WAYS TO MAKE EVERY MONDAY YOUR BEST

1. Make a Monday to-do list—on Friday. Everything you need to accomplish the next week will be top of mind, so it makes sense to capture it at this time. The end of the week may be cause to celebrate, but don’t make it official until you’ve written a to-do list for Monday.
   
   
2. Seek Natural Light. No, we don’t recommend going on any walks this week in 100-degree weather but plan to work in a space with a lot of natural light. “Light is like a cup of coffee. It has an acute alerting effect,” says Mariana Figueiro, PhD, professor and director at the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.
   
   
3. Wear a Feel Good Outfit. They say, “when you look good, you feel good.” Well, when you feel good, you feel good. Take the stress out of Monday morning and plan to wear your favorite outfit the night before. Wear something that makes you feel confident, and it may just make your Monday a little brighter.  
   
   
4. Plan for fun! An easy way to turn Mondays around is to make them the day you commit to fun plans for later in the week. Regardless of the activity, just thinking about the good times in store for you later in the week will be an instant pick-me-up. 
   
   
5. Do a random act of kindness. Acts of kindness have the potential to make the world a happier place. An act of kindness can boost feelings of confidence, being in control, happiness and optimism. They may also encourage others to repeat the good deeds they’ve experienced themselves – contributing to a more positive community!
   
   
6. Remember why you work at the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City. Your “why” can easily be forgotten during daily tasks and never-ending emails and calendar invites. Take a second to remember the impact you make in our organization. Click below to remind yourself of the number of individuals we impact every year.