Mondays seemingly suck for lots of reasons—you might be stressed, or hungover, or sleep deprived. Needless to say, our collective case of the Mondays is strong.
But getting out of bed doesn't have to be a nightmare. Conjure a smidge of motivation and it's actually a primo day for a healthy kick-start.
Here's how to beat what's bringing you down and turn your Mondays around.
Monday sucks because: You think it sucks. Perception is a powerful thing. If you start the week channeling Garfield the cat's catchphrase—"I hate Mondays"—having a noncrappy day will be a challenge.
Make it suck less: Come up with a fun tradition to kick off each week (a fancy latte, grabbing lunch with a pal). With something to look forward to, you can gradually rewrite your mental script.
Monday sucks because: Your circadian rhythms are out of whack. Staying up late on the weekend—and then sleeping in the next day—creates a mini jet lag that's akin to flying from New York to L.A. on Friday and back again on Sunday.
Make it suck less: Keep weekend sleep/wake times within an hour of weekday ones. If you veer off schedule, throw open the shades as soon as you get up; a.m. light suppresses the sleep hormone melatonin and sends a "rise and shine" cue to your brain for a less rude awakening.
Monday sucks because: Shifting from an R&R-filled; Sunday to a busy work week is stressful for your mind and your bod. It can cause your blood pressure to surge, which may be why docs see more heart attacks and strokes on Mondays than any other day.
Make it suck less: Try a calming breathing exercise upon waking (inhale and exhale deeply for 30 seconds) to keep your BP in check. Then include half a cup of spinach in your lunch: It's high in heart-healthy nutrients like magnesium, potassium, and calcium.
Related: 8 Signs You're Not Getting Enough Potassium
Monday sucks because: You partied too hard. A single episode of binge drinking (four cocktails or glasses of vino) blunts the ability of Pac-Man-like cells called macrophages to destroy viruses and bacteria for up to a day afterward, making you more vulnerable to illness.
Make it suck less: Limit weekend imbibing to just two or three drinks a night, make each last one hour, and have food with those bevs. (Don't forget to chase each drink with a tall glass of H2O to literally water down booze's effects.)
Related: I Drank a Gallon of Water Every Day for a Month—Here's What Happened'
Watch a hot doc explain how to treat a headache without drugs:
Monday sucks because: You overdid it during your boot-camp classes (or whatever workouts you're into). These intense bouts of exercise can cause inflammation that has your muscles screaming for mercy on Monday. (The Slim, Sexy, Strong Workout DVD is the fast, flexible workout you've been waiting for!)
Make it suck less: Do gentle yoga or take a brisk walk, which will drive blood flow to muscles, easing soreness. Weekend loafers: same gentle Rx for you. A bust-your-ass Monday workout can make you too achy to exercise Tuesday.
Women's Health is teaming up with the nonprofit health initiative The Monday Campaigns to bring you feel-good #MondayVibes every Monday in April on Twitter. Follow @WomensHealthMag and share your own!
For more health advice, check out the April 2017 issue of Women's Health on newsstands now.
