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| source : thesimplicityhabit.com |
Let me guess, it’s Monday morning, your alarm’s going off, and all you can think is: “When is Friday?”
I’ve been there. Honestly, I lived there. Like so many of us, I bought into the idea that the real living starts on the weekend. Saturday was for fun, Sunday was for catching up… and Monday? Monday was the villain.
But then something clicked, or maybe snapped. I realized I was spending five out of seven days waiting. That’s 71% of my life on hold. And that’s when I decided to change my relationship with the weekdays.
It wasn’t overnight. But with some insight from happiness researchers (and a few trial-and-error attempts on my own), I’ve started reshaping my week so it feels like living, not just surviving until Friday night.
Here’s what helped, and maybe it’ll help you too.
1. “Effort Energizes” Even When You’re Tired
After a long workday, all I want is the couch and my favorite YouTube rabbit hole. But researchers like Dr. James Pawelski at UPenn say that sometimes the best way to feel more alive isn't rest, it's doing something meaningful.
He calls it the “effort energizes” paradox. And he’s right.
So, I started small. One night a week, I signed up for a creative writing circle at a local library. Was I tired before each session? Always. Did I feel electric after sharing stories with strangers and laughing over plot twists? Absolutely.
Now I look forward to Tuesdays. And it reminds me that the best kind of energy often comes after the activity, not before.
2. Add Joy to Your Calendar, Not Just Chores
One thing that changed everything: I started scheduling things I actually enjoyed during the week.
This wasn’t about squeezing more into an already packed day. It was about trading 30 minutes of scrolling for something that fed my soul, a midweek coffee date with a friend, an evening puzzle session with my partner, or even a 20-minute walk without my phone.
Suzann Pileggi Pawelski, a well-being writer, puts it perfectly: “We live our lives in the moment, and unfortunately, a lot of people miss the opportunity to connect if you’re just waiting for the weekend.”
Now, I treat joy like a meeting I won’t cancel.
3. Reconnect With People (Not Just Small Talk)
Something surprising I learned: the quality of your social connections during the week matters as much as the quantity.
Suzann suggests asking one deeper question each day. Not just “How’s it going?” but something like, “What’s been inspiring you lately?” or “What’s the best thing you’ve read recently?”
You’d be amazed what you learn, even from coworkers you think you already know.
4. You’re More Than Your Job Title (Even on a Tuesday)
Dr. Emiliana Simon-Thomas from Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center reminded me of something crucial: we’re not just employees. We’re whole people.
The more variety you build into your life, hobbies, friendships, service, art, sports, anything, the less your sense of self hinges on work alone. And when work gets messy (because it will), those other parts of you help keep your identity steady.
Case in point: the week I missed a major deadline at work? I still showed up to my Thursday night trivia team, where I’m known not for my productivity, but for knowing random facts about 90s cartoons. And weirdly, that helped.
5. Your Work Matters (Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It Today)
Let’s be honest, not everyone’s in their dream job. But Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, a happiness researcher, says meaning can still be found, even in the small stuff.
Maybe answering emails isn’t thrilling, but if I remind myself that each reply is moving a project forward, which will eventually help a client, which ultimately supports their team… well, it starts to feel like part of something bigger.
Try connecting even the mundane tasks to a value or goal. It doesn’t have to be profound — just true.
6. Tiny Bursts of Joy Make a Big Impact
Happiness doesn’t have to be some grand transformation. According to Lyubomirsky, it often comes from micro-moments: a good laugh, a calm walk, a quick chat with a friend, a song that hits just right.
Now I keep a short “joy list” on my phone. Things like:
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A latte with cinnamon on top
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A five-minute stretch while my dog judges me
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Sending a “thinking of you” text to someone randomly
These moments don’t take much time, but they seriously shift the emotional tone of my day.
Final Thought: Don’t Wait to Start Living
You don’t have to quit your job or move to a cabin in the woods to feel more fulfilled. You just have to notice your life more. Inject some joy into your Tuesdays. Connect deeper on your Wednesdays. Take up improv or salsa or baking or birdwatching on a Thursday.
Because life isn’t something that starts on Friday night. It’s happening now.
And it’s too precious to wish away five-sevenths of it.