Monday Mornings

6. They screen emails for urgent requests. 
7. They make an extra effort to smile.
8. They stay focused
9.They remember that thereisTuesday.

1. One thing successful people do Monday morning: They wake up early and exercise.

   Monday mornings are the most critical time of the workweek — they set the stage for the day and week ahead.

2. “Because you’ve stepped away for a couple days, these back-to-work mornings are the most memorable for the rest of the week,” says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job."

   “They influence your mindset in a positive or negative way, depending on what actions you decide to take,” Taylor says.

3. Most successful people are keenly aware of the typical Monday-morning workplace dynamic of unanticipated events, overflow of communications, and general chaos. “But after weathering hundreds of them, they realize they must gain control and stay upbeat,” Taylor explains. “They take extra steps to compensate for this busy time of the week, and apply their best management skills to ensure that the day unfolds as smoothly as possible.”

4. Here are 15 things successful people do on Monday mornings:

   They wake up early and exercise.This gets your circulation going and helps you stay alert, putting you at an advantage for a productive week ahead. “You’ll get your endorphin rush, which will help your mood, too,” Taylor says.

5. They eat a healthy breakfast. On Monday morning, you want to handle everything you have control over. Eating breakfast is one of those things. “You don’t want to be staring at the clock, awaiting lunch time as your stomach growls at morning meetings,” she says.

6. They arrive early. Do not succumb to the snooze button. “Commutes are bad on Monday, so beat the odds,” Taylor says. Plus, getting in earlier than others will help make Monday morning seem more like the afternoon because you’ll have had a chance to breathe before responding to the barrage of people and issues. “Being an early bird will give you some wiggle room for the unexpected at work, not to mention any important personal matters that may ...more 

7. They clear their desk and desktop. “Hopefully you already did this before you left on Friday. But if you didn’t, get this out of the way, or you might add to Monday stresses in a sea of disorganization,” Taylor says. Organize and prioritize your files. Put aside unimportant paperwork and keep critical files easily accessible. You want to be prepared when you, your boss, or colleagues need something at the last minute.

8. They carve out time for unexpected projects and tasks. Successful individuals expect the unexpected on Monday, she says. “Your boss, team members, or staff may have remembered some loose ends over the weekend, so you’re wise to build in some extra down time on Monday morning.”

9. They greet their team and boss.This is important to do first thingeverymorning to keep morale high, but on Monday it’s particularly valuable, as your team needs a special boost. “Ideally, you’ll spend an few extra minutes with your colleagues on Monday mornings. It reinforces a sense of purpose and community for everyone, including you,” Taylor explains.

   They update their to-do list and goals . “Get yourself current on priorities and tasks,”

   ...more 

10. They visualize the week’s successes.By envisioning the positive outcomes of various projects at hand, you can work backward and determine the necessary steps to get your desired results.

11. They screen emails for urgent requests. You can sink into email oblivion if you don’t scan your inbox for urgency, Taylor says. “Star emails that are priorities and think quality, not quantity.”

    They tackle the tough challenges first. The least desirable but critical projects are easy to put off, but your energy is stronger in the morning, so that’s the ideal time to confront the most difficult assignments.

12. They make an extra effort to smile.“It might be the last thing on your mind, but overcompensating for the pressure cooker morning will help you get through it,” she says. You may well stand out in the crowd, but your smile will likely be contagious, helping both you and team members relax.

13. They add a “blanket of humanity” to their emails. It’s tempting to power through all your emails in the most efficient way on Monday mornings. But before you hit send, read them over to ensure that they’re friendly and clear. “Put yourself in the recipient’s shoes. It’s relatively easy to appear curt when you’re in a hurry, along with the impersonal nature of emails and texts. You want to mitigate false starts and misinterpretations,” Taylor ...more 

14. They’re able to say no. “On Monday mornings there will be many distractions — from people, to emails, to calls, meetings, offers for meeting in the break room, and so forth,” Lynn explains. “Successful people can diplomatically and politely say no to colleagues by offering to engage at a later time.”

    If your boss needs you, that is clearly an exception. However, if you have crucial calls to make or meetings to attend, give your boss the heads-up....more 

15. They stay focused. Successful people don’t dwell on any challenging events that occurred over the weekend, or other frivolous thoughts. “Compartmentalize by putting them in a separate ‘box’ as you start your week,” she says.

