There’s a new buzz phrase on the block and we can almost see the line manager eye rolls travel across the UK like a Mexican wave.
Presenting“Bare Minimum Mondays”.
Bare minimum Mondays is a different approach to the working week and encourages individuals to essentially do less on Mondays. Workers are told to ease themselves gently into work, rather than picking straight up where they left off the week before. It’s all aboutundertaking low-level admin-related tasks on a Monday, such as emails, and planning out the rest of the tasks which can be carried out later on in the week. On bare minimum Mondays, employees shouldavoid any complex or stress-inducing workand instead, opt for work that requires less brain power. Purists of this movement would not only change the types of tasks being completed on Mondays butalso embrace working fewer hourson a Monday to truly do the ‘bare minimum’.
Gen Zers have coined a few phrases in recent years – quiet quitting being one of the most prominent.Isn’t this quiet quitting in a different guise?We hear you say. The answer is both yes and no…
Similarly to quiet quitting, employees should avoid going above and beyond on a Monday and limit themselves to their contractual obligations. However, unlike quiet quitting, which is a permanent shift in mindset, the slower pace of bare minimum Monday ends on a Monday and business as usual recommences from 9 am on Tuesday. The bare minimum approach isisolated to that singular dayof the week and isn’t thought to be symptomatic of a poor culture.The driver is thought to be self-preservation from a mental health perspective.
Where did it come from?
The Tik Tok-er,Marisa Jo, coined the phrase after she left her high-flying corporate job and became self-employed to escape her sense of constant overwhelm and Monday morning dread. However, little did she know, the corporate job wasn’t actually the catalyst for her mental health struggles. Marisa Jo later realised that it was the expectation of being available every minute of the day that was the real cause of her frustrations with work. To address this and reset the expectations, Marisa Jo dubbedbare minimum Mondays – the movement which prioritises the wellbeing of workers,suggesting that the‘hustle culture’in recent years has been the root cause of many cases of employee burnout.
On top of the hustle culture, another new phenomenon – ‘Sunday Scaries’ – is currently on everyone’s social media feed. This refers to the anxiety induced by the worry of what’s waiting for employees when they wake up. ALinkedInstudy showed that a staggering 75% of employees had experienced Sunday Scaries.
Bare minimum Mondays and Sunday Scaries are intrinsically linked.The rise of the Sunday Scaries has effectively birthed Bare Minimum Mondays in an attempt to reduce the anxiety felt over the weekend. But is the new fad a good thing or could it be damaging for the workplace?
Why We All Need Bare Minimum Mondays
There are certainly many pros of taking part in bare minimum Mondays – not just from an employee perspective, but for the organisation too. Professor Craig Jackson, an occupational health psychologist at Birmingham City University believes thatbare minimum Mondays will result in employees feeling “fresh, relaxed happy and not fatigued or over-worked”.
Individuals who are given the space to decide what their workload looks like will undoubtedlyfeel trusted and, in turn, valued by their employers. Happy employees will create a positive companycultureand that will lead to improved employeeretention. It seems like a no-brainer.
Not only that but many of those partaking in bare minimum Mondays believe the reduction in tangible output on a Monday actually promotesproductivityfor the remainder of the week. The premise of creating a positive mindset before you transform into your workplace self (or ‘putting on your work avatar’, as Marisa Jo calls it) appears to be a worthwhile investment for organisations.People see bare minimum Mondays as laying a strong foundation for the week ahead.After all, if you start the week with a mindset that’s crumbling and uneven, the week is unlikely to produce any valuable achievements.
Bare Minimum Mondays – A Concept That Barely Works?
However – it’s all good and well singing the praises of bare minimum Mondays to those who work sat behind a laptop. But bare minimum Mondays seem to have a blind spot. There are lots of workers who would jump at the chance of having a slow start to the week. But, for instance, we can’t quite imagine doctors in A&E turning around to a patient with a broken femur and saying that they will have to just hold that thought until Tuesday because Doc has committed to only doing low-level tasks today. It doesn’t quite work, does it?
Bare minimum Mondays could leave organisations wide open to hoards of customer complaints.In particular, customer service type settings would very much struggle to balance the urgent demands of a customer with the employee’s desire for a gentle start. Customers simply wouldn’t have the same understanding or empathy if they’d waited all weekend to speak to someone who works Monday to Friday. Waiting an additional day would likely be a sharp kick in the teeth.
Emily Austen, the founder of EMERGE – a London PR agency, has publicly expressed her opinions on bare minimum Mondays and ultimately believes it will be“bad for business”.Emily also stated that the phrase has “a terribly negative connotation”.
