Motivational Mondays: Quotes, Ideas, & Tips

By Kelsey Schultz, Ph.D. Candidate
​Reviewed by Tchiki Davis, M.A., Ph.D.
We can all use a little help getting the pep back in our step on Mondays. Keep reading for motivational quotes, ideas, and tips to help you soar through your Mondays.
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We’ve all heard of the “Monday blues.” That phenomenon that many of us experience when we wake up on Monday morning and start to prepare for another work week. Mondays can feel extraordinarily effortful even when we love our jobs and enjoy the people we work with. That’s why motivational Monday was created. Let’s talk more about what motivational Monday is and how we can find our fire and shine brightly through the rest of the week.
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What Is Motivational Monday? (A Definition)

Motivational Monday is a recognition that people often have a challenging time feeling positive and motivated on Mondays. After a few days of rest and fun, returning to work can feel jarring and disruptive. The comparison of our restful yesterday with our work-laden Monday also throws into stark relief the stress and challenges we might face at work. Motivational Monday describes the concerted effort to increase our morale and motivation in response to the general challenges posed by a Monday.

Motivational Monday Quotes

​Motivational quotes are a great way to help us feel capable despite our limited energy and willpower. Here is a collection of motivating quotes that can help you regain your resolve to be the best version of yourself this Monday:
​
  • “This is your Monday morning reminder that you can handle whatever this week throws at you.” — Unknown
  • “Hey, I know it’s Monday. But it’s also a new day and a new week. And in that lies a new opportunity for something special to happen.” — Michael Ely
  • “Your Monday morning thoughts set the tone for your whole week. See yourself getting stronger, and living a fulfilling, happier and healthier life.” — Germany Kent
  • “OK, it’s Monday but who said Mondays have to suck? Be a rebel and have a great day anyway.” — Kimberly Jiménez
  • “Believe on Monday the way you believe on Sunday.” — Rita Schiano
  • “What starts on Monday should carry through to Friday; that is, enthusiasm.” — Byron Pulsifer 
  • “I must break the routines and become a person who becomes productive every Monday. I must break the mindset of unhappiness and turn myself into a happy magnet for Mondays.” — Leggy Saul. 
  • “You don’t need a New Year to make a change. All you need is a Monday.” — Unknown
  • “This should be the spirit every Monday. Know that something good will always happen.” — Gabriel García Márquez 
  • “Encourage yourself, believe in yourself, and love yourself. Never doubt who you are.” — Stephanie LaHart
  • “Every day, think as you wake up: Today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it.” — Dalai Lama XIV
  • “Mondays are tough only for those people, who don’t know how to spend them cheerfully. Get up and have fun today!” — Unknown
  • “I’m always thinking about creating. My future starts when I wake up every morning. Every day I find something creative to do with my life.” — Miles Davis
  • “The worst Monday is the one that gets wasted for nothing.” — Unknown
  • “Even the best weeks start with Monday.” — Nice Peter
  • “What you do today can improve all your tomorrows.” — Ralph Marston
  • “Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.” — Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Motivational Monday Quotes for Work

  • “It’s Monday. Get a new perspective. Whatever obstacle you’re facing—it’s not permanent.” —Unknown
  • “Mondays are the start of the work week which offer new beginnings 52 times a year!” — David Dweck
  • “When you start to do the things that you truly love, it wouldn’t matter whether it’s Monday or Friday; you would be so excited to wake up each morning to work on your passions.” — Edmond Embiaka
  • “There are many opportunities in every single day, and Monday is the perfect day to seize them all.” — Isabella Koldras
  • “Monday is for people with a mission.” — Cristina Imre
  • “You are in control. Never allow your Monday to be manic.” — Andrea L’Artiste
  • “I didn’t get there by wishing for it or hoping for it, but by working for it.” — Estée Lauder
  • “You’ve got to get up every morning with determination if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction.” — George Lorimer
  • "The sun himself is weak when he first rises; and gathers strength and courage as the day goes on." – Charles Dickens
  • “Success is to wake up each morning and consciously decide that today will be the best day of your life.” — Ken Poirot
  • “Action is the foundational key to all success.” — Pablo Picasso.
  • “Either you run the day, or the day runs you.” — Jim Rohn 
  • “Live today. Not yesterday. Not tomorrow. Just today. Inhabit your moments. Don’t rent them out to tomorrow.” — Jerry Spinelli

Hilarious Motivational Monday Quotes

  • ​“May your coffee be strong and your Mondays be short.” — Unknown
  • "So. Monday. We meet again. We will never be friends—but maybe we can move past our mutual enmity toward a more-positive partnership." — Julio Alexi Genao
  • "Monday Morning Blues? Why not change the color of your Monday to yellow and brighten up the coming week?" — Kanika Saxena
  • “Monday I shall slay thee with me mighty cup of coffee.” — Unknown
  • “When life gives you Monday, dip it in glitter and sparkle all day.” ― Ella Woodward
  • “Monday is great for becoming too busy to die.” ― Roy Station
  • “Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I’m possible!'” — Audrey Hepburn
  • “If Joan of Arc could turn the tide of an entire war before her 18th birthday, you can get out of bed.” — E. Jean Carroll

Motivational Monday Questions

  • How can I be more positive?
  • What do I expect from this week?
  • What do I need to feel my best today?
  • What is my primary goal for today?
  • What is the best thing that happened last week?
  • What am I looking forward to most this week?
  • What is one thing I can do today that will make me smile?
  • What does the best version of myself look like this week?
  • Did I rest enough over the weekend? If not, can I find some space to recharge today?
  • What is one thing I am grateful for that I can focus on this week?
  • How can I make time to move my body today?
  • What is my motto for the week?

