My husband woke up, got ready for work, went out the door, and not five minutes later came back and told me he forgot his phone — “It’s Monday”, he said. After a fun weekend, we were disappointed to get back to the grind. Now that it’s summer, weekends fly by and Monday marks the beginning of another vicious workweek. But how can we avoid the downward spiral of Monday Blues? Not surprisingly, it can be beat with exercise. In this blog, I will discuss how starting the week off by planning your Pilates sessions the week before can inspire motivation and increase productivity.
Prepare For Monday On Friday
Once Monday rolls around and I’m creating my weekly to-do list, it’s too late. In a Forbes article on Monday blues, writer Jacquelyn Smith advises to “Prepare for Monday on Friday”. Ryan Kahn, career coach, is quoted saying, “Mondays can be extra stressful from work that has potentially piled up from the previous week and, for many, can be challenging to jump right back in”. Preparing for Monday on Friday allows you to plan for the week ahead and maybe knock out trivial tasks before Monday. Planning and making prior commitments kick your week into gear.
Carve Out Time For Your Workouts
As you create your schedule for the following week, carve out time for your workouts. This allows you to enjoy a much-needed Pilates session. My clients that plan their sessions a week in advance are more likely to commit to their practice than clients planning their sessions the week off. Planning is both helpful for your commitment to your physical health and allows me to plan and tailor your personalized sessions. Additionally, you’re more likely to stick with a scheduled commitment. I’m guilty of not making time for yoga classes when I know I have more important and pressing issues. It’s natural to put your physical health on the back burner, but don’t. Carving out time for your workouts is only beneficial.
Prioritizing Workouts
We’ve all heard that exercise releases endorphins (a hormone that boosts mood). You can expect to be more focused, motivated, and productive with daily exercise. For example, a good friend of mine commits to waking up at five in the morning before going to classes. As a PA student, her study load is heavy. An early morning at the gym keeps her mind clear and focused for her school day ahead. Another example is a client of mine that prioritizes 7:30 AM Pilates sessions three days a week before work. As a woman working a desk job, this gets her body moving before she sits all day. Both women carve out time for their workouts knowing it will set them up for success. This doesn’t have to mean waking up early or doing a morning session, but finding blocks of times that work with your schedule.
Be Consistent & Add It To Your Calendar
Joseph Pilates famously said, “In ten sessions you’ll feel the difference, in twenty sessions you’ll see the difference, and in thirty sessions you’ll have a whole new body”. Mr. Pilates makes the point that consistency is the key to transformation. The stories of my friend and my client reflect the importance of scheduling and the impact exercise has on your body and mind. As you stay consistent and have routined Pilates sessions, you won’t have the Monday blues.
Regardless, Mondays are Mondays — you never know what to expect. However, start your week off well by making a weekly to-do list. Prepare for Monday on Friday by filling your calendar and developing days and times for Pilates that work with your schedule. I hope this blog inspires you to plan for your week ahead and make time for your sessions. Let Mondays be your new Fridays!
By: Annie Maxwell