How to Fight Monday Drudgery

Monday’s are the worst day of the week. There’s something about having to start the week after a free and fun weekend (for the most of us) that absolutely sucks. The “cycle” has to start all over again and usually the work has built up over the weekend. You get the idea. Monday’s really suck. This is especially true for the Postgrad that hasn’t fully assimilated into the real world yet.

I’m sure right now, to a certain extent, you feel the effects of Monday drudgery. I know I do. I woke up this morning and the only thing I could think was “Damn, I want to go back to sleep.” But here I am, punching away endlessly at my keyboard taking care of all sorts of stuff that I procrastinated over the weekend. C’est la vie…

You know, it doesn’t have to be all bad. As a matter of fact, I think there’s something that each of us can do today that will lift our spirits a little bit.

First, you can dream about the upcoming Thanksgiving dinner that is right around the corner. There’s something about an over-sized turkey with stuffing and mashed potatoes that gets me salivating with pure carnivorous desire. I can’t wait to tear off one of those huge turkey legs and devour it…soooo delicious.

However, for those of you guys who cannot wait till Thanksgiving dinner, and need a Monday “quick fix” now, I suggest that everyone do something semi-exciting today: try a new restaurant.

Trying out a new restaurant used to be  a hit or miss. Before the advent of www.yelp.com, you could never anticipate what a new restaurant would taste like. But now, with Yelp and user ratings/comments, you pretty much know exactly what you’re going to get before you go.

There’s something so satisfying about discovering a “hole in the wall” that no one else knows about. I’m sure you love good food. Most people do because delicious food really resonates with the soul. Today, in order to combat the Monday drudgery, start Yelping some restaurants near your area. This is a simple exercise that can actually start getting you pretty excited about the day. This way, you actually have something to look forward to on a Monday. Maybe you can do this as a weekly ritual! Find a new restaurant; hang out with a different person each time.

I recently went to a hole in the wall fish and chips spot that was absolutely delicious. I was very happy that I went–the tartar sauce dripping from double fried battered fish–oh man, I’m definitely going back someday.

So with that here’s a three step guide to make this a reality today.

1. Yelp search a restaurant near you. If you don’t know what yelp is and don’t know how to use it, learn today. It’s not that hard, the website pretty much speaks for itself. Find a restaurant that has the type of food you enjoy eating, and read the “comment” sections to see what people say are good.
2. Call up a random friend, someone you’re interested in dating, or a girlfriend/boyfriend. Good food is meant to be experienced together. Find someone to take, and take them along! This is the perfect opportunity to take someone you’re interested in as well. Just drop the “Hey, I found this delicious new restaurant that I wanted to try, want to come with me?” and you should be set to go! Good luck!
3. Go! The final step is, obviously, JUST DO IT. Go to the restaurant, and enjoy delicious food. For those of you guys who live in Southern California, places I recommend are: Boiling Crab, Fogo De Chao, Shik Do Rak, The Counter, Apple Pan, Father’s Office (21+), and there are tons more places but those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.