The 2 good reasons to test the “minimum union Mondays” trend

Are you a victim of the Sunday evening blues, just thinking about the meetings and files that await you the next day? If so, you are not alone. According to a recent survey launched by LinkedIn and Headspace, nearly 75% of American employees say they feel anxious. In France they would be “only” 50%, which is however one in two people. A figure which probably reflects a need to change its pace.

Do less on Monday, a psychologist’s not-so-absurd idea

In the journal Psychology Today, Mark Travers, clinical psychologist, reveals a confusing but effective solution to get through your work week better: do as little as possible on Monday. The tactic is not to stay in bed on Monday, or to avoid the office, but rather to avoid tasks that are too stressful, or with too much pressure from the first day of the week. A “minimum union” Monday as a response to changing work dynamics that promotes a balanced approach and recognizes the importance of well-being alongside productivity. For the psychologist there would be two main benefits to this new pace.

Start the week slowly but surely for yourself

The first benefit of this minimum Monday would be to start the week relaxed, without plunging into stressful tasks, which quickly ruin all the benefits of the weekend. Convinced by this system Marisa Jo Mayes, a Tiktokeuse who uses this way of doing things on her networks. “For the first two hours (Monday), I avoid meetings and take it slowly. It’s two hours of no technology – no emails – just doing what feels good to start my day. The rest of his day, usually three hours, is spent on essential tasks that can be managed easily.”

The idea is therefore not to postpone work, but to start with tasks that are necessary, but practical and easy to complete.

This minimal side could therefore preserve your mental health for the rest of the week.

Productivity that gradually increases

In our productivity-driven culture, however, this gentle start can seem like a complacent practice. For Mark Travers, this is not the case, and when done right, a Monday minimum can actually improve work performance by effectively combating burnout and improving concentration. His argument is this: when you start strong on Monday morning, you quickly feel exhausted and unproductive. Long lists of tasks to do seem demotivating and endless. On the contrary, adjusting expectations by starting slowly would increase overall productivity for the week. An observation that we also discover in companies which choose a 4-day week, and which are no less efficient for all that.