If you’re like me and most other people, you hate Mondays too. But do you know why that’s the case? It involves more than just having to face another week of work.

Some of the problem involves sleep. Do you “catch up” on lost zzzzzzzs by sleeping in on the weekend? Ironically, sleeping in even an hour or two on Saturday and Sunday messes with your body clock and actually makes it harder to get up on Monday morning and makes you feel more tired throughout the day. Crazy, but true, at least according to scientists who study this sort of thing.

Adding to our overall lethargy is the after-effects of overindulging over the weekend. For many of us, the weekends are times for barbequing, overeating and maybe having one or more too many adult beverages. For you weekend warriors, factor in all those hours spent working in the yard, doing chores around the house or even biking, canoeing, kayaking etc. The toll all this takes on our minds and bodies is real. Most people’s blood pressure is elevated and, as a result, Mondays are the most common day for people to suffer heart attacks, strokes and other illnesses.

Gallup conducted a poll awhile back and found that 70% of us hate or are “completely disengaged” from our J-O-B-S. This contributes to what psychiatrists and career coaches call the “Monday Blues.” Some of us dread our jobs so much, we start feeling anxious, even depressed on Sunday night. That leads to poor sleep and contributes to an wholly unproductive Monday.

But there are strategies for working around the Monday Morning Blues. One thing you can (and should) do is plan out what you want to get accomplished before you leave work on Friday. That way you can operate on autopilot no matter how crappy you feel when you get to work. And while you’re at it, make sure your desk or work space is neat and organized.

Some of the other actions you can take include starting off the week at the gym, reading something inspirational over breakfast, meditating and (yes) praying. Put on something fun and bright to buoy your spirits and those of your co-workers. (Something from Bealls might do the trick, if you know what I mean.) After all, when you look good, you feel good, so lay out your outfit the night before. And by all means, turn off the news and listen to uplifting music on the drive in.

Now here’s an idea that I try to put into effect – make someone else happy on Mondays. Making someone else’s day will make your day too. Paying it forward can be a mood changer for everyone involved. You don’t have to go over the top. Just paying someone a compliment will do the trick.

And that’s why I paint and post happy images on Facebook. It’s my hope that the bright colors, energy and humorous slogans you see will lift your spirits and help you have a better day.

So, go out there and make it a great day!