TGIM
That Friday Feeling, On A Monday?
TGIM, thank God it’s Monday.
Hold on, we need to rewind a bit, right? Who thanks God that it’s Monday?
Last Friday, I witnessed a typical sigh of relief as my neighbor’s shoulders dropped to the spoken thought of two consecutive days without work. Friday always feels lighter and brighter; another week of hard work had reached its peak. The carrot of a workless weekend dangled in front of us.
Friday represents the end of five days of meetings, emails, and projects. The anticipation of free time and fun plans comes knocking but in less than two days the cycle repeats. At times, meetings and projects get pushed to Saturday anyway. Maybe an hour of work on Sunday night would boost the start of your week, you could even “get ahead” on Monday’s tasks.
Bumping into my neighbor stirred up some familiar emotions. How do I think about work? What is my approach? It reminded me of the recent impact of the pandemic on the workplace and how some people suggested a shift from the five-day work week, to only four.
But will that solve our so-called problems with burnout, overworking, and the desire for bigger, better, and more? I don’t think so. Depending on your profession, a client’s needs might be best met on a Saturday. Maybe you get part of Monday off or finish early on Wednesdays. I’d like to challenge you (and myself) to focus less on what each day typically means and on one simple message.
Work hard. Our jobs, businesses, hobbies, and passions require hard work. If you are at the start, middle, or end of your career, your path is, will be, or was hard work. Instead of the highs and lows of Fridays and Mondays, focus on the simple fact that you get to work hard, not that you have to. If you are currently employed in any way, it is important to recognize and appreciate the place you are in. If you are between jobs or looking for work, accept the stress that comes with it but appreciate the reset. Appreciate the time you have to explore what you want to do next. It is okay to dream about where you are going, but without your current situation, there would be a lack of direction.
I hope to generate some discussions about careers for employees and employers. I am fortunate to have access to both in my circle and really enjoy both perspectives.
While thanking God on this Monday, challenge yourself to spend more time working hard on your current situation instead of spending more time searching for relief.
If interested, take a look at these articles about the pros and cons of a four-day work week and think about why it may not be beneficial to all job types.