‘Bare Minimum Mondays’ is a workplace trend that aims to alleviate stress and provide a more relaxed beginning to the workweek. With a focus on self-care and work-life balance, this concept is gaining popularity among employees seeking to prioritize their well-being and productivity. Inspired by this concept, Caitlin Winter, an Adelaide-based marketing manager, introduced it to her office, promoting a culture of self-care and mindfulness.
The New Concept
The idea behind ‘Bare Minimum Mondays’ is to create a gentle start to the week, allowing individuals to take the day at their own pace. By embracing this trend, employees can start the week on a positive note, feeling motivated and refreshed. It entails working from home, avoiding meetings, and freeing oneself from the pressure of completing projects. With this approach, employees can tackle tasks while maintaining a sense of calm and avoiding the dreaded ‘Sunday Scaries’ that often overshadow the last day of the weekend.
Benefits for Employees
By implementing ‘Bare Minimum Mondays,’ individuals can benefit from reduced stress levels and an improved work-life balance. They have the freedom to deal with personal responsibilities, such as household chores, grocery shopping, or spending quality time with family. This flexibility also enables parents to engage more actively in their children’s school routines, enhancing work-life integration. Employers who support ‘Bare Minimum Mondays’ demonstrate their commitment to fostering a healthy and happier work environment.
The Perspective of Caitlin Winter
Marketing manager Caitlin Winter found inspiration in the concept of ‘Bare Minimum Mondays.’ She explained that the concept doesn’t mean sitting in pajamas all day in front of the TV but rather working from home, avoiding scheduling meetings, and creating a more relaxed atmosphere. One of her team members uses the opportunity to drop off and pick up her children from school, which is otherwise challenging during regular weekdays. Winter is now actively spreading the word to embrace the approach in the workplace.
76-year-old Ph.D. Student Finally Graduates After Starting His Research Five Decades Ago
Like most other Ph.D. students, Dr. Nick Axten said that it took him a really long time to get his doctoral thesis in order. Unlike most other Ph.D. students, this newly-graduated doctor is 76 years old! And it took him a good five decades to finally graduate with his Ph.D. at the University of Bristol in mathematical sociology.
The Long Journey
Dr. Nick Axten started his research journey way back in 1970, receiving the prestigious Fulbright Research Scholarship at the University of Pittsburgh. But he returned to the UK after five years, leaving his research unfinished. As Dr. Axten explained, he was trying to do something “exceptionally difficult” at that time, during the early ’70s. According to him, some problems were too complex to grasp within a limited period, and it could take the better part of a lifetime to get the hang of them. Seven years ago, he restarted his education at Bristol, intending to finish an M.A. before starting over with a Ph.D. in Philosophy. Last year, aged 75, he finally finished his doctoral dissertation. And this year, he officially became a graduate and received his degree in front of Claire and Freya, his wife and 11-year-old granddaughter, respectively.
The Doctoral Research
After graduating, Dr. Axten now hopes to publish his Ph.D. research thesis, which builds on the ideas he was working on in the USA five decades ago. In his research, the visionary scholar proposes a new theory of understanding general human behavior based on the personal value each of us holds. According to him, this new theory has enough potential to change the traditional view of behavioral psychology by shedding new light on it. During his long and diverse career, Dr. Axten lived almost all over the UK and worked as the principal author and creator of Oxford Primary Science, a school teaching program with a new approach.