16. They remember that thereisTuesday

1. One thing successful people do Monday morning: They wake up early and exercise.

   Monday mornings are the most critical time of the workweek — they set the stage for the day and week ahead.

2. “Because you’ve stepped away for a couple days, these back-to-work mornings are the most memorable for the rest of the week,” says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job."

   “They influence your mindset in a positive or negative way, depending on what actions you decide to take,” Taylor says.

3. Most successful people are keenly aware of the typical Monday-morning workplace dynamic of unanticipated events, overflow of communications, and general chaos. “But after weathering hundreds of them, they realize they must gain control and stay upbeat,” Taylor explains. “They take extra steps to compensate for this busy time of the week, and apply their best management skills to ensure that the day unfolds as smoothly as possible.”

4. Here are 15 things successful people do on Monday mornings:

   They wake up early and exercise.This gets your circulation going and helps you stay alert, putting you at an advantage for a productive week ahead. “You’ll get your endorphin rush, which will help your mood, too,” Taylor says.

5. They eat a healthy breakfast. On Monday morning, you want to handle everything you have control over. Eating breakfast is one of those things. “You don’t want to be staring at the clock, awaiting lunch time as your stomach growls at morning meetings,” she says.

6. They arrive early. Do not succumb to the snooze button. “Commutes are bad on Monday, so beat the odds,” Taylor says. Plus, getting in earlier than others will help make Monday morning seem more like the afternoon because you’ll have had a chance to breathe before responding to the barrage of people and issues. “Being an early bird will give you some wiggle room for the unexpected at work, not to mention any important personal matters that may ...more 

7. They clear their desk and desktop. “Hopefully you already did this before you left on Friday. But if you didn’t, get this out of the way, or you might add to Monday stresses in a sea of disorganization,” Taylor says. Organize and prioritize your files. Put aside unimportant paperwork and keep critical files easily accessible. You want to be prepared when you, your boss, or colleagues need something at the last minute.

8. They carve out time for unexpected projects and tasks. Successful individuals expect the unexpected on Monday, she says. “Your boss, team members, or staff may have remembered some loose ends over the weekend, so you’re wise to build in some extra down time on Monday morning.”

9. They greet their team and boss.This is important to do first thingeverymorning to keep morale high, but on Monday it’s particularly valuable, as your team needs a special boost. “Ideally, you’ll spend an few extra minutes with your colleagues on Monday mornings. It reinforces a sense of purpose and community for everyone, including you,” Taylor explains.

   They update their to-do list and goals . “Get yourself current on priorities and tasks,”

   ...more 

10. They visualize the week’s successes.By envisioning the positive outcomes of various projects at hand, you can work backward and determine the necessary steps to get your desired results.

11. They screen emails for urgent requests. You can sink into email oblivion if you don’t scan your inbox for urgency, Taylor says. “Star emails that are priorities and think quality, not quantity.”

    They tackle the tough challenges first. The least desirable but critical projects are easy to put off, but your energy is stronger in the morning, so that’s the ideal time to confront the most difficult assignments.

12. They make an extra effort to smile.“It might be the last thing on your mind, but overcompensating for the pressure cooker morning will help you get through it,” she says. You may well stand out in the crowd, but your smile will likely be contagious, helping both you and team members relax.

13. They add a “blanket of humanity” to their emails. It’s tempting to power through all your emails in the most efficient way on Monday mornings. But before you hit send, read them over to ensure that they’re friendly and clear. “Put yourself in the recipient’s shoes. It’s relatively easy to appear curt when you’re in a hurry, along with the impersonal nature of emails and texts. You want to mitigate false starts and misinterpretations,” Taylor ...more 

14. They’re able to say no. “On Monday mornings there will be many distractions — from people, to emails, to calls, meetings, offers for meeting in the break room, and so forth,” Lynn explains. “Successful people can diplomatically and politely say no to colleagues by offering to engage at a later time.”

    If your boss needs you, that is clearly an exception. However, if you have crucial calls to make or meetings to attend, give your boss the heads-up....more 

15. They stay focused. Successful people don’t dwell on any challenging events that occurred over the weekend, or other frivolous thoughts. “Compartmentalize by putting them in a separate ‘box’ as you start your week,” she says.

16. They remember that thereisTuesday

1. One thing successful people do Monday morning: They wake up early and exercise.

   Monday mornings are the most critical time of the workweek — they set the stage for the day and week ahead.

