Your alarm clock starts ringing and the horrific reality floods over you leaving you in an uncomfortable cold sweat. It's Monday morning again and you have to go to work. If there is anyone in the world that looks forward to Monday mornings, then I haven't met them yet. Everybody with a job goes through the same muddled, fuzzy few hours every Monday when all you want to do is crawl back into bed and pull the duvet over your head.



If you hate your job and you dread that Monday morning feeling, then fear not as there are ways to make those fist few hours of the week a little more bearable, and maybe even enjoyable for some. If you are one of the workers that is already thinking about Monday on a Sunday afternoon, help is at hand. The key to escaping the Monday morning blues is a positive attitude as that is what can separate you from the other miserable clones that tread the same piece of carpet as you every day.

Positivity can make a massive difference to your day, and can even translate to your work-mates. If the people you work with are tired and lethargic, don't let them influence your attitude. it may take a few weeks to encourage a more positive attitude, but keep at it and your peers will escape the blues with you. A good mood can be contagious so keep moaning and misery to a minimum and reap the rewards that your happiness will deliver.

As the boy scouts motto says - be prepared. These words can be used to ensure that Monday morning, before and after your arrival at work, is smooth and stress-free. Preparation for the new week can begin as early as Friday afternoon and can help you ease in with no problem at all. Take the time to get any work finished, desk cleared and e-mails replied to so that your arrival on Monday will be a smooth, relaxing transition.

The weekend will have allowed you to grab an hour or two of extra sleep so your body will be expecting that come Monday morning. Avoid getting up early by using your Sunday evening to prepare. Wash your hair, make your lunch and fill your car with petrol - all of these can give you that little bit longer in bed to set you up for the day.

Your shower can make the world of difference to the way you start your day. Don't be afraid to switch the setting to cold and let those jets of chilled water take the place of your morning coffee. The cold water will wake you up and set the tone for the rest of your pre-work routine. Grab a coffee before you leave and try to take some time before you leave home to get in the right frame of mind for the day and rest of the week.

Ensure you have something to talk about with your colleagues by making the most of your weekend. Plan ahead for your weekend so every minute is worthwhile, this will help you get back to work with minimal apprehension. It will have a positive effect on you and your work-mates to talk about your weekend activities. An empty weekend will make going back to work even more painful and depressing.

If you can't make your Monday mornings any more enjoyable by following these guidelines, then maybe a more extreme answer is necessary. You might be in the wrong job so it could be worth thinking a little harder about what you want to do. You may decide that you need to keep working, either through financial obligations or responsibilities, so that leaves only one choice - call in sick every Monday. Although this will inevitably lead to the Tuesday morning blues so your only option is to grin and bear it.