Everyone suffers a little with the ‘Monday Blues’.

My sister, Geraldine and my brother-in-law Steve, regularly used to suffer from ‘Sunday lows’ – where they just worked themselves up into a mini depression each Sunday night about returning to work. That’s changed a bit since the birth of Jackson, but they are both still inclined to dread the return to work after a holiday or time off. It will be super tough for Geraldine when she goes back to work after maternity leave in a few weeks!

I’m certainly not suffering from the usual Sunday night dread now I have moved to a job I love, but you still get that feeling about needing to work yourself up for the week. Often my Sunday night’s sleep is the worst of my week.

So, here are some tips for beating those blues or lows – taken from www.lifehack.org where they suggest the idea of one small task to do every day – to help control the gloom of your Sunday night.

1.Sunday Evening – Key goals for the week. Take 5 minutes to remind yourself of any important goals you may have for the week and which days you intend to achieve them. They don’t need to be big goals. Remember the journey of a thousand miles starts with your first step. Factor in that daily exercise you should be doing, however short. With this mini-plan, when Monday comes, you’ll have lots to look forward to.

2. Monday morning – Make someone else happy. Think of the people you know and decide which of them might appreciate some kind gesture from you. It could be something small. Even saying hello to someone you see often but never greet can do wonders for their day. You hardly need to be reminded that you too will feel happier when you see how your action is appreciated.

3. Tuesday morning – Plan some surprise fun activity with your partner this evening. Surprises are always nice to receive, so your partner will find this even more fun than something they’re expecting. If you don’t have a partner, then get in touch with a family member, friend or colleague to join in something that gives you both pleasure.

4. Wednesday morning – Eat a healthy lunch. You should be eating well throughout the week, but take special pains today to have a nutritious and healthy lunch, perhaps at some eating venue you don’t visit very often.

5. Thursday morning – Plan your weekend. Plan some recreational activity for the weekend and do whatever preparations are needed to make it happen. The only people you need to keep happy are you (and your family) so make the most of every weekend opportunity you have.

6. Friday morning – TGIF so do something different. Everyone tends to let their hair down a little on Friday, so make this the day that you do something very different each week. That could be a lunch time visit to a nearby art gallery or a quick round of mini-golf.

7. Saturday morning – Make sure you get some exercise today. You should be getting convenient exercise every day, but don’t forget to include Saturday. The weekend is not a time to be a vegetable. Don’t sleep the weekend away. Rise early, enjoy the day and get moving with that recreational activity you planned on Thursday.