If you’re intrigued, you can read more about that here — it is interesting!

Simply put, Bare Minimum Monday is the concept of easing into the workweek by doing a reduced amount of work, without the pressure of meetings or deadlines. While it’s still a workday, it’s a less intensive way to start the week.

Many people see this as a form of self-care, while others view it as just an excuse to slack off.

What do you think? of this concept? If you’re a business owner or executive, do you practice anything like this in your business?

At first, I was unsure how I felt about it. As a business owner myself, I set up my week deliberately to set me up for success from the start. Not only to organize my week, but also to review and look ahead in the business and what I need to be paying attention to.

I like to start the week with an energetic, positive outlook as a way of moving into the week ahead, with motivation and inspiration. Doing the “bare minimum” seems like a cop-out or a pessimistic assumption that the week will already be more than you can handle and that’s not an idea I entertain!

From my perspective, the variable that determines how well an approach like this works for people and businesses is what the reasoning is for it.

One thing I see from this article is that she is new to the transition from corporate world of schedules, meetings and deadlines into the very less structure environment that entrepreneurship brings and that each one needs to work through and become able to bridge. In the exact examples, of doing a load of laundry or taking a walk, mingled with 2 hours of focus creativity work time.

This is more about balance than anything else.

If your reason for wanting a Bare Minimum Monday is because you’re uninterested in your work, you dread meetings, or you are way too overwhelmed with tasks and responsibilities, I don’t believe this is an effective tactic for you. Refocusing on the start of the week won’t truly help you fix any of these situations.

If, however, you see an approach like Bare Minimum Monday to be beneficial to your mental health, if you use it as a way to be kind to yourself and focus on readjusting from the weekend to the workweek, this could be a good option for you. Many people view it as a way to combat the “Sunday Scaries” with some self-compassion and an effective approach to the week ahead.

Alternative Approaches to Bare Minimum Monday

If the idea of you or someone on your team doing the “bare minimum” on a Monday doesn’t appeal to you as an entrepreneur, business executive or leader, that is understandable. What are other ways you can approach it if it is seen as beneficial to others who work for and/or with you?

The idea of easing into the workweek is really about being able to transition back into the workweek in your own way and at your own pace. Is it good for your mental health? Could be. Is it good for your work product or project management? Could be.

It’s really about a way of being, and how you approach work every day, rather than just on Mondays, or Sundays. Starting off the week with a negative or overwhelmed mindset will only set you up for more of exactly that.

In order to start your week off in the best possible way, let’s look at some ideas that will help you to deliberately create the Monday you want, also everyday that you want.

With that in mind, what about having Mindful Mondays or ways to maximize your Mondays.

· Institute Mindful Mondays by setting your calendar with opportunities for mindfulness, short meditation, or exercise to start the week with joy, a clear head and focus. Furthermore, these tools are fabulous for every day of the week and used that way, it could reduce the anxiety that often comes with Sundays and the beginning of another work week.

This is a way of being, and ideal for every day rather than just Mondays. And this approach will be far better for your mental health and your well-being too.

· Maximize your Mondays is an approach I prefer, because it gives me the power to create the start to my week the way I need it. With activities that I love, that are exciting and that set me up for the highest level of accomplishment I can for the week. I do this by planning ahead, putting things I enjoy on my calendar and giving myself time to prepare for the week ahead. It’s not just about work either and it has no implication of a “bare minimum” Monday.

· Start My Mondays where you allow employees and colleagues to flex their schedules, giving them the flexibility to come into the office and/or start work at their own specified time, and still have a full workday. It also gives them the valuable benefit of spending more time working during their most productive points of the day.

As the leader, you’ll want to consider what works best for those that work for you and with you, realizing it may not be what you think works best. Some people might want some flexibility in their schedules, for instance coming in at 10am instead of 8 and willing to stay later. As long as they use this time to accomplish what they need to.

Others may prefer to have a routine and a set schedule to keep their productivity and even their creativity high, including how much joy they get from the work they do.

· No Meeting Mondays. Encourage your team to avoid planning meetings on Mondays, which automatically sets the tone for more stress and pressure at the start of the week. You can reserve the beginning of the week for lower stress activities and less complex projects, such as responding to email, taking care of bills or invoices, and other tasks that are low-key and straightforward. This begins at the top too, setting meetings for 9am on Monday may set them off on the wrong foot.

A good way to determine which type of approach makes sense for you and your business is to talk with your team. Whether in an open conversation or through an anonymous survey, allowing for input can help you design something that appeals to everyone or a majority. It also shows them how much they are valued — which is so important!

All of this can apply to entrepreneurs and the self-employed as you approach your schedule, the ever involved demands of running a business while you balance self-care, mental health and fitness. Be sure to choose whatever works best for you, your schedule, and especially your priorities.

It Comes Down to Wellness, Appreciation, and Retention

At the end of the day, the concept behind Bare Minimum Monday stems from the desire to focus on improved self-care, self-compassion and not a productivity hack. It’s a great place to start, and in my opinion is best if it’s not limited to just Mondays.

What a fabulous and supportive way to have better all-around workplace wellness, illustrate employee appreciation, and increase worker retention rates.

Whether your team is in the office or telecommuting, allowing for some flexibility and opportunity for self-care during the workweek, and not just on Mondays, is not only critical for performance it is also a fantastic boost to mental health.

And, the focus on better mental health — not to mention physical health — is a win-win for both workers and business owners!

If you need support with any of the elements mentioned here, balance, self-care, performance please reach out to us here: info@worklesscreatemore.com.

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Maureen Considine is Founder and CEO of Finding Your Way Coaching. A Master Coach with expertise in Income Acceleration, Business Development, Sales and Mindset, she is the Wealth Health Creation Strategist for entrepreneurs, executives, and other high performers. Maureen has over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing. She has helped hundreds of clients grow their businesses and reach their true potential using her unique, intuitive, and holistic approach. Maureen has a B.A. in Psychology, with training in mindset and the Psychology of Sales.