JAKARTA - For many people, Monday feels like a hard start after enjoying the weekend. Feelings of laziness, fatigue, and anxiety often arise without a clear reason.
But according to psychologists, there is a scientific explanation behind this phenomenon. From body rhythms to cultural factors, they all play a role in making Monday feel more difficult than other days.
Here are 7 scientific reasons why routines on Monday feel heavy, as reported by the Huffpost website.
1. Disrupted Body Rhythm
One of the main causes is a change in sleep patterns during the weekend. Many people sleep later and wake up more during the day, so the body's biological rhythm becomes unstable.
"Getting extra sleep on the weekends is a good thing, but changing your sleep patterns every five to six days can disrupt the body's natural rhythm," said Sanam Hafeez, a neuropsychologist in New York.
"So even if you get enough sleep on Sunday night, you may still feel sleepy on Monday. When we are tired, we tend to be more irritable, impatient, and feel dissatisfied than usual," he continued.
2. The Weekend That Didn't Really Rest
Many people consider the weekend as a time to rest, but in reality it is often filled with various tiring activities.
"People like to think of weekends as a time for rest and recovery, when in fact many of us fill that time with as many activities as possible, overeating and drinking and sleeping later than usual," says psychotherapist Meg Gitlin.
"They may use the weekend to meet family and friends, which, although enjoyable, still requires emotional and logistical energy. Therefore, on Monday we are actually more tired than expected. This is directly related to a low mood," he added.
3. Loss of Sense of Freedom
The shift from weekend to weekday also brings significant emotional changes.
"The most common reason why people find Monday so difficult is that it comes after two days of freedom and fun," Hafeez said.
Although weekends can still be busy, there is more room to relax. When Monday arrives, that sense of freedom seems to disappear, triggering feelings of reluctance and depression.
4. Dissatisfaction with Work
Not liking the job or feeling stressed at work is also a big factor.
"Whether it's because of a demanding boss or an unfriendly colleague, feelings of anxiety and depression can start to emerge from Sunday night," said Hafeez.
This makes it difficult for someone to feel enthusiastic about returning to work on Monday.
5. Lack of Preparation
Monday can feel even heavier if there is no preparation beforehand.
"When someone fails to prepare themselves, they are subconsciously preparing for failure," Hafeez concluded.
"If Sunday is not used to organize yourself, then Monday can be very stressful and difficult to live with." he continued.
6. Cultural Influence
Culture also contributes to negative perceptions of Mondays.
"We live in a culture where the dominant attitude in many workplaces is 'TGIF', and Monday has become a common enemy," added Becky Stuempfig, marriage and family therapist.
This view makes many people unconsciously think Monday is a bad day.
7. Poor Work-Life Balance
A lack of balance between work and personal life can also worsen feelings on Monday.
"Sometimes the reason why Monday feels so hard is because of the lack of balance between work and life," Hafeez added.
"Even if you love your job, those who live entirely for work still need time to rest," he continued.
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