2. “Because you’ve stepped away for a couple days, these back-to-work mornings are the most memorable for the rest of the week,” says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job."

   “They influence your mindset in a positive or negative way, depending on what actions you decide to take,” Taylor says.

3. Most successful people are keenly aware of the typical Monday-morning workplace dynamic of unanticipated events, overflow of communications, and general chaos. “But after weathering hundreds of them, they realize they must gain control and stay upbeat,” Taylor explains. “They take extra steps to compensate for this busy time of the week, and apply their best management skills to ensure that the day unfolds as smoothly as possible.”

4. Here are 15 things successful people do on Monday mornings:

   They wake up early and exercise.This gets your circulation going and helps you stay alert, putting you at an advantage for a productive week ahead. “You’ll get your endorphin rush, which will help your mood, too,” Taylor says.

5. They eat a healthy breakfast. On Monday morning, you want to handle everything you have control over. Eating breakfast is one of those things. “You don’t want to be staring at the clock, awaiting lunch time as your stomach growls at morning meetings,” she says.

6. They arrive early. Do not succumb to the snooze button. “Commutes are bad on Monday, so beat the odds,” Taylor says. Plus, getting in earlier than others will help make Monday morning seem more like the afternoon because you’ll have had a chance to breathe before responding to the barrage of people and issues. “Being an early bird will give you some wiggle room for the unexpected at work, not to mention any important personal matters that may ...more 

7. They clear their desk and desktop. “Hopefully you already did this before you left on Friday. But if you didn’t, get this out of the way, or you might add to Monday stresses in a sea of disorganization,” Taylor says. Organize and prioritize your files. Put aside unimportant paperwork and keep critical files easily accessible. You want to be prepared when you, your boss, or colleagues need something at the last minute.

8. They carve out time for unexpected projects and tasks. Successful individuals expect the unexpected on Monday, she says. “Your boss, team members, or staff may have remembered some loose ends over the weekend, so you’re wise to build in some extra down time on Monday morning.”

9. They greet their team and boss.This is important to do first thingeverymorning to keep morale high, but on Monday it’s particularly valuable, as your team needs a special boost. “Ideally, you’ll spend an few extra minutes with your colleagues on Monday mornings. It reinforces a sense of purpose and community for everyone, including you,” Taylor explains.

   They update their to-do list and goals . “Get yourself current on priorities and tasks,”

   ...more 

10. They visualize the week’s successes.By envisioning the positive outcomes of various projects at hand, you can work backward and determine the necessary steps to get your desired results.

11. They screen emails for urgent requests. You can sink into email oblivion if you don’t scan your inbox for urgency, Taylor says. “Star emails that are priorities and think quality, not quantity.”

    They tackle the tough challenges first. The least desirable but critical projects are easy to put off, but your energy is stronger in the morning, so that’s the ideal time to confront the most difficult assignments.

12. They make an extra effort to smile.“It might be the last thing on your mind, but overcompensating for the pressure cooker morning will help you get through it,” she says. You may well stand out in the crowd, but your smile will likely be contagious, helping both you and team members relax.

13. They add a “blanket of humanity” to their emails. It’s tempting to power through all your emails in the most efficient way on Monday mornings. But before you hit send, read them over to ensure that they’re friendly and clear. “Put yourself in the recipient’s shoes. It’s relatively easy to appear curt when you’re in a hurry, along with the impersonal nature of emails and texts. You want to mitigate false starts and misinterpretations,” Taylor ...more 

14. They’re able to say no. “On Monday mornings there will be many distractions — from people, to emails, to calls, meetings, offers for meeting in the break room, and so forth,” Lynn explains. “Successful people can diplomatically and politely say no to colleagues by offering to engage at a later time.”

    If your boss needs you, that is clearly an exception. However, if you have crucial calls to make or meetings to attend, give your boss the heads-up....more 

15. They stay focused

1. One thing successful people do Monday morning: They wake up early and exercise.

   Monday mornings are the most critical time of the workweek — they set the stage for the day and week ahead.

2. “Because you’ve stepped away for a couple days, these back-to-work mornings are the most memorable for the rest of the week,” says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job."

   “They influence your mindset in a positive or negative way, depending on what actions you decide to take,” Taylor says.

3. Most successful people are keenly aware of the typical Monday-morning workplace dynamic of unanticipated events, overflow of communications, and general chaos. “But after weathering hundreds of them, they realize they must gain control and stay upbeat,” Taylor explains. “They take extra steps to compensate for this busy time of the week, and apply their best management skills to ensure that the day unfolds as smoothly as possible.”