Do bare minimum Mondays simplydelay the inevitable? By refusing to engage in stressful work on a Monday, it’s very possible that individuals are then condensing the challenging projects – that had been previously spread across the week – into fewer days, intensifying the feelings of stress for that period.
There is also a possibility that employees taking part in bare minimum Mondays might start to see the slow start to the week asan entitlement.The question then would be how do managers deal with a workforce who collectively refuses to engage in anything urgent on a Monday?
On top of that, will there be arift between the oldergenerationsand Gen Z? Baby Boomers who typically have a strong work ethic (often at the expense of their mental health) may start viewing Gen Z as lazy, believing that bare minimum Mondays are just an excuse to avoid doing a particular task. Conflict in the workplace will also spawn more discontent.
Will Bare Minimum Mondays Stand The Test Of Time?
Ultimately, bare minimum Mondays aren’t anewthing. Many organisations may very well already see some employees mentally disengage from the workplace before they finish their working week and switch on ‘weekend mode’. Does the introduction of this new internet trend simply elongate the ‘acceptable’ time frame for minimal effort working? It’s very possible.
2023 is, without doubt, seeingmental healthbeing championed in the workplace. There is more awareness and understanding of struggles in this area and individuals are starting to take accountability for their own mentalwellbeing. The stigma is beginning to erode and many are feeling empowered to stand up against anything that affects their own state of mind. Gen Z entering our workforce has undoubtedly accelerated this advancement. But the jury’s still out about the value of bare minimum Mondays. Only time will tell if this latest buzz phrase will be the one to stick around.
Amy is a knowledgeable People professional with over a decade of experience across a variety of private and public sector organisations. With a particular interest in employee engagement, Amy is an advocate for employee-centric approaches in all areas of HR which is reflected in her writing. Before a career in HR, Amy read English and Creative Writing at university and later studied for her CIPD, HR Management.
FAQs
Have you heard of 'Bare Minimum Mondays'? | Factorial? ›
Bare minimum Mondays is a different approach to the working week and encourages individuals to essentially do less on Mondays. Workers are told to ease themselves gently into work, rather than picking straight up where they left off the week before.
What does bare minimum Monday mean? ›The idea of Bare Minimum Mondays is to start off the workweek slowly by prioritizing self-care over work duties on Monday, putting in only a minimal effort toward your job on that day each week.
Is bare minimum Mondays a thing? ›The big picture: Like "quiet quitting" — a viral term defined as workers who don't do more than is necessary — bare minimum Mondays encourage easing into work by doing just enough to get by and practicing self-care at the start of the work week.
What is the minimum Monday on TikTok? ›A new trend is going viral on TikTok called 'Bare Minimum Mondays' which advocates for doing the bare minimum at work. The hashtag has more than four million videos on TikTok with people sharing their strategies. The idea is that doing the bare minimum will save you from burnout and from dreading Mondays too much.
Who started bare minimum Monday? ›“Giving myself actual permission to just do the least amount of work possible that day was extremely liberating, because I'd been conditioned to believe that my worth is directly tied to my productivity and output,” said Marisa Jo, who coined the term “bare minimum Monday.”
What is an example of bare minimum? ›Examples of bare minimum in a relationship
Someone who gives compliments without being asked. Someone who doesn't have an addiction or would borrow money to finance their vices. A person who respects your boundaries.
phrase (also a bare minimum) the least possible amount: She eats only the bare minimum to stay alive. I can't even save the bare minimum for my retirement.
What are the benefits of bare minimum Mondays? ›Benefits of Bare Minimum Mondays:
Encourages self-care: Taking breaks and engaging in activities that promote relaxation and well-being on Mondays can set a positive tone for the rest of the week and encourage employees to practice self-care.
| minimum | least |
|---|---|
| lowest | bottom |
| nadir | slightest |
| base | narrowest |
| smallest | lower limit |
Coined by TikTok creator @marisajo, 'Bare Minimum Mondays' are based on the idea that on the first day of the week, workers should do only the essential tasks required for their day. In order to ease into the work week and alleviate anxiety, items such as meetings and difficult, non-urgent tasks are off the agenda.
How is bare minimum Monday related to quiet quitting? ›
Some see it as a passive-aggressive extension of quiet quitting when workers object to overworking—doing as little as possible to get through the Monday doldrums without major deadlines, meetings and sifting through inboxes. Others view it as a form of self-care to maintain work-life balance and prevent job burnout.
Is 1 TikTok a day enough? ›TikTok recommends posting three times a day as this will likely reach your audience at their most active time.
How much does TikTok pay a day? ›According to reports from top influencers, TikTok pays around $0.02 and $0.04 for every 1,000 views. These are reports based on payments received through the TikTok Creator Fund. This is a program that TikTok introduced in 2021 in a bid to compensate content creators for creating content on the platform.
