The weekend can be a wonderful time filled with friends, family, and adventure. It can also be a relaxing moment spent with popcorn and Netflix. Either way, it’s unlikely you want it to end.

Switching from the relatively carefree weekend to the projects and deadlines of the upcoming week thrusts you into what most people refer to as “The Monday Blues.” This name is misleading; just because it’s Monday doesn’t mean it has to be blue.

If you ever find yourself huddled over your coffee, wishing you could have stayed in bed, try some of these simple tips and tricks to make your blue Monday a little brighter.

Wake up early. As tempting as it is to hit “snooze” a few more times, it’s actually one of the worst things you can do. You might end up forgetting breakfast, hitting traffic, or arriving at work late. Any of those could leave you playing catch up for the rest of the week. Try waking up early and eating a hearty, nutritious breakfast. Coffee isn’t the only fuel you’ll need to make it to lunch!

 Do the unpleasant tasks first. If you have any assignments that you’re dreading, get them out of the way before you lose energy. It’s easy to focus on the simple projects and push back the hard ones as the day moves along. When that happens, your motivation plummets and you end up postponing the project to the next day. The task might be unpleasant at first, but in the end you’ll be happy you did it.

 Plan something for that night. Give yourself something to look forward to: meet your friends for dinner, go to an exercise class, or do something creative. If you’re looking forward to something pleasant, it will keep your energy up and your mind off “The Monday Blues.”

 Cut back on the complaining. Sometimes it feels good to complain, but you’re not giving the week a chance to be good if you’re saying “I wish it was still the weekend” or “Is this week over yet?” Instead of focusing on the negative, think about a fresh mindset for a new week. This week has the possibility to be much better than the last.

It isn’t Monday’s fault that you’re blue; remember these simple tips and tricks to make your Mondays better!