A vibe shift at work: Why 'Bare Minimum Monday' matters
Think of it as giving yourself a smoother entry back into work mode, instead of diving headfirst into chaos.
NURSYAHMINA ZAINAL
IT is Sunday night and you have just finished bingeing your favourite show.
However, instead of peacefully drifting off to sleep, your brain reminds you that Monday is waiting with endless emails, deadlines and meetings that could have been an email.
That creeping dread? Many are now relieving it with a practice known as bare minimum Monday.
What exactly is bare minimum Monday?
No, it does not mean lying in bed all day scrolling TikTok (though tempting).
Bare minimum Monday is about tackling only the most essential tasks at the start of the week.
Think of it as giving yourself a smoother entry back into work mode, instead of diving headfirst into chaos.
“Bare minimum” means “the smallest possible quantity or the least fulfilling, but still adequate, condition that is required, acceptable or suitable for some purpose.”
In other words, you are not slacking off as you are still doing your job, just without the unnecessary extras.
How did it start?
Like many viral trends, this one started on TikTok.
Creator and startup founder Marisa Jo Mayes shared her frustration with corporate life constantly demanding “more, more, more” in 2022.
Her solution? Dedicate Mondays to only the most urgent tasks and prioritise self-care.
“Alleviating that pressure and choosing to let myself off the hook was a much-needed change of mindset going into the beginning of the week … which suddenly allowed me to be productive again,” she told CNBC.
Her videos on bare minimum Mondays have racked up more than 470 million views on TikTok.
On top of that, the statistics also back it up as Deloitte says 77 per cent of employees feel burnt out regularly.
Meanwhile, research from Zety confirms what everyone already knows that Monday is the most hated day of the week.
What does it actually look like?
If you are picturing people lounging on the sofa with Netflix instead of replying to emails, that is not quite what bare minimum Monday is about.
The idea often begins with self-care where some choose to start the day with a run, a meditation session or simply savouring a slow cup of coffee before even opening the laptop.
Work still gets done, but only what truly matters. The urgent tasks are handled first, while less critical ones are pushed to later in the week.
This creates breathing space instead of piling on unnecessary pressure.
Another big part of the concept is ditching the Monday meeting overload. If it is possible, heavy discussions and deadlines are shifted to the afternoon, or even to Tuesday, so the day feels less overwhelming.
And then there is the flexibility of hours. Many choose to wrap up a little earlier than usual, using the extra time for personal projects, creative work or simply recharging for the week ahead.
At its core, bare minimum Monday is not about doing less but it is about trading chaos for calm and starting the week on a steadier note.
Basically, you are trading chaos for calm.
But here is the catch
Not every job can afford a slow Monday. If you are in healthcare, customer service or any role that demands immediate attention, this may not work.
There is also the risk of pushing everything to Tuesday and ending up even more stressed.
In addition, some managers might see it as laziness if it is not explained well.
And let’s be real, bare minimum Monday could easily become bare minimum Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.
A vibe shift at work
At the end of the day, bare minimum Monday is not just about doing less.
It is about resetting workplace culture by normalising balance, slowing down when needed, and recognising that mental health matters as much as output.
Whether it stays a viral phase or becomes a lasting workplace practice, people are done starting their weeks in panic mode.
Sometimes, doing the bare minimum on a Monday is exactly what you need to do your best the rest of the week.
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