I was greatly amused by a meme I recently saw while scrolling through Facebook. It was a simple white background with words over the top. It read, “We are 5 months into 2020 and it’s still January.” Though we have turned the page on the calendar and made our way into February, the slow slog still continues. My daughter made a profound assessment of the last month and change. As we prepared for school and work on yet another dark and rainy Monday morning, she proclaimed, “We’ve had a month of Mondays!” There are certainly stretches where life feels that way. Mondays are known for being downers, coming off the freedom and fun of the weekend. It takes just a little bit more effort to get going on Mondays. Our minds struggle to adjust to the pace of the workweek. These winter months have a way of conjuring the same feelings on any given day.
I’ve always found it incredibly appropriate that following a season of ultimate highs, in which we declare everything happy and bright, we take the lights down and everything suddenly becomes dark and dreary.
The dreariness of the winter months has a way of weighing us down. While the days are actually beginning to get longer and the nights shorter, it doesn’t always feel that way. At times, it feels as if the sun will never rise. And, even when it does, we don’t get to see it. The sky is constantly covered with a thick blanket of clouds. In recent years, and this year in particular, those clouds carry with them buckets of rain that seem to ceaselessly fall from the sky. This continual deluge results in a muddy mess on the dead ground. Adding to the depressing landscape, and as if to not obscure our view of its grandeur, all of the trees are leafless skeletons. I’ve always found it incredibly appropriate that following a season of ultimate highs, in which we declare everything happy and bright, we take the lights down and everything suddenly becomes dark and dreary.
This seasonal, Monday state of mind has a name. Quite appropriately, it is called SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Most of us experience these feelings at some point during the winter months, and sometimes beyond. What do we do when we’re stuck in these months of Mondays? Here are a few suggestions…
- DO SOMETHING – The temptation during the dark dreary days of life is to shut it down and hide from the world. While that sounds good in the moment, it does nothing to help our outlook on life and often leads to us dealing with a deficit when we finally get back into action, which puts a damper on better days. Sometimes we have to make an intentional choice to make the moments matter even when we don’t feel like it. Science tells us that movement often decreases feelings of depression and makes us feel better. The apostle Paul encourages us to make the most of our time in the face of “evil” days.
- SHINE A LITTLE LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT – This plays out in two ways. First, actually turn on some lights. Darkness is depressing in large doses and at wrong times. Literally lightening up a room can bring a little levity to the spirit. Second, make an effort to illuminate the opportunities in the everyday. While some days and months do carry inherent difficulties, they are still gifts from God and in the midst of even the darkest of days there are moments of immense beauty and worth. And perhaps our positive perspective will help us bring some light into the lives of others. Jesus did say we are the light of the world, after all.
- DON’T DO IT ALONE – It’s been said that “Misery loves company.” I find that to be true. It’s terrible struggling through difficulty alone. It’s much more tolerable when you can share the struggle with a good friend. We shouldn’t be afraid to be open and honest about how we’re feeling. Perhaps when someone asks how we are doing we should open up and share how we are actually doing. Further, we shouldn’t be afraid to reach out for professional help if the sadness gets too thick. Life is hard enough when it’s sunny and 75. When the weather outside matches the struggle inside, it’s perfectly acceptable to talk to someone who can help you brighten up the inside a little.
Don’t let the difficulties of the season or the clouds in the sky determine the forecast within your heart and mind.
I’ve been keeping a close eye on the weather forecast for the next several weeks. There are certainly brighter days ahead, but there will also be more than a few Mondays. Don’t let the difficulties of the season or the clouds in the sky determine the forecast within your heart and mind. Keep your head up and make the most of even the most Monday of moments.
