Why Don’t We Make Every Weekend A Long Weekend?

Have to work on Monday? Here’s an idea…Ditch.

Victoria Day. The August Civic Holiday. Labour Day. Thanksgiving Day. They all fall on a Monday…making a three-day weekend for you! That means more time to spend with family and friends, get outside and enjoy life, and relax from all of the pressures of working life. And, after the past year (*cough* 17 months *cough*), we could all use a little more fun in our lives.

It’s pretty unsurprising that while the global pandemic obliterated countless people’s work-life balance and mental health, more and more have been calling for the “radical” idea of a four-day workweek. After all, people who work a four-day week generally report that they’re healthier, happier and less crunched for time; employers report that their workers are more efficient and more focused.

Despite the studies, the phenomenon of the four-days’-work-for-five-days’-pay model is still pretty much a rarity in the landscape of North American business. The five-day, 40-hour workweek – which, in actuality, is more than 40 hours for about half of the full-time workers across the country – remains sacred to most employers.

So, why have so few companies responded favourably to the idea of a shorter workweek?

Sorry…we don’t have an answer for that one. But we do have a suggestion: create your own four-day workweek!

Fact: Mondays are the worst, y’all can’t change my mind
If you doubt whether Mondays are really all that bad…just ask the Internet. Whether you’re a grumpy feline or an overworked office drone, it’s never fun to drag yourself back into the office after a glorious couple of days off. Mondays are so bad that they are even the subject of a pile of songs with, shall we say, melancholy sentiments. Think “Monday, Monday” by the Mamas & the Papas, “Rainy Days and Mondays” by the Carpenters, “I Don’t Like Mondays” by the Boomtown Rats, “Manic Monday” by the Bangles or one of the greatest songs, well, period: “Blue Monday” by New Order.

Upbeat tunes aside…you can never mock Monday enough, because people are miserable on Mondays.

Numerous studies suggest that people’s moods are typically at their lowest on Mondays. According to researchers at the University of Vermont Complex Systems Center who analyze Twitter messages for happiness sentiment, Mondays are the worst day of the week for millions around the globe. According to data they’ve gathered based on tweets posted since 2008, people’s moods tend to improve during the rest of the week, peaking on Saturday, before crashing again. It makes sense…. By the time Sunday rolls around, you’re probably already experiencing what many call the “Sunday Scaries,” the dreaded anxiety that’s built up around the busy upcoming week.

There’s something we desperately need to talk with you about: you’re doing Mondays wrong
If you don’t leap out of bed on Monday mornings ready to greet the dawn, consider this some sort of divine intervention: it’s time to embrace the “Monday Merries” and break free from the shackles of your job. Well, kinda.

Mondays get a bad rap, but they don’t need to. Think of this day as a beautiful beginning to a new week, and an introduction to what could be the best seven days of your life. It can be a time for you to reflect on the reckless abandon of your weekend – if not an extension of your weekend, in and of itself. That’s why the dreaded Monday is the best day of the week to skip off work. Taking Monday off will make the rest of the workweek feel shorter, and let you enjoy your weekend with family and friends without feeling dragged down by that nagging feeling reminding you that you’ll have to go back to work…eventually.

But hooooow?
Once you’ve decided that skipping out of work on Monday is non-negotiable, you just need to explain that to your boss and co-workers. Stuck on an exit strategy? Try: “My dog ate my laptop,” “It’s my neighbor’s funeral. Always hated him. Gotta see this,” “I misplaced my car,” “I’m really behind on my podcasts,” “Drake wants to hang,” or “I’ve been stabbed.”

You’re welcome.

Of course, if all else fails, other potential options include using up those piled-up personal or vacation days.

Now that you’ve clawed back more than 14 per cent of your week…
How do you spend that precious extra day off? Do you lie on the couch and watch reality TV? You could, but then you’d be missing out on some really magical moments. Stop and think about it. When you’re looking back on that day, would you rather think, “Awesome, I caught up on every Netflix show imaginable!” or “I really enjoyed myself and the people around me as much as I could”?

Instead of lounging on the couch, why not get out and explore as much of this big beautiful planet as you possibly can – especially the bright corners that exist within your own back forty.

Vacations are great for re-energizing your life and reconnecting you to the people and things around you. Now, we realize that taking just one Monday off doesn’t mean you can head to Ibiza (unless you’re Monty Millionaire), but you don’t have to go grand to turn Monday into a Merry Monday! Get out of town and take a mini-vacation: it can offer you all the experiences of new sights, smells and activities, while still getting you home within a day.

Can’t escape the big city? Don’t worry, there are tons of parks in major metropolitan areas that offer respite in the city. Get to know your city!

Alternatively, read a book! Volunteer! Do some random acts of kindness! Feng shui your house! Whatever turns your crank – the possibilities are endless.

Now you should have lots of things to do on your day off
Remember, you have to take time for yourself and take a day off every now and again, and there’s no better day than Monday to do that. If you’re feeling guilty about checking out for a day, or if your boss gives you a hard time about it, remember: there’s this thing called work-life balance, and you will be much more efficient at whatever you are doing if you allow yourself a day away from your job. You need time to tap back into your true self, your likes and dreams.

Now, get out there and explore the world – and have a little fun!