Monday Motivation Tips

One of the best ways to improve your Monday motivation is to reflect on the personal reasons behind the work you do. For example, did you start your job because you want to make a difference in the world or to help people? Or perhaps you are less interested in the work you do, but your job allows you to spend quality time with your family or provides you with the resources you need to engage in your favorite hobbies. Even when we love our jobs, Mondays can feel like a drag. But by reflecting on what our work means to us or what it allows us to do, we can re-energize ourselves and start our Mondays off with vigor and a positive attitude.

Another way to improve your motivation is to celebrate all of your small victories. Positive reinforcement helps boost your mood and can increase your motivation to continue on through your day. No victory is too small. For example, you might celebrate the fact that you woke up on time, celebrate when you’ve finished checking your email, or give yourself a pat on the back when you make it through your first meeting. It might seem silly, but allowing yourself to find joy in little things is a great way to help you stay motivated and maintain a positive attitude (Mead et al., 2016).

Monday Motivation Affirmations

Positive affirmations can improve your self-image and boost your ability to cope with challenging situations (Cohen & Sherman, 2014). A positive view of yourself and your capabilities is a critical factor in feeling motivated, and being able to cope well with challenging situations is critical for sustaining motivation. If you’re having a hard time getting motivated on a Monday, positive affirmations might just be the solution. Here are some example affirmations:
​
  • I am motivated, determined, and ready to slay the day.
  • I choose to live today with gratitude, positivity, and joy.
  • I will live today to the fullest.
  • I appreciate all the good things around me.
  • I believe in myself and my abilities. I can do anything.
  • I am the designer of my life; I always have the power of choice.
  • I am here to make a positive difference in the world.
  • I am compassionate and I am kind.
  • I can do hard things.
  • Today I will be my very best self.
  • I can handle challenges with grace and ease.
  • I know who I am and I love myself.
  • I am proud of myself for how much I am growing.
  • There will always be stress, but I know I can manage it.
  • I can do this.
  • Today is going to be a beautiful day.

Motivational Monday Videos

If you are interested in motivational speeches and more motivational quotes, you can check out these videos:

Video: Monday Motivation – Start Your Day Right – Powerful Motivation

Video: Monday Morning Motivational Video

Video: Wake Up – Kevin Hart (Monday Morning Motivation)

Motivational Monday Ideas

In addition to bringing our own positive attitude into the workplace on Mondays, we can help create a positive mentality for our co-workers. Here are a few ideas for improving Mondays around the office:

Office breakfast​
Research shows that having a balanced breakfast improves cognition and intellectual performance (Hoyland et al., 2009). Providing a delicious healthy breakfast for your employees or coworkers is a fun, thoughtful way to boost Monday morale and can help improve everyone’s performance throughout the day.  

Outdoor meetings
Being outside has been scientifically demonstrated to improve enthusiasm, aliveness, energy, and overall well-being. Being outside can also improve mood and the ability to cope with stress (Ryan et al., 2010). By holding meetings outside on a Monday, you can help elevate the spirits of the entire office and set them up for success throughout the day and into the rest of the week.

Weekend catch-up time
Humans are a social species, which means that it is important that we have the opportunity to connect with each other. Social scientists have found that a need for connection is actually one of our primary motivations (Ryan & Deci, 2000). According to Self-Determination Theory, spending time with people who have similar goals, values, and interests is a powerful motivator. The motivational power of being part of an exercise class compared to exercising on your own is a good example of this principle. Creating an environment in which people feel connected to each other and feel like part of a team by providing protected catch-up time is a great way to boost everyone’s moods and increase motivation on a Monday.

Weekly goal setting
Setting clearly-defined short-term goals is a highly effective strategy for improving motivation and persistence in the face of challenges (Latham & Seijts, 1999). Studies have shown that identifying achievable subgoals makes the long-term objective feel less difficult and enhances the perceived attainability of the goal. Setting aside some time to set weekly goals can help provide much-needed structure on a Monday. Knowing exactly what needs to get done and where to start can increase productivity and reduce stress.

Causal Mondays
Mondays are hard enough without having to wear something stuffy and uncomfortable. Giving people the option to wear something that is comfortable or makes them feel good is a great way to help ease the pain of a Monday morning. Dressing casually can also help facilitate connections between coworkers because people can more authentically express themselves when they don’t have to adhere to a strict dress code.

Articles Related to Motivational Mondays

​Want to learn more? Check out these articles:

Books & Products Related to Motivational Monday​s

If you’d like to keep learning more, here are a few items that you might be interested in.

Final Thoughts on Motivational Mondays

Dreading Mondays may be unavoidable. Re-setting from a restful weekend and getting back to our responsibilities can be challenging regardless of how you feel about your job. But there are some strategies we can employ to improve our motivation and get through Mondays with a little more ease—strategies such as reflecting on motivational quotes, connecting with our coworkers, and motivational affirmations.

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