4. Here are 15 things successful people do on Monday mornings:

   They wake up early and exercise.This gets your circulation going and helps you stay alert, putting you at an advantage for a productive week ahead. “You’ll get your endorphin rush, which will help your mood, too,” Taylor says.

5. They eat a healthy breakfast. On Monday morning, you want to handle everything you have control over. Eating breakfast is one of those things. “You don’t want to be staring at the clock, awaiting lunch time as your stomach growls at morning meetings,” she says.

6. They arrive early. Do not succumb to the snooze button. “Commutes are bad on Monday, so beat the odds,” Taylor says. Plus, getting in earlier than others will help make Monday morning seem more like the afternoon because you’ll have had a chance to breathe before responding to the barrage of people and issues. “Being an early bird will give you some wiggle room for the unexpected at work, not to mention any important personal matters that may ...more 

7. They clear their desk and desktop. “Hopefully you already did this before you left on Friday. But if you didn’t, get this out of the way, or you might add to Monday stresses in a sea of disorganization,” Taylor says. Organize and prioritize your files. Put aside unimportant paperwork and keep critical files easily accessible. You want to be prepared when you, your boss, or colleagues need something at the last minute.

8. They carve out time for unexpected projects and tasks. Successful individuals expect the unexpected on Monday, she says. “Your boss, team members, or staff may have remembered some loose ends over the weekend, so you’re wise to build in some extra down time on Monday morning.”

9. They greet their team and boss.This is important to do first thingeverymorning to keep morale high, but on Monday it’s particularly valuable, as your team needs a special boost. “Ideally, you’ll spend an few extra minutes with your colleagues on Monday mornings. It reinforces a sense of purpose and community for everyone, including you,” Taylor explains.

   They update their to-do list and goals . “Get yourself current on priorities and tasks,”

   ...more 

10. They visualize the week’s successes.By envisioning the positive outcomes of various projects at hand, you can work backward and determine the necessary steps to get your desired results.

11. They screen emails for urgent requests. You can sink into email oblivion if you don’t scan your inbox for urgency, Taylor says. “Star emails that are priorities and think quality, not quantity.”

    They tackle the tough challenges first. The least desirable but critical projects are easy to put off, but your energy is stronger in the morning, so that’s the ideal time to confront the most difficult assignments.

12. They make an extra effort to smile.“It might be the last thing on your mind, but overcompensating for the pressure cooker morning will help you get through it,” she says. You may well stand out in the crowd, but your smile will likely be contagious, helping both you and team members relax.

13. They add a “blanket of humanity” to their emails. It’s tempting to power through all your emails in the most efficient way on Monday mornings. But before you hit send, read them over to ensure that they’re friendly and clear. “Put yourself in the recipient’s shoes. It’s relatively easy to appear curt when you’re in a hurry, along with the impersonal nature of emails and texts. You want to mitigate false starts and misinterpretations,” Taylor ...more 

14. They’re able to say no. “On Monday mornings there will be many distractions — from people, to emails, to calls, meetings, offers for meeting in the break room, and so forth,” Lynn explains. “Successful people can diplomatically and politely say no to colleagues by offering to engage at a later time.”

    If your boss needs you, that is clearly an exception. However, if you have crucial calls to make or meetings to attend, give your boss the heads-up....more 

15. They stay focused

1. One thing successful people do Monday morning: They wake up early and exercise.

   Monday mornings are the most critical time of the workweek — they set the stage for the day and week ahead.

2. “Because you’ve stepped away for a couple days, these back-to-work mornings are the most memorable for the rest of the week,” says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job."

   “They influence your mindset in a positive or negative way, depending on what actions you decide to take,” Taylor says.

3. Most successful people are keenly aware of the typical Monday-morning workplace dynamic of unanticipated events, overflow of communications, and general chaos. “But after weathering hundreds of them, they realize they must gain control and stay upbeat,” Taylor explains. “They take extra steps to compensate for this busy time of the week, and apply their best management skills to ensure that the day unfolds as smoothly as possible.”

4. Here are 15 things successful people do on Monday mornings:

   They wake up early and exercise.This gets your circulation going and helps you stay alert, putting you at an advantage for a productive week ahead. “You’ll get your endorphin rush, which will help your mood, too,” Taylor says.

