Johns Hopkins, Columbia, and Syracuse universities have joined forces for a public health initiative called “the Monday Campaigns.” Their research suggests what you may already suspect: The first day of the workweek is a good time to get back in a healthier groove, because it’s “when most people transition back to a more structured routine — and when they are more likely to search for health-related information on the internet, start a diet or exercise program, quit smoking, and make doctor’s appointments.”
Here are the researchers’ suggestions for making Mondays work for you:
- Hit the reset button. Forget what happened (or didn’t happen) over the weekend.
- Set your intentions for the week. Be specific and make your goals attainable in small actionable steps (such as “I will take a 30-minute walk three times this week,” “I will add a cup of vegetables to my dinners,” or “I will drink water in place of soda”).
- Get everyone on board. Informing friends and family of your intentions makes you more accountable, and enlisting others as social support helps motivate you to stick with the plan.
- Keep at it. But if you lose your way, get back on track the next day — or at least by the next Monday.
For more information and to sign up for free weekly Healthy Monday tips, visit the Monday Campaigns website.