In the hustle and bustle of modern work life, many of us eagerly await Fridays, counting down the days until the weekend arrives, our ticket to freedom from the workweek grind.
We often find ourselves living for those precious Saturdays and Sundays.
Yet, there's a different way to approach each day, one that can bring a change in your mindset and help reduce stress during your work weeks.
Much like the protagonist in the famous movie Groundhog Day: once he finds out how to live properly, he is no longer stuck in time.
So, you might ask, what is this wonder approach?
It’s called TGIT*.
Years ago, I learned this approach by reading Richard Carlson's inspiring book, "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff at Work." In its pages, he proposed the TGIT club: Thank God It's Today.
This club differs from the TGIF (Thank God** It’s Friday) and TGIM (Thank God It’s Monday) clubs.
TGIF members typically look forward to the weekend and are keen to leave their work behind as soon as they can. There’s even an American restaurant chain called TGI Fridays. Their slogan is “In here it's always Friday”. For this club Sunday is not a good day as it’s the day before the work week starts all over again.
During my professional career I have regularly met these club members. More than once the response to my “how are you doing?” was: “well, doing okay, it’s already Thursday so luckily not long before the weekend starts” or “it’s already Wednesday so a good chunk of the week has passed”.
After reading Richard Carlson’s book and embracing the TGIT concept, I felt sorry for my colleagues and counterparts who expressed those TGIF feelings. I would have loved to tell them about TGIT, but I also realized that without proper context they would just stare at me thinking that it might be a good idea to get my head examined. This post is to make up for those lost opportunities.
TGIM members, on the other hand, are a mixed bag. They might be workaholics, family people with spouses and offspring that keep them tied down during the weekend or they just enjoy their work so much they can’t wait for Monday to come. For them Friday is a difficult day because it’s the last day before the weekend kicks in. Working during the weekend is complicated. Co-workers are not around. Bringing your kids to their sports match and cheering for them eats away hours of your precious time that could have been used to finish that report or proposal.
The third group, the TGIT club, is a special breed; they are those who understand that every day is unique and holds something valuable to offer. TGIT members are individuals who savor each day, who wake up with gratitude in their hearts, and who don't wish for it to be any other day than today. They don't reserve their enthusiasm solely for Fridays, Mondays or weekends; instead, they find joy and fulfillment in the present moment.
Of course, we all have our off days, moments when we'd rather stay home under the blankets. That's perfectly normal. However, embracing a TGIT approach can help shift your mindset. It encourages you to seize the opportunities presented by each day and find the beauty in whatever crosses your path. It's about living life to the fullest every day of the week.
One work tip that I was taught and that I would like to pass on is to approach each task with curiosity, however administrative or mundane it may seem at first.
For example, one colleague complained about the fact that she had to make meeting minutes. She felt she was too senior to be asked to do something like minuting. Unfortunately she complained to the wrong person, i.e. the Global Contract Management Lead. She asked the complainer who were attending that particular meeting. When the complainer mentioned the meeting attendees, apparently a very senior group, the Global Lead exclaimed she would have loved to have taken the notes herself (!).
If you approach your work with curiosity, eager to learn every day, you might be surprised how that can change your perspective and make your daily routine more interesting. For instance, try to optimize admin processes. Look at these processes from a business perspective. Try to create an innovative approach or tool, a new way of dealing with the task at hand.
To give some examples, I have introduced in my projects the gift log concept, 360 degrees feedback on my own performance as a manager, application of Clifton Strengthsfinder to distribute responsibilities, etc.
To address the TGIF feeling in your private life I’d encourage you to watch the movie Groundhog Day. Additionally, surprise your spouse, partner or even yourself with some fun activity during the week, every now and then (dinner, movie night, etc.). Kevin Costner’s character in the movie “Rumor has it” explains this well: “Life has to be a little nuts sometimes. Otherwise it's just a bunch of Thursdays strung together”.
My advice to the TGIM club members would be to embrace the weekend in the same way they appreciate the weekdays. Understand what aspects of work life make you tick and extrapolate it onto the weekends. Just a simple example. If you like to mentor or coach co-workers, you might also find ways to mentor your kids.
I appreciate the TGIT concept is simple to write down and hard to implement in daily life. I am also still learning every day. Yet, if you are willing to embrace it, you may soon start to see positive improvements in your work and personal life. I wish you all the best.
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* In the Muslim world the weekend starts on Thursday evenings. Hence TGIT for a part of the Muslim labor force means Thank God (or Allah) It’s Thursday, similar to TGIF for Westerners.
** God or Goodness or Mother nature, whichever fits you best.
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