The following tips can help give you a more positive perspective on Mondays -- or any other day when you feel sluggish. 

• Treat yourself. Sometimes changing your mood can be as simple as shifting a small aspect of your work routine. Try picking up your favorite breakfast item in the morning, taking a different route to work or putting fresh flowers on your desk. Changing your screensaver, hanging a new calendar or posting a goal of the day on your bulletin board can also be effective. Even a minor reward can help you to begin your week on the right foot. 
  
  
• Create a realistic schedule. Spend the first 15-20 minutes at your desk planning your day and week. Make a list of all urgent, high-priority assignments and develop a reasonable timetable for completing them. Identify those tasks that can be deferred or delegated. 
  
  
• Take a break. While deadline pressures can make it necessary to work through lunch occasionally, it’s not healthy to make a habit of it. Even during extremely busy periods, you need to stop and recharge your batteries regularly -- especially at the beginning of the week -- to keep you enthusiastic and focused.

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