{"id":52674,"title":"Groundhog Monday","description":"It\u2019s Monday again. Somehow. Didn\u2019t we just do this? The weekend has disappeared faster than my enthusiasm for corporate life, and once again I\u2019m staring at a screen, pretending to care about things that make my soul itch","content":"

It\u2019s Monday again. Somehow. Didn\u2019t we <\/span>just<\/span><\/em> do this? The weekend has disappeared faster than my enthusiasm for corporate life, and once again I\u2019m staring at a screen, pretending to care about things that make my soul itch.<\/span><\/p>

There was supposed to be a plan. Some kind of grand escape strategy. But of course there wasn\u2019t, because the weekend was spent in recovery \u2014 not reflection. I was far too busy piecing myself back together after last week\u2019s onslaught of emails, meetings that should have been emails, and the quiet, constant dread of existence under strip lighting.<\/span><\/p>

And now here we are. Again. Same desk, same coffee, same existential hum. Monday is less a fresh start and more a psychological test \u2014 how much can one person endure before snapping and replying-all with the words \u201cI literally don\u2019t care\u201d?<\/span><\/p>

I tell myself to be grateful \u2014 because yes, I have a roof over my head, food in the fridge, and coffee within reach. But let\u2019s not pretend gratitude cancels out the creeping horror of realising this is just... it. This is the loop. Wake up. Work. Moan. Repeat.<\/span><\/p>

So maybe I\u2019ll start small. One email response that doesn\u2019t include \u201cas per my previous email.\u201d One deep breath that doesn\u2019t turn into a sigh. One coffee that actually makes it to room temperature before I forget it exists. That\u2019ll do. That\u2019s progress.<\/span><\/p>

Because escaping the system feels impossible today. But surviving it? That\u2019s still within reach. And honestly, survival is the real success story here.<\/span><\/p>

Now, if you\u2019ll excuse me, I have a meeting about a meeting to attend.<\/span><\/p>","urlTitle":"groundhog-monday","url":"\/blog\/groundhog-monday\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/groundhog-monday\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/thestroppycolleague.com\/blog\/groundhog-monday\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1760341220,"updatedAt":1760341584,"publishedAt":1760341584,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":292132,"name":"The Stroppy Colleague"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/0tzkaun0nndt2i65f6sxin1kix9hdqcprmsxhvjdi9gne5uy.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/0tzkaun0nndt2i65f6sxin1kix9hdqcprmsxhvjdi9gne5uy.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/0tzkaun0nndt2i65f6sxin1kix9hdqcprmsxhvjdi9gne5uy.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"","metaDescription":"","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":42040,"title":"A Stroppy Take on the Life Audit","url":"\/blog\/feeling-stuck\/","urlTitle":"feeling-stuck","division":292132,"description":"A life audit is a reflective exercise that helps you assess various aspects of your life, identify areas for improvement, and set goals for the future. It\u2019s a comprehensive way to take stock of where you are, what\u2019s working, and what needs change.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/stwafdqoutmseqqvqgajvm95pziv2xpyptv6mivxmqotg8tg.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/stwafdqoutmseqqvqgajvm95pziv2xpyptv6mivxmqotg8tg.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":51970,"title":"Wednesday. The Pretender.","url":"\/blog\/crawling-to-wednesday\/","urlTitle":"crawling-to-wednesday","division":292132,"description":"Wednesday. The day that pretends it\u2019s progress but feels like punishment. Halfway to the weekend, but also halfway to another nervous breakdown in the office kitchen","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/cx6u28wttrarorq4oqqanr34qnipa9s2mdkb3gikometcbzh.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/cx6u28wttrarorq4oqqanr34qnipa9s2mdkb3gikometcbzh.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":52693,"title":"Tuesday Called. It Wants a Refund.","url":"\/blog\/tuesday-called-it-wants-a-refund\/","urlTitle":"tuesday-called-it-wants-a-refund","division":292132,"description":"Monday was a lot. Emails, Teams calls, PowerPoints that no one will ever look at again, and that \u201cquick catch-up\u201d that stole a solid 45 minutes of your life. You gave it everything","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/0zpyudnfo4t6v594txnbtvofvyrbqafqyzyoddukortabz2b.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/0zpyudnfo4t6v594txnbtvofvyrbqafqyzyoddukortabz2b.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}