Bare Minimum Monday: How to Get Through Monday Without Stress
For many people, Monday often feels like a nightmare. After a relaxing weekend, we’re suddenly faced with piles of work, meetings, and deadlines. It’s no surprise that Monday is often seen as the most exhausting and stress-inducing day. From this, a new trend called Bare Minimum Monday emerged.
What is Bare Minimum Monday?
The term was popularized by Marisa Jo Mayes, a content creator from the United States. She introduced the concept of Bare Minimum Monday as a way to approach Mondays more lightly: focusing only on the most important and essential tasks, instead of forcing yourself to finish everything at once.
In other words, Bare Minimum Monday doesn’t mean being lazy—it’s about giving yourself space to start the week more slowly, with control, and in a mentally healthy way.
Why Is It Important?
Mondays often trigger pressure because we feel like we must be fully productive right from the start. However, starting the week with too much pressure only drains energy faster.
By practicing Bare Minimum Monday, we can:
Reduce excessive stress at the start of the week.
Give our brain time to adjust after the weekend.
Make work feel more realistic and manageable.
Maintain mental health throughout the week.
How to Apply Bare Minimum Monday
Set Main Priorities.
Make a list of 2–3 essential tasks that absolutely need to be completed. The rest can wait until later in the week.
Start the Day Slowly.
Begin Monday with calming routines, such as light exercise, journaling, or simply enjoying a quiet cup of coffee before work.
Cut Down on Unnecessary Meetings.
If possible, avoid scheduling too many meetings on Monday. Save your energy for core tasks.
Give Yourself Space.
Take short breaks throughout the day to keep your mind refreshed.
Remember: Enough is Enough.
You don’t need to get everything done on Monday. Focus on quality, not quantity.
Bare Minimum Monday teaches us that starting the week doesn’t have to come with a heavy burden. By doing only the essentials, we can preserve energy, reduce anxiety, and remain productive without feeling overwhelmed.
So instead of seeing Monday as something dreadful, turn it into an opportunity to begin the week calmly, in control, and more mindfully.