What is quiet quitting job? ›Quiet quitting doesn't actually refer to quitting a job—it means completing one's minimum work requirements without going above and beyond or bringing work home after hours.
What is barely there Monday? ›Similar to quiet quitting, bare minimum Mondays is a trend where employees start their work by doing the fewest tasks needed on Mondays. Participants often resort to this practice as a response to the Sunday scaries. Employees following this trend tend to focus on self-care for most hours not spent on work on Mondays.
Is bare minimum good or bad? ›In a relationship, the “bare minimum” is one step above absolutely nothing. When someone's just doing the bare minimum, you don't necessarily notice that anything's wrong, but there's not a lot to brag about, either.
What do girls mean by bare minimum? ›Bare minimum-ing someone means exactly what it says: you're only giving them the bare minimum of yourself. The bare minimum of your time, effort, attention, commitment, and emotions. It's offering the least possible amount of yourself that is needed in order to keep the other person interested.
What does bare minimum mean dating? ›Essentially, the bare minimum is one step above nothing.
They put in minimum investment in the relationship and to their partner, while expecting you to do everything for them. They are only looking to use your good intentions to get the maximum benefits out of you.
The highest or most extreme degree of something. edge. limit. extremity. ceiling.
Is bare minimum a red flag? ›Doing the bare minimum in a relationship isn't just a red flag but also a sign of incompatibility. It's hard to admit when you're still madly in love with your partner but remember that you also need to take care of yourself.
What is bare minimum in USA? ›
The federal minimum wage for covered nonexempt employees is $7.25 per hour. Many states also have minimum wage laws. In cases where an employee is subject to both the state and federal minimum wage laws, the employee is entitled to the higher of the two minimum wages.
When someone does the bare minimum at work? ›An employee who is only doing the bare minimum doesn't try to make meaningful contributions or help change small things that could make a big difference in the company's success or profitability. An employee who is only doing the bare minimum doesn't contribute to a healthy workplace culture.
How many people do the bare minimum at work? ›According to an August ResumeBuilder.com survey of 1,000 working Americans, 21% of respondents say they only do the bare minimum. Another 5% say they do even less than what they're paid to do.
Why am I impressed by the bare minimum? ›Being impressed by the bare minimum means the perception of the importance of the bare minimum is high enough to influence you in a certain way. Although it's a bare minimum it is enough for you according to your internal scale of what's acceptable and meaningful to you.
Is it bare minimum or minimal? ›The plural form of minimum may either be minimums or minima, minimums is the most prevalent. Minimal also means the least amount possible, the smallest possible amount required, recorded or attainable. However, minimal may also mean a small or negligible amount, not necessarily the very least amount possible.
Does minimum mean at least? ›Minimum is often used in the phrases bare minimum, meaning “the absolute least,” and at a minimum, meaning “at least,” as in At a minimum, we need to get five more done before the end of the day.
What is bare minimum vs bear minimum? ›Bare minimum means “the least possible.” Keep costs to a bare minimum. Bear weight means “support.” The builders designed the structure to bear weight.
What is the rule of 5 productivity? ›What Is The 1 3 5 Rule? The 1–3–5 rule is a productivity strategy that forces you to be productive by taking breaks from your work on a regular basis. It works on a three-step formula: choose one major task to complete, divide it into three medium tasks, and then divide those three medium tasks into five small tasks.
How common is Monday blues? ›Monday blues are usually so common because it is a day after two (or one) days of leave, and people know that they cannot expect any rest for another five or six days. "Mondays are also very stressful as most people are given their weekly targets on this day.
What is the rule of 4 productivity? ›The 4-Hour Rule. This states that you can't do more than four hours of highly focused work per day.
What are the key signs of quiet quitting? ›
- They are cynical about everything. ...
- They seem disengaged or checked out. ...
- They don't finish projects on time or with unusually low quality. ...
- It's unclear what your expectations are. ...
- There is a lack of clear communication. ...
- They are overworked. ...
- They are being micromanaged.
Understand the root causes of disengagement
So, the simple answer to why people are “quiet quitting” is their desire to avoid high stress and burnout by taking work/life balance into their own hands.
Pay discrepancies are one of the leading causes of quiet quitting. The issue isn't that employees don't want to do the extra work but don't feel appropriately compensated for their efforts. More than money, the root of the problem is a lack of respect.
Is it OK to post 3 times a day on Instagram? ›Posting on Instagram FAQ
Generally, we recommend posting at least once a day to maximize your visibility and engagement. However, if you have more time and resources, you can post multiple times a day, or even several times a week.
