Monday morning. Most people hear that and think of cold coffee, aggressive alarms, and the crushing weight of an unread inbox. It’s the universal villain of the work week. But lately, there’s been this strange, almost aggressive shift in how we talk about the start of the week. You’ve seen the hashtag. You’ve seen the LinkedIn posts. Thank God Its Monday isn't just a quirky phrase anymore; it’s become the rallying cry for a specific kind of high-performance culture that most people find either deeply inspiring or incredibly annoying.
Honestly, it’s a lot to take in at 8:00 AM.
We grew up in the "Garfield" era of hating Mondays. The "Sounds like somebody has a case of the Mondays" line from Office Space was funny because it was relatable. Everyone hated the transition from freedom to the cubicle. But then the "hustle culture" wave hit in the mid-2010s, led by figures like Gary Vaynerchuk, who famously championed the idea that if you’re living for the weekend, your life probably sucks. That’s the core of the Thank God Its Monday movement. It’s built on the premise that your work should be so aligned with your passion that you actually crave the start of the work week.
Is it realistic? Maybe. Is it for everyone? Definitely not.
The Psychology Behind the Monday Rebrand
Why do some people genuinely feel this way? Psychologists often point to "flow state" or "intrinsic motivation." When someone says Thank God Its Monday, they aren't usually celebrating the act of filling out spreadsheets. They are celebrating the return to a structured environment where they feel competent and impactful. For a high-achiever, the weekend can actually feel like a drift—a period of time without clear KPIs or goals. Monday represents the "reset." It’s a clean slate.
Think about it.
Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the father of "Flow," argued that people are actually happier when they are engaged in a difficult task that matches their skill level than when they are just lounging around. This explains why a CEO might genuinely prefer a Monday morning strategy session over a Sunday brunch. The structure of the work week provides a dopamine loop that the unstructured weekend lacks.
But there's a darker side to this.
Sometimes, the Thank God Its Monday sentiment is just a mask for toxic productivity. If you feel like you have to love Mondays to be successful, you're likely headed for burnout. The World Health Organization (WHO) officially recognized burnout as an occupational phenomenon in 2019, characterizing it by feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion. If your Monday excitement is fueled by caffeine and fear of falling behind, it’s not passion. It’s a survival mechanism.
Eric Thomas and the "TGIM" Phenomenon
You can't talk about this topic without mentioning Eric Thomas, the motivational speaker known as the "Hip Hop Preacher." He basically commercialized the Thank God Its Monday (TGIM) brand through his YouTube series. He didn't just suggest liking Mondays; he demanded it. His videos, which have millions of views, emphasize that while your competition is sleeping in or complaining about the "Monday Blues," you should be outworking them.
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It’s intense.
He uses stories of his own homelessness to drive home the point that a job—any job—is a privilege. This perspective shifted the conversation from "I hate my boss" to "I am grateful for the opportunity to grind." It’s a powerful narrative, especially for entrepreneurs and athletes. It turns a calendar date into a competitive advantage.
Why Most Offices Get Monday Wrong
If you're a manager trying to force a Thank God Its Monday vibe on your team, please stop. It doesn't work that way.
Most corporate "Monday motivation" feels fake. You know the vibe—the forced "How was your weekend?" small talk before a three-hour meeting that could have been an email. According to a study by the Journal of Applied Psychology, the "Monday Blues" are a real phenomenon caused by the contrast between the autonomy of the weekend and the lack of control at work.
To actually make Mondays better, companies are starting to try "Low-Stakes Mondays."
- No meetings before noon.
- Deep work blocks.
- Flexible start times.
By giving employees back some control, the dread starts to dissipate. You don't need a cheerleader in the breakroom; you need a schedule that doesn't feel like a cage.
The Economic Impact of the Sunday Scaries
The "Sunday Scaries" is the biological precursor to the Monday morning slump. It’s that knot in your stomach that starts around 4:00 PM on Sunday. LinkedIn data suggests that nearly 80% of professionals experience this. This isn't just a "vibe"—it has actual economic consequences. Reduced productivity on Monday mornings costs businesses billions of dollars annually.
People who adopt the Thank God Its Monday mindset are essentially trying to hack their own biology. By reframing the day, they eliminate the Sunday anxiety. It’s a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) trick: change the thought ("Monday is a burden") to change the feeling ("Monday is an opportunity").
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Does it always work? No.
But even a 10% shift in mindset can change how you approach your tasks.
Cultural Resistance: The Case for Hating Mondays
Let's be real for a second. There is something deeply human about hating Mondays. It’s a collective bond. It’s why we have memes. It’s why coffee shops do their best business on Monday mornings.
The resistance to the Thank God Its Monday movement is often a resistance to the "always-on" culture. Some people argue that we shouldn't want to be back at work. We should value our rest, our families, and our hobbies just as much as our output. This is the "Quiet Quitting" or "Soft Life" counter-movement. It suggests that if you're thanking God it's Monday, you might be missing out on the beauty of Saturday.
It’s a tension between two philosophies:
- The Performance Life: Meaning is found through achievement and work.
- The Presence Life: Meaning is found through being, resting, and connecting.
Neither is "wrong," but they are fundamentally at odds.
How to Actually Not Hate Next Monday
If you want to move closer to the Thank God Its Monday side of the spectrum without becoming a corporate zombie, you have to be tactical. It’s not about "manifesting" a good day. It’s about logistics.
First, stop leaving your worst tasks for Monday morning. We all do it. We hit Friday afternoon and think, "I'll just deal with that on Monday." You are literally sabotaging your future self. Spend the last 20 minutes of your Friday clearing the deck so Monday starts with an easy win.
Second, find a "Monday Ritual" that has nothing to do with work. Maybe it’s a specific breakfast, a podcast you love, or a workout. Give your brain a reason to look forward to the day that isn't tied to your salary.
Third, acknowledge the suck. It’s okay if you aren't 100% hyped. The pressure to be "on" can be just as draining as the work itself.
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Actionable Steps to Reclaim Your Week
- The Friday Reset: Clear your inbox and write your Monday To-Do list before you leave on Friday. It kills the "Sunday Scaries" before they start.
- The 90-Minute Rule: Schedule 90 minutes of "Deep Work" on a project you actually enjoy for Monday morning. It builds immediate momentum.
- Micro-Rewards: Plan a social activity or a treat for Monday evening. It breaks the "work-sleep-repeat" cycle.
- Audit Your Joy: If you’ve felt a deep dread for more than six months, the problem isn't the day of the week—it’s the job. No amount of mindset shifting can fix a toxic environment.
Moving toward a Thank God Its Monday lifestyle doesn't mean you have to be a hyper-caffeinated motivational speaker. It just means you've built a life where the transition from rest to effort doesn't feel like a tragedy. It's about finding a rhythm that works for you, even if that rhythm starts a little slow at first.