Everybody seems to hate Mondays. The transition from a well-rested weekend back to the hustle and bustle of another week at work seems to bring most employees’ spirits down. In fact, a YouGov poll found that only 4% of Americans say that their favorite day of the week is Monday. With Sunday also being one of the least favorite days in the survey, it draws the conclusion that it has to do with going back to work on Monday. To somewhat lessen the stress of the impending return to work, some have turned into a practice called “bare minimum Monday.”
Collins Dictionary defines bare minimum Monday as “the idea that doing as little work as possible on a Monday eases you into the working week and helps avoid burnout.” In a sense, it could be likened to another popular term, quiet quitting. So, what are the pros and cons of this workplace practice?
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Pros and cons
It could be said that a bare minimum Monday can lessen the shock of returning to work following a restful weekend. This may improve an employee’s mental health, reducing the anxiety and pressure of meeting deadlines and quotas. In some cases, an employee may be more productive and energized in the days that follow Monday since they are more relaxed at work. With proper scheduling and time management, work can be accomplished in a way that is non-vexing for both employee and employer.
However, like all things when out of control, a bare minimum Monday can decrease a worker’s productivity too. When too much easing up on work is done, it may lead to unmotivated individuals and sloppy work. When the work piles up, bad time management and other factors could affect the employee’s performance. The management may also issue sanctions if the employee is unable to meet the job’s demands.
A controversial new approach to Mondays is being adopted by a growing number of Australian employees. The ‘bare minimum Monday’ trend encourages workers to have a "gentle start" to the week in the name of self-care. To discuss, @mikeamor7 spoke with Craig Sneesby, Managing… pic.twitter.com/aIbDlFxPb5
— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) June 19, 2023
Balancing Mondays
In all tasks, it may be true that we cannot give 100% all the time. Finding the perfect balance of being a mentally and physically fit individual while also maintaining the quality of work we do is a goal we must strive for. For both employees and employers, there are ways to achieve this, whether we embrace the bare minimum Monday culture or not.
Prioritize physical and mental health
As mentioned earlier, practicing the bare minimum on Monday can improve one’s mental health. Mental health is just as important as our physical health. Our mental state dictates what our bodies are capable of doing. Companies that promote mental health awareness may foster individuals with a more positive outlook in work and life.
Hybrid working environment
A survey from FlexJobs found that 63% of workers are willing to accept lesser pay if they could work remotely. With hybrid working arrangements on the rise, offering flexible working hours may be beneficial. Since hybrid employees don’t necessarily start their work week the same way as an employee working during normal office hours, it also means that Mondays won’t be as bad. It takes away the idea of doing bare minimum Mondays since employees would work at hours when they are best motivated.
Relaxing company activities
Company outings and recreational activities can prevent burnout. Giving the workers time and space where they can just relax and not think of work can lead to a better mood and a more cheerful attitude when returning to work. If there’s great chemistry between the team, then one can even look forward to the next work week instead of practicing bare minimum Mondays.
Open communication and a healthy working environment
Organizations should practice transparency and mutual respect to cultivate a good working environment. Keeping the line of communication open, ideas and feedback can be passed through with no trouble. Arising issues and complications can be solved in a timely manner if there is a healthy discourse in every organization.
Photo credit: The feature image is symbolic and has been done by Sebra.
Sources: YouGov / Collins Dictionary / press release
