Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Optional Mondays
Yesterday as I was dragging myself through the day, I started to think a bit about the concept of Monday. It's the first day of the work week and the first day off from the weekend.
For some, including myself, getting revved up on Monday takes more than just a strong cup of coffee. Like most people, I've just spent two days sleeping late and doing whatever I please. Suddenly I have to go back to work and go from zero to productive in just a matter of hours. It doesn't make a lot of sense. You don't exercise without warming up, so why would you jump right back into corporate life after spending two days in sweatpants?
I started to wonder what life would be like if Mondays were optional. You know, you could come into work if you want, you could straggle in at noon or you could just spend the day loafing around and preparing for Tuesday.
Because by Tuesday you should have your act together. Personally, I love Tuesday (I was even born on Tuesday, June 21st, 1977, which makes me Tuesday's Child, full of grace.) On Tuesday I want to do things, go out, be social and take on the world. Wednesday and Thursday are also good for taking care of business.
Friday, however, has always been a sort of half-holiday for me, dating back to my undergradaute heyday. No one took classes on Friday. My friend Cara and I used to joke that Syracuse offered only two classes on Friday, because the administration was aware of what went on on Thursday nights.
So...I think Optional Mondays would be a gret social policy to install. Workers would be less crabby, yet more productive on mid-week days. Sunday night stres, induced by the prospect of going back to work, would be nullified. It's a very European concept, this idea of easing into the work week. It may even be Zen, the notion of starting the journey slowly, one day at a time.
Think about it. If you need me, I'll be working. After all, it's Tuesday.
