“Tell me why, I don’t like Mondays…I wanna shoot the whole day down.” No, those words aren’t originally mine, but I can honestly say I share the sentiments. Those words are actually from the chorus of the song “I Don’t Like Mondays”, sung by UK band The Boomtown Rats and released in 1979.
Apparently, the song was inspired by an actual shooting incident that took place outside the Grover Cleveland Elementary School in San Diego, California on January 29 of the same year. The assailant was 16-year-old Brenda Spencer who opened fire 30 rounds of ammunition from a .22-caliber rifle, which was a gift from her father.
Upon surrendering, Spencer was interviewed by a reporter from San Diego Tribune, and she said she “did it for the fun of it” and “I don’t like Mondays”. The band’s frontman read about the news and Spencer’s declaration probably resonated with him enough for him to write a song that was released six months after the incident. Check out the official music video of “I Don’t Like Mondays” below:
How Much Do You Hate Mondays?
Personally, I think hate is too strong a word to describe my dislike of said day. Those who don’t have to work or get up early on Mondays would probably say it’s just another day. However, for us who have to set their alarms on Mondays feel otherwise.
Even though I have been working from home for more than a decade now, I still dread Mondays. I mean, I don’t have to get up so early or commute to work, but I still am not fuzzy towards the M day. I’m sure there are others out there who can relate with me. And it seems like the notoriety of Mondays, or at least why it’s hated upon, could be backed by science.
Mondays Are the Worst According to Science
It appears that there are scientific explanations for Monday Blues. Below is a list of science-backed reasons, in no particular order, why most of us have a case when Monday comes.
- You’re unhappy with your job. Let’s face it. Many people with stable jobs just go through the notions. They either hate their job or are totally detached from it. They start feeling anxious and depressed by Sunday evening, and the feelings transfer over to the next day; thus, leading to an unproductive start of the week.
- Your sleep pattern is disrupted. Given that you’re not getting enough sleep during the weekdays, your body subconsciously makes up for the lack of sleep on weekends. As a result, your body clock becomes confused and you end up more tired at the start of the week because of the extra sleep you indulged in. Hence, you never fail to have a hard time getting up on that dreadful M day.
- You’re not ready for the sudden change. By Friday, you have conditioned your mind and body to be “energetic” in anticipation of the weekend. Come weekend, you’ve unknowingly programmed yourself to enjoy your “happy weekend days”. The two days to yourself creates a huge emotional shift going into Monday than there ever will be between two weekdays; thus, you consider it the worst day of the week.
- The weekend made you less healthy. Yes, according to scientists, even those who are naturally weight-conscious tend to weigh more at the start of the week. Perhaps the “happy weekend days” referred to above have a lot to do with the added weight you put on that makes you feel lethargic on Mondays.
- You’ve re-calibrated during the weekend. As such, it’s like your entire system rebooted, and now, you have no idea where to start again. Humans are naturally social, but spending two days away from your co-workers could restart your socialization skills. It may take a while for you to get your bearing again and start feeling comfortable in the work place, so to speak, hence, it affects your ability to welcome Mondays with open arms.
- The weekend took a toll on you physically. The eating, drinking, and other activities you enjoyed during your two days off could take a toll on you physically, so much so that by Monday, you’re feeling less attractive. What’s more, since it’s the start of the week, it’s when you start thinking of positive changes you want to make, which aren’t entirely fun to do. That fact could add to the meh feeling you feel at the start of the week.
So, there you have it: six scientifically researched reasons why Monday Blues occur. Don’t worry. It’s not just you. You and I both go through the ordeal every week.
