I’ve been avoiding writing here for weeks, maybe months at this point. The excuses are legion: I’m too tired this morning, I’m sick, we got a puppy, the image isn’t the right size, it’s not perfect. And yet, here we are, imperfect, at the end of a year where people keep saying it’s tough, we’ve been through a lot, and I’m like you’re Spotify, you don’t know me (except in the ways that you know me better than anyone else). But it all feels disingenuous to say, right? It’s been a tough year. The fuck you know about my year?

I noticed last week I was having trouble getting, I don’t know, into the groove or the zone or whatever on Mondays. This is, of course, a common cultural problem, to the point of inevitable backlash.

So let’s not do that. Here’s the facts:

1. I feel kind of garbage on Mondays
2. I don’t dread work or my job

So instead of letting that linger, I’m going to come up with ways to make today feel better. The brainstorm:

• Treat myself to a croissant and latte in the morning
• Listen to music that makes me happy (Monday morning playlist)
• Connect to what makes me love my job
• Collaborate with a colleague or have a powerful conversation

As I write this, I’m realizing a few things. First, it needs to be something I don’t already do. Like—I enjoy my morning routine, I designed it, but on Mondays it might need to shift. Second, it needs to be something consistent and repeatable. So the last one about collaboration will work sometimes but not always.

The most likely winner here is the music. Easy to do consistently, has a positive effect. I’m also wondering some about the latte and croissant. Normally, I’m fasting until lunch, so I wonder if having this treat and changing where I’m working might break up the monotony of Mondays, and actually leave me looking forward to them. My inspiration will be basically injecting Jack Black from this scene into my brain.

If you are reading this (hi Mom!), do you have a strategy here? Or do you just bare-knuckle it and hope for Tuesday?