Luckily, a number of the program's top creators have publicized the amounts they've earned through the program. The consensus is that the TikTok Creator Fund pays between 2 and 4 cents for every 1,000 views, which adds up to only $20 to $40 dollars for a million views.
Should I post 3 Tiktoks a day? ›How often you post can also affect how your content is distributed on the platform (TikTok recommends posting 1-4 times per day). To find a posting schedule that will please both the TikTok algorithm and your fans, keep a close eye on your performance until you find a frequency that works.
How much money is 500k views on TikTok? ›How much money is 500k views on TikTok? TikTok pays approximately $15 for 500,000 views.
How much TikTok pays for 1 million followers? ›How much money does 1 million TikTok followers make? TikTok creators with 1 million followers or more can expect to make an average of $1,500 per post for branded content. One creator, Jenn Leach, reported earning $88 for 1.6 million views, which works out to 6 cents per 1,000 views.
What is quick quitting? ›Quick quitting is the act of an employee leaving an organization after a short tenure rate of less than a year, sometimes exiting in only weeks. A survey by Monster found that 57% of workers have “quick quit” before.
What is rage applying? ›What is rage applying? The phrase “rage applying,” took off on TikTok to describe what some workers have been doing when feeling miserable or overlooked in their jobs.
How do managers feel when you quit? ›
The best-case scenario—and honestly, the most common reaction—is that your boss will accept your resignation with understanding and sincere congratulations. Your manager will be happy to see that you're advancing your career and moving on to something bigger and better.
What is the bare minimum for a guy? ›The bare minimum man is the type of guy who doesn't exhibit outwardly “bad” behavior that calls for a breakup such as cheating. But he also doesn't treat you in a way that makes you feel necessarily loved or cared for. Because the bare minimum man doesn't initiate, he responds. He shows up but never on time.
Why is Monday so stressful? ›Mondays are linked to increases in stress, suicides, and even heart attacks. The stress and health risks observed on Mondays are mostly explained by weekend changes in our sleep cycles. Disrupted sleep cycles cause hormone changes that result in fatigue, stress, and impaired organ function.
What is bare minimum Monday and Friday? ›Reduce burnout by frontloading work
While bare minimum Monday says to work less on Monday and work more the rest of the week, freedom Friday says to frontload work early in the week, so that by Friday staff can relax and do less.
- Don't live for the weekends. ...
- Treat Sunday as a day of rest. ...
- Don't sleep in. ...
- Plan ahead Sunday night. ...
- Hit the hay early on Sunday… ...
- And wake up early on Monday. ...
- Generate good vibes — through music and otherwise.
“Bare-Minimum Monday” is the latest trend sweeping the nation. It's exactly what it sounds like: doing the bare minimum on Mondays, essentially a form of quiet quitting. The goal is to take all the anxiety off the first day of the week and put it… somewhere else.
How do you know if it's bare minimum? ›Essentially, the bare minimum is one step above nothing.
'Bare minimum' is one step above 'nothing. ' They have to show for something to lure someone in. They put in minimum investment in the relationship and to their partner, while expecting you to do everything for them.
Quiet quitting doesn't actually refer to quitting a job—it means completing one's minimum work requirements without going above and beyond or bringing work home after hours. The quiet quitting trend has been met with mixed reception by business leaders and the media since it went viral in 2022.
What is the new term for not working on Mondays? ›A new trend has emerged in the industry and is known as "Bare Minimum Monday". Viral trends like "Quiet Quitting", "Rage Applying" and "Great Resignation" have captured the annoyance and frustration of some employees as Covid-19 pandemic disrupted their workdays.
What is the bare minimum in America? ›The federal minimum wage for covered nonexempt employees is $7.25 per hour. Many states also have minimum wage laws. In cases where an employee is subject to both the state and federal minimum wage laws, the employee is entitled to the higher of the two minimum wages.
What is bare minimum Monday and take it easy Tuesday? ›
Take It Easy Tuesday
Similar to “Bare Minimum Monday,” this approach aims to promote a balanced and sustainable workflow, rather than overworking and burning out. This involves taking breaks when needed, prioritizing tasks based on urgency and importance, and not overwhelming oneself with an excessive workload.
Work for the role you want.
Be proactive and position yourself as a valuable resource that people around you can rely on again and again. Don't put in the bare minimum because that's all you were asked to do. Do your job and then attack challenges and opportunities that no one asked you to think about.
What exactly is the 'roommate phase' in a relationship? The roommate phase in a relationship is when things get too comfortable and both of your lives start to feel formulaic and robotic. Routined habits start to set in and you can fall into a rut of eat, sleep, work, repeat.