Don’t Like Mondays? The Latest TikTok Trend Tells You Why

If Mondays feel like they hit you like a brick, you’re not alone. For a lot of us, Mondays have become a tangled knot of anxiety, unrealistic to-do lists, and the weight of trying to do everything at once after a weekend that either wasn’t long enough or was jam-packed with family and social commitments. But what if we just… didn’t do that anymore?

Enter Bare Minimum Mondays, the TikTok-born but deeply human trend that’s quietly revolutionising how people ease into the week, one soft step at a time. It’s a rebellion against hustle culture, burnout, and the myth that your worth is tied to how productive you are, especially on a Monday. Because frankly, the Boomtown Rats were onto something.

So, what is it, exactly? Bare Minimum Mondays is exactly what it sounds like: a conscious choice to do only the essentials at the start of your week. Instead of starting Monday by the expectation and overwhelm of powering through endless tasks, meetings, and emails, people are intentionally slowing down and focusing on just a few key priorities to gently ease into the week. It’s not about being lazy; it’s about being intentional, sustainable, and kind to yourself.

The term started popping up on TikTok as creators shared how they structure Mondays to support their mental health. Some block out the morning for a beach walk and a slow coffee, others do only three important work tasks, and many avoid meetings entirely on Mondays. I mean, whoever even made up the rule you have to sprint on out the gates on Monday to have a productive week? In fact, doing quite the opposite might be the key to getting through your week without burning out by Wednesday.

The rise of Bare Minimum Mondays speaks to a wider shift we’re seeing post-pandemic. The old ways of working, living, and grinding ourselves into the ground just aren’t cutting it anymore. We’re questioning the stories we’ve been sold about success (about everything, actually). We’re tired, and we’re realising that slowing down doesn’t mean you’re falling behind; it means you’re finally living in a way that aligns with what your mind and body actually need.

If you’ve ever found yourself dreading Sunday nights, feeling your chest tighten as you think about the week ahead, or waking up on Monday already exhausted, Bare Minimum Mondays might be for you. It’s about removing the unnecessary pressure and asking yourself: what actually needs to get done today, and what can wait?

For some, that means structuring Mondays as a catch-up day at home, tackling only essential admin and emails while skipping meetings. For others, it might mean setting gentle personal goals like going for a walk, cleaning out your fridge, or doing a nourishing grocery shop to set yourself up for the week. For parents, it might look like a slow morning drop-off, a coffee in the sun, and easing into work or home responsibilities without guilt.

It’s not about dropping your standards or letting everything slide. It’s about tuning into your energy and recognising that the cultural obsession with pushing ourselves to do more, faster, and harder isn’t serving us. Especially on a Monday. It’s about letting yourself be human.

There’s also something spiritual in this shift. Mondays have long been charged with collective energy, representing the 'start' of productivity, the day we prove ourselves, the day we measure our worth by how much we get done. Choosing to approach Mondays differently feels like reclaiming your time, your mental space, and your life force. It’s a gentle protest against a world that often asks us to be machines, not humans.

But Where to Start?

If you’re curious about trying Bare Minimum Mondays but aren’t sure where to start, it helps to look at your current Monday routine and ask yourself what actually needs to happen, and what is just habit or expectation. Do you really need to clear all your emails by 9 am? Do you need to book back-to-back meetings? Can you block out the morning for creative work or catch-up time instead? Can you start your day with a walk on the beach, a swim, or a quiet coffee in your backyard to ground yourself before jumping into tasks?

It can be as simple as writing down your top three priorities for the day and giving yourself permission to let the rest wait. Or it might mean meal prepping something nourishing on Sunday so your Monday feels softer. Maybe it’s giving yourself a slow morning routine, getting fresh air, journalling, or doing a quick tidy-up before logging on.

And if you’re in a workplace where you don’t have full control over your schedule, you can still adopt the spirit of Bare Minimum Mondays. This might look like setting clearer boundaries around your lunch break, using your commute for a mindfulness practice, or mentally reminding yourself that you don’t have to conquer everything on day one of the week.

Many people report that after trying Bare Minimum Mondays, they actually feel more productive for the rest of the week. By not draining themselves on Monday, they have more energy, focus, and capacity as the week unfolds. It’s the difference between sprinting from the starting line and burning out halfway, versus pacing yourself and finishing strong.

There’s also the mental health aspect. Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It creeps in quietly when we ignore the signals our bodies and minds are sending us. By intentionally slowing down and taking care of ourselves at the start of the week, we send ourselves a message that our wellbeing matters. We’re not just living to work; we’re working to support a life we actually want to be present in.

In a world that often praises busyness, choosing to embrace Bare Minimum Mondays can feel radical. But maybe it’s exactly what we need. The world will keep spinning if you answer that email on Tuesday instead. Your worth isn’t defined by how many tasks you tick off in a day, and your life isn’t meant to feel like a constant race.

So next Sunday night, instead of dreading Monday, take a moment to ask yourself: what would a Bare Minimum Monday look like for me? What can I let go of? How can I structure my day so I feel supported, steady, and centred? Maybe it’s starting your morning with a swim at Mona Vale, having a slow coffee at your favourite local café, or simply allowing yourself to ease into emails with a clear mind.

Because here’s the truth: life is happening now, not in some future where you’ve finally “caught up.” It’s happening in the moments you give yourself permission to breathe, to be, and to live gently. Bare Minimum Mondays might just be the doorway back to yourself, reminding you that you’re allowed to slow down and that you deserve a life that feels good, not just productive.

If you’ve been feeling the weight of the world and the week before it’s even begun, maybe it’s time to join the quiet movement of people reclaiming their Mondays. Pour yourself a tea, step outside, and remind yourself that you are allowed to ease into the week at your own pace. Your mind, your body, and your soul will thank you for it.

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