Bare Minimum Mondays: Combating Workweek Stress

Editors Note: This post, originally published Nov. 1, 2023, corrects the quote from Ivori Johnson and credits Built In as the original source.

Bare Minimum Mondays (BMM), a trend popularized on TikTok, is reshaping the way Gen Z and Millennial professionals approach the start of their workweek. This movement promotes a minimalist approach to Mondays, emphasizing simplicity, reduced stress, and enhanced work-life balance. This trend underscores the importance of creating supportive and understanding work environments; however, its perceived value varies significantly across different industries.

According to a LinkedIn report surveying 3,000 workers, 80% of respondents confirmed experiencing anxiety, headaches, stomachaches, and depression on Sunday nights in anticipation of a challenging workweek. Within this group, Gen Z and Millennials were the primary demographic groups affected by these symptoms.

These regular foreboding feelings are indicative of a persistently stressful work environment, the lack of work-life balance, and limited flexibility, all of which contribute to employee burnout. As a result, this has prompted employees to embrace the concept of Bare Minimum Mondays.

Employees who practice the trend begin their Mondays with self-care and focus solely on essential tasks. This is aimed at creating a positive beginning to the week and reduce work-related anxiety, according to Connecteam.  

“It gives employees space to complete tasks, complete presentations and think about strategy without the added pressure of having packed meeting schedules,” Ivori Johnson, Head of People, ChartHop told Built In. 

Mexico has a higher rate of work-related stress when compared to China or the United States, affecting about 75% of its workforce, according to the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS). This widespread issue indicates a significant opportunity for Mexican employees to adopt the BMM trend. Consequently, it underscores the imperative for companies to cultivate a supportive and empathetic work environment to augment performance, talent retention and reduce costs, among other benefits.

“Offering flexible working options like staggered schedules [and] creating a culture of trust that promotes work-life balance is equally important [to retaining talent],” says Jonathan Albanil, COO, Dicka Logistics.

However, in high-pressure sectors like sales, adopting a more relaxed pace on Mondays proves challenging due to the influence of performance metrics. Nevertheless, even in these demanding fields, companies should seek innovative approaches to integrate aspects of this trend. For instance, HR professionals can concentrate on fostering a sense of joy and purpose among employees.  

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