Monday Morning Hurt Cycle
Kyetu Catalyst. A spark to ignite change!
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"Why do you do this to yourself?" This is the question I ask myself this Monday morning, as I gruel through an especially punishing cycling class. Sweat is dripping down my temples and my quads are on fire. Everything hurts, and I am pushing myself to my limit.
But the truth is, if I were to take this class tomorrow, it wouldn’t be as hard. It wouldn’t hurt as much. It’s because it’s Monday morning that it’s taking everything out of me.
Do you ever find yourself caught in the never-ending hurt cycle of Monday morning?
It’s the aftermath of not sticking to my routine, staying up later, sleeping in longer, and not eating as healthily as I do during the week. So, every Monday morning, I ask myself the same question: "Why do you do this to yourself?" And I’m not referring to signing up for the difficult class. Why do I knowingly deviate enough from my weekday routines to the point that Monday morning is an absolute bear?
Well it turns out I’m not the only one. Let’s explore this in today’s Kyetu Catalyst.
Research in psychology supports the idea that disruptions in routine can significantly impact our well-being. Renowned psychologist Daniel Kahneman, in his book "Thinking, Fast and Slow," delves into the concept of the "peak-end rule." This suggests that our memory of an experience is strongly influenced by how we felt at its peak and how it ended. Applying this to our Monday morning scenario, the weekend's peak of relaxation and the subsequent abrupt shift to an intense workout contribute to the heightened perception of difficulty.
Have you found yourself caught in the Monday morning hurt cycle?
Does the weekend often become a departure from your usual routine, setting the stage for a challenging start to the week? Take a moment to grab your journal and jot down your thoughts. Even if you only have a couple-minutes… Just write the first things that come to your mind. Explore the patterns and choices that lead to this Monday morning struggle. And be brutally honest with yourself. You aren’t criticizing; you are observing and making yourself aware. Remove judgment and just jot down the out of routine things you did that would make Monday morning a challenge.
Psychologist and habit expert Charles Duhigg, in his book "The Power of Habit," emphasizes the role of cues, routines, and rewards in shaping behavior. When we disrupt our weekend routines, we create a new cue for Monday mornings—one that triggers a more challenging workout routine. Understanding these habits can empower us to make intentional choices and reshape our Monday experiences.
It's not just about the workout; it's about the choices we make during the weekend. So, why do we knowingly deviate from our weekday routines? It's a question many of us grapple with. Is it the allure of a more relaxed weekend, or is it a subconscious rebellion against structure?
In "Atomic Habits," author James Clear delves into the concept of identity-based habits. Our behaviors are often aligned with our perception of ourselves. If we see ourselves as someone who takes it easy on the weekends, that identity influences our choices. Breaking free from this cycle involves not just changing our habits but transforming our self-perception and aligning it with the person we aspire to be.
This last concept is so fundamentally aligned to our mission at Kyetu, where our tagline is “Who do you think you are?”. We are able to be anything we desire. And if we are constantly feeling the same way every Monday morning, it’s because we haven’t done the work yet, to be better aligned with our own true, best self. This creates a feeling of incongruousness. Your best self, your “soul”, knows what it wants, but you are acting and behaving differently. And there is a letdown feeling associated with that.
Now that we've unpacked the phenomenon, it's time for specific action. How can we break free from the Monday morning hurt cycle? One key lies in finding a balance between enjoying the weekend and maintaining a semblance of routine. It's about making conscious choices that set the tone for a positive start to the week. Consider this your invitation to create a weekend routine that aligns with your well-being.
In her book "The Willpower Instinct," Kelly McGonigal explores the science of self-control. Understanding that willpower is a finite resource, she advocates for creating environments that support our goals. Applying this to our Monday struggle, setting up a weekend environment that aligns with our health goals becomes crucial.
Thanks for joining us on today's Kyetu Catalyst. Please share our podcast with family, friends, and in your social networks. You just might be someone else’s spark to ignite change!
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Kyetu. Who do you think you are?
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