Why ‘bare minimum Mondays’ is the latest trend on TikTok

A new job trend has surfaced on social media dubbed ‘bare minimum Mondays’ – and young 9-5 workers see it as a ‘game changer’ for their wellness. 

Following the rise of the ‘Great Resignation’ and ‘quiet quitting’, the latest trend encourages workers to do the bare minimum or as little as possible on Mondays to ease into the week. 

Thousands on TikTok ‘swear by’ the tactic as it’s said to lower stress levels, reduce pressure, and improve mood. 

Melbourne author and LinkedIn specialist Sue Ellson shared her thoughts on the topic, saying how the concept is a ‘wellbeing technique’. 

‘It is not worth burning out and being incapable the following day. In my view, it is far better to work fewer hours at 80-90 per cent effectiveness and allow your body to rest and recover,’ Ms Ellson told FEMAIL.

Melbourne author and LinkedIn specialist Sue Ellson (pictured) shared her thoughts on the topic, saying how the concept is a ‘wellbeing technique’ 

It’s believed TikToker Marisa Jo Mayes popularised the concept by sharing it with her 154,000 followers in a series of videos. 

‘I don’t take meetings and take it slow for the first two hours. I’ll do some reading, some journaling, maybe some stuff around the house,’ Mayes wrote in an essay for Insider. 

‘One day last March, I gave myself permission to do the bare minimum, and it was like some magic spell came over me. I felt better. I wasn’t overwhelmed, and I actually got more done than I expected.’

And she’s been making use of the routine ever since. In a video she also revealed how she modifies her tasks on heavier workload days. 

For one, she starts the day by journalling from the couch not a table, wears a ‘cosy’ outfit and never has any overhead lights on. 

‘So now the vibes are right, which does help more than you think,’ Marisa sad. 

Then she looks at her to-do list for the day and removes any ‘wishful thinking’ tasks. 

‘If it’s not an absolute “must get done” [task], if it doesn’t have direct consequences if it’s not done, take it off,’ she said. 

‘And then for the tasks that you do have to do, make sure you are monotasking every single one. You might think multitasking is the way, but it is a one-way ticket to overwhelm [sic] and having everything take longer.’ 

It’s believed TikToker Marisa Jo Mayes (pictured) popularised the concept by sharing it with her 154,000 followers in a series of videos. In a video she also revealed how she modifies her tasks on heavier workload days

Ms Ellson thought the concept was a great idea to avoid burning out over time and shared her advice. 

She recommended changing your work environment if possible, such as working remotely from a library or co-sharing space for extra motivation. 

‘Instead of working from home, go to the library with your laptop and talk to the librarian about your work goals – they are a wealth of knowledge and can help you find great solutions,’ she said.  

‘If you have a local co-working space, consider going there on a Monday if you need a bit of extra motivation and would like to have something to look forward to doing differently on Mondays and being around other people.’

However, the concept may be flawed for some workers – such as teachers, baristas and tradespeople.

The huge rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ChatGPT can also take off the workload for small business owners and certain careers, as the incredible technology can get the work done in minutes.