What mankind will do for themselves but refuse to do for God is amazing.
There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. (Hebrews 4:9-10)
The Following is a Worldly Empty Approach
Addressing Burnout Through the ‘Bare Minimum Mondays’ Trend
It’s alright for New Yorkers to take a break and relax.
Recently, Marisa Jo Mayes, co-founder of Spacetime Monotasking and a digital creator based in Phoenix, Arizona, has gained much online attention for introducing the concept of ‘Bare Minimum Mondays’, which encourages individuals to do less work on a day which is typically disliked by many.
Next, here is an overview of the beginnings of BMM and how one can incorporate it into their own life.
The Genesis of It All
It began with a single thought, an idea that set in motion a series of events.
When Mayes stepped out of the corporate world to become a self-employed individual, she experienced burnout and felt overwhelmed in her first year, having trouble performing her job.
On Sundays, she would become overwhelmed with a knot of anxiousness in her stomach as she thought of the obligations she had to fulfill on Monday. Monday mornings were always a source of stress and worry for her, which would only become more intense as the week progressed. Even with her attempts to overcome her fatigue, she found that she could not ‘overachieve’ her way out of her exhaustion.
Taking the strain off and granting yourself a break can be a beneficial change of attitude as the week begins.
In March the previous year, Mayes was so overwhelmed with anxiety that she decided to take it easy at work on that Monday and only do the most essential tasks.
She remarked that the day was one of her least taxing (as well as fruitful) Mondays in quite a while, so she wanted to look into the reasons for it. “[It] was incredibly freeing, as I had been taught by hustle culture/poisonous productivity culture that my value is closely connected to my effectiveness and result,” she added.
Mayes believes that by reducing the amount of strain she was feeling, and taking a break from her expectations, was a necessary shift in her mentality. This enabled her to become productive once again. She commented, “I’ve kept that up since then.”
Marisa Jo Mayes states that she used to experience a sense of anxiousness every Sunday evening.
Appearance of BMM
On Monday mornings, Mayes devotes the first two hours of her day to being disconnected from her phone and laptop before transitioning into her work persona.
She disclosed that in allocating this time to her mental wellbeing, she could then pause and not directly stress over what others require from her, which she admitted had made her feel much better. During this time, she might take care of errands that were postponed over the weekend, plan a creative endeavour, get some extra shut-eye or perform some physical activity.
During her day, she dedicates three to four hours to important tasks. She stated that she only focuses on tasks that are essential, urgent, or both and anything else can wait until Tuesday unless she desires to keep working on Monday.
For Mayes, an action that needs to be done without question is one that will have direct repercussions if it is not completed.
Mayes suggested examining one’s daily list for “wishful thinking” tasks and removing them from the list in order to make room for more important tasks.
She cautioned that although it is possible to reach them if you have the capability, one should not hold themselves to that standard.
Determining the importance of certain tasks can be a challenging task.
Mayes stated that it is often difficult for people to decide what is truly an emergency and what can be put off for another day or two, as they are often made to think that everything is of utmost importance.
It goes without saying that the amount of stress you’re able to handle in the workplace will vary depending on the sector you’re in and your job. However, it’s important to be honest with yourself and recognize when you’re putting too much pressure on a task that doesn’t require it. It’s ok to handle stressful situations on the short-term, but it’s not good for your health in the long-term to be in a constant state of emergency.
Mayes suggests that individuals should analyze the areas in which they are placing too much stress on themselves.
Making BMM an Advantage for You
It is possible to adjust the idea of BMMs to suit your unique requirements and timeline.
Mayes acknowledged that her particular version of BMM may not be achievable for everyone due to their individual circumstances; such as not being self-employed, working outside the home, or being a parent. She insisted that she did not intend for her approach to be viewed as a one-size-fits-all solution for everyone in a corporate environment.
Mayes, however, encouraged individuals to determine the interpretation of BMM that works for them, even if it’s something like simply taking care of the basics on a Friday or Sunday morning.
She said that in order to reduce stress, one may have to do things such as removing certain tasks from one’s to-do list, asking other team members to take up some tasks, being more understanding towards oneself, declining after-work social events, taking a break during lunchtime, or turning on Do Not Disturb mode – there are no hard and fast rules.
Mayes advises to identify areas in life where you may be applying too much stress, as this can be the root of the problem.
The stressed that it is not a useful approach to becoming more productive to exhaust oneself to the point of burnout.
Burnout is a likely outcome when you start your day off by focusing on tasks right away, without taking time for yourself.
Mayes’ Strategies to Get Rid of Burnout
Mayes utilizes other methods in addition to BMM to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Mayes encourages individuals to take a look at how they are utilizing the initial 15 minutes of their day.
Mayes inquires: Is it possible that you begin to think of yourself as a worker even before you have to? Have you considered taking a few moments to be yourself before you become an employee? How might you make that happen?
She warned that if one begins to focus on work immediately upon waking without drinking some water or taking a deep breath, they are courting burnout.
Mayes is a supporter of imposing firm restrictions on technology. “No one should have a right to expect you to be on call all the time,” she declared.
What are your thoughts? Leave a remark.
Mayes suggested that one should enable their phone’s “Do Not Disturb” mode and keep it out of sight when engaging in activities that require concentration. Additionally, they should block out certain times in their calendar as if it were a meeting with themselves and use other methods that can help them prioritize their focus and attention.
“Don’t feel obligated to immediately respond to any notifications,” she advised. “Give your attention the importance it deserves.”
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