Bare-minimum Mondays: Would your workplace adopt the latest trend?

Bare-minimum Mondays are the latest work trend doing the rounds, concocted by TikTok creator and startup founder Marisa Jo Mayes. Her unique work approach has gone viral, and the idea is becoming popular with Gen Z as a way of avoiding burnout and the so-called Sunday scaries.

Mayes said that by committing to this new way of working, she could start the week on a positive note and prioritise herself as a person rather than an employee.

What does Monday look like?

Mayes revealed that when she changed the rules and adopted this new mindset, she felt liberated and began to enjoy Mondays! She explained that bare-minimum Mondays allowed her to release the pressure and not worry about unspoken expectations that didn't really matter. 

This is what her Mondays look like.

Morning:

• No meetings on a Monday.

• No technology for the first couple of hours, including checking email.

• The first 2 hours are spent reading, journalling and generally taking it easy.

• 10am is creative time, which might involve filming content or creating visuals.

Lunchtime:

• Mayes always takes a break for lunch and maybe a walk.

Afternoon:

• Mayes’s main work tasks are completed over the next couple of hours. She cuts out “wishful thinking” tasks and focuses on a couple of important jobs that really matter, tasks that make a difference. 

• Today, she finishes earlier than on other work days.

Can it really work? 

If you relate the concept of bare-minimum Monday to personalisation at work, yes it can!

If you take control of your work life and make it fit better into your personal life, you’re more likely to find a happy medium. There are many other approaches that were once trends and are now a common reality for many, like the 4-day work week. The aim is to maximise time, boost productivity and avoid going anywhere near burnout territory. Focus on the hours worked rather than a bums-on-seats mentality, and be an outcome-based workplace.

Mayes says it’s important to pay attention to where you are putting unnecessary pressure on yourself or setting unrealistic expectations. Obviously, everyone has different responsibilities and commitments. For example, a working parent has different time restraints than a graduating student. And some job roles require specific hours, like nursing and teaching. 

To adopt this way of working, some level of negotiation may be required. Teams could work on a rota basis so that they can achieve key deliverables. As our founder and talent specialist Cynthia Harris says, “You can make anything work with the right commitment!”

For more insights, visit the Heart Talent blog.