Mondays hit different when you're a CTO. You're not just clearing your inbox — you're unblocking teams, reviewing fire-fighting messages, overseeing budgets, and wondering if that AI side-project you dreamt about will ever ship.
Here’s how I personally tackle Monday blues — without caffeine overload or performative hustle:
1. Start with Silence, Not Slack
I don’t open WhatsApp, Gmail, or Redmine first thing. I open my priority sheet and ask:
“What’s the single most impactful decision I need to take today?”
2. Set the Pace in Standup
Forget casual check-ins. I ask:
- “What will you close by EOD?”
- “Who or what is blocking you?”
- “What’s not in Redmine that should be?”
It’s not about micromanaging — it’s about protecting momentum.
3. Ship Something Small Early
Be it a quick PR review, infra tweak, or assigning a Redmine ticket — I ship something before noon.
It resets the narrative: “Today was productive.”
4. Carve Time for High-Agency Work
Mondays aren't for meetings. I schedule one deep hour for strategic tasks:
- Product pivots
- Reviewing metrics
- Technical architecture This isn’t escape — it’s vision enforcement.
5. Close With Clarity
Before signing off, I write down:
- ✅ What worked
- 🔥 What broke
- 🎯 What’s tomorrow’s single goal
End the day with direction — not burnout.
Final Thought
CTOs don't get to wait for motivation. We architect it.
If your Mondays are drowning you, build a workflow that carries your brain, not burdens it.