This Monday Feels Like the First Day of The Year

Today feels different, doesn't it?

This Monday feels like the true first day of the year. 

Regular schedules are back, our children are preparing to return to school, and for many, today marks the first official Monday back in the office.

The holiday pause is over — and reality is knocking.

With that often comes the familiar feeling many people call the “Monday Scaries.” That heaviness in your body. The racing thoughts. 

The quiet question of “How am I going to do this again?”

If that's you, you are not alone.

Why Do So Many People Struggle With Mondays?

1. The abrupt shift from rest to responsibility 

Weekends offer a glimpse of freedom. Mondays demand structure, decisions, and performance — and that sudden switch can feel jarring.

2. The mental overload 

Emails pile up. Calendars fill instantly. Expectations return full force. Even before the day begins, your nervous system is already bracing.

3. A deeper lack of motivation 

For many, Mondays aren't just about work. They symbolize staying in a life, role, or routine that no longer feels aligned — even if it looks “fine” from the outside.

4. The comparison trap 

Scrolling through highlight reels of “perfect” weekends and holiday break updates can leave you questioning why your own life feels so heavy, and can amplify feelings of inadequacy, making it harder to return to your own reality with compassion. 

A Different Perspective for This Year

What if this Monday — this first real Monday of the year — isn't something to endure… but something to reclaim?

Instead of asking, “How do I get through this week?” 

Try asking, “What would it look like to move forward with clarity, intention, and support?”

Here are a few gentle mindset shifts to begin:

• Set intentional goals, not overwhelming resolutions. Small, aligned steps create sustainable momentum.

• Lead with self-care, not self-criticism. Energy comes before productivity.

• Seek meaningful support. Transformation rarely happens alone — and it certainly doesn't happen through willpower alone.