Weekender #163

🏋️‍♀️ Find out which cardio machine is the most effective for weight loss.

💔 Men get brutally honest about the “icks” from women that make them think she’s not the one.

🍱 Upgrade your kitchen with these food storage solutions trending on Amazon.

💳 Learn how to choose the right credit repair company to fix your finances.

If you’re feeling the weight of the post-holiday slump, you’re not alone. Research shows that returning to work after a long holiday weekend can trigger a mix of exhaustion, sadness, and overwhelm—commonly known as the post-vacation blues. According to psychologists, it’s a blend of routine disruption, a sudden drop in feel-good hormones (hello, serotonin and dopamine), and the looming to-do list waiting to greet you.

But don’t worry—there’s a way to shake off the fog and set yourself up for a stellar week.

Why You Feel This Way

Routine Disruption: Holidays shift us out of our usual rhythms, giving us a break from structure. While refreshing, the sudden return to routines can feel jarring.

Social Withdrawal: Long weekends often mean extra time with family or friends. Returning to work can feel isolating by comparison.

Anticipatory Anxiety: The dreaded “Sunday Scaries” amplify when you’re coming back to a mountain of emails and tasks, leading to stress and procrastination.

5 Ways to Make it Through The Post-Holiday Slump

1. Start with Gratitude: Instead of focusing on what you have to do, reflect on the highlights of your weekend. Gratitude boosts serotonin, helping you shift your mindset from dread to positivity.

2. Plan a Soft Landing: Ease into the week by prioritizing just 2-3 key tasks for your first day back. Checking off small wins will help you build momentum without overwhelm.

3. Hydrate and Move: Dehydration and lack of movement can sap your energy. Start your day with a big glass of water and a brisk walk to re-energize your body and mind.

4. Set Boundaries: Block off focus time in your calendar to tackle your most important tasks without distractions. Even 30 minutes of deep work can work wonders.

5. Treat Yourself: Plan a mid-week pick-me-up, whether it’s your favorite coffee, a lunch out, or a quick wellness break. Small rewards can give you something to look forward to.

Thanksgiving leftovers? Delicious. Your post-holiday to-do list? Not so much. If Monday’s staring you down with a side of overwhelm, don’t sweat it. These tools are here to help you regroup, refocus, and totally own your week.

• Notion: All-in-one workspace magic.Build a weekly dashboard to track tasks, meetings, and goals. It’s like having your own assistant—but without the side-eye.
• Slack: Streamlined team communication.Sync up with your team first thing. Prioritize your week in focused channels and cut down on email chaos.
• Smartsheet: Big-picture planning made simple.Map out deadlines, workflows, and milestones. Smartsheet keeps it interactive and organized so you can see the forest and the trees.
• Resource Guru: Task assignments without the overload.Drag, drop, and delegate like a boss. Keep your team’s workload balanced and your schedule smooth.
• Fellow: Meeting notes you’ll actually use.Review action items and decisions from past meetings to hit the ground running this week. No more “What did we say we’d do?” moments.
• Trello: Color-coded to-do domination.Plan your week on Kanban boards with simple drag-and-drop features. Move tasks from “ugh” to “done” in no time.
• Calm: Zen mode, activated.Start your week with a clear mind. Whether it’s a quick meditation or some soothing sleep stories, Calm keeps stress at bay.

These tools take the stress out of planning so you can start the week strong. Your best post-holiday comeback starts here 💪.

📚 Read: The Wedding People by Alison Espach

A witty, heart-filled dive into the lives tied together by weddings. Expect secrets, drama, and humor in this sharp, character-driven tale. Perfect for fans of Big Little Lies vibes.

📺 Watch: Rings of Power on Amazon Prime

Dive into Middle-earth’s untold history with jaw-dropping visuals and layered storytelling. Whether you’re a Tolkien superfan or a fantasy newbie, this epic is a must-watch.

🎧 Listen: Residual Proof on Mosaic podcast

An inspiring reflection on faith, hope, and finding purpose. Whether you’re a dreamer or just stuck in a rut, this episode explores the small moments that ignite big growth.

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Tater Tot is tolerant of her human demanding snuggles, even though she’s kind of an introvert cue side eye. She notices when her human “works from home,” the snuggle requests increase by 800%.

Likes: TREATS, begging for food, stealing food if not procured after begging, chasing rabbits, high fives, playing in snow, peanut butter, sneaking cat food.

Dislikes: rain and thunder, fireworks, car rides, cats, vegetables, getting a bath, trimming nails, getting ignored when begging for food, not getting treats when she is clearly being the best doggo and deserves them for simply existing.

She doesn’t know why she is so cute, she was just born that way!

🐾 Got a cute fur baby? Submit them to be our pet of the week in an upcoming issue.

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