5. They eat a healthy breakfast. On Monday morning, you want to handle everything you have control over. Eating breakfast is one of those things. “You don’t want to be staring at the clock, awaiting lunch time as your stomach growls at morning meetings,” she says.

6. They arrive early. Do not succumb to the snooze button. “Commutes are bad on Monday, so beat the odds,” Taylor says. Plus, getting in earlier than others will help make Monday morning seem more like the afternoon because you’ll have had a chance to breathe before responding to the barrage of people and issues. “Being an early bird will give you some wiggle room for the unexpected at work, not to mention any important personal matters that may ...more 

7. They clear their desk and desktop. “Hopefully you already did this before you left on Friday. But if you didn’t, get this out of the way, or you might add to Monday stresses in a sea of disorganization,” Taylor says. Organize and prioritize your files. Put aside unimportant paperwork and keep critical files easily accessible. You want to be prepared when you, your boss, or colleagues need something at the last minute.

8. They carve out time for unexpected projects and tasks. Successful individuals expect the unexpected on Monday, she says. “Your boss, team members, or staff may have remembered some loose ends over the weekend, so you’re wise to build in some extra down time on Monday morning.”

9. They greet their team and boss.This is important to do first thingeverymorning to keep morale high, but on Monday it’s particularly valuable, as your team needs a special boost. “Ideally, you’ll spend an few extra minutes with your colleagues on Monday mornings. It reinforces a sense of purpose and community for everyone, including you,” Taylor explains.

   They update their to-do list and goals . “Get yourself current on priorities and tasks,”

   ...more 

10. They visualize the week’s successes.By envisioning the positive outcomes of various projects at hand, you can work backward and determine the necessary steps to get your desired results.

11. They screen emails for urgent requests. 

1. One thing successful people do Monday morning: They wake up early and exercise.

   Monday mornings are the most critical time of the workweek — they set the stage for the day and week ahead.

2. “Because you’ve stepped away for a couple days, these back-to-work mornings are the most memorable for the rest of the week,” says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job."

   “They influence your mindset in a positive or negative way, depending on what actions you decide to take,” Taylor says.

3. Most successful people are keenly aware of the typical Monday-morning workplace dynamic of unanticipated events, overflow of communications, and general chaos. “But after weathering hundreds of them, they realize they must gain control and stay upbeat,” Taylor explains. “They take extra steps to compensate for this busy time of the week, and apply their best management skills to ensure that the day unfolds as smoothly as possible.”

4. Here are 15 things successful people do on Monday mornings:

   They wake up early and exercise.This gets your circulation going and helps you stay alert, putting you at an advantage for a productive week ahead. “You’ll get your endorphin rush, which will help your mood, too,” Taylor says.

5. They eat a healthy breakfast. On Monday morning, you want to handle everything you have control over. Eating breakfast is one of those things. “You don’t want to be staring at the clock, awaiting lunch time as your stomach growls at morning meetings,” she says.

6. They arrive early. Do not succumb to the snooze button. “Commutes are bad on Monday, so beat the odds,” Taylor says. Plus, getting in earlier than others will help make Monday morning seem more like the afternoon because you’ll have had a chance to breathe before responding to the barrage of people and issues. “Being an early bird will give you some wiggle room for the unexpected at work, not to mention any important personal matters that may ...more 

7. They clear their desk and desktop. “Hopefully you already did this before you left on Friday. But if you didn’t, get this out of the way, or you might add to Monday stresses in a sea of disorganization,” Taylor says. Organize and prioritize your files. Put aside unimportant paperwork and keep critical files easily accessible. You want to be prepared when you, your boss, or colleagues need something at the last minute.

8. They carve out time for unexpected projects and tasks. Successful individuals expect the unexpected on Monday, she says. “Your boss, team members, or staff may have remembered some loose ends over the weekend, so you’re wise to build in some extra down time on Monday morning.”

9. They greet their team and boss.This is important to do first thingeverymorning to keep morale high, but on Monday it’s particularly valuable, as your team needs a special boost. “Ideally, you’ll spend an few extra minutes with your colleagues on Monday mornings. It reinforces a sense of purpose and community for everyone, including you,” Taylor explains.

   They update their to-do list and goals . “Get yourself current on priorities and tasks,”

   ...more 

10. They visualize the week’s successes.By envisioning the positive outcomes of various projects at hand, you can work backward and determine the necessary steps to get your desired results.

11. They screen emails for urgent requests.