Bare Minimum Mondays — The Career Flatline When self-care slips into permanent disengagement. Reignite before they resign inside.

Ritika, 34, software lead at a Pune SaaS firm, once a top performer, now starts every Monday by deleting half her tasks. “Let me breathe first,” she says. MBA in systems, nine years’ experience, but emotionally burnt out after endless weekend calls. Her manager believes she’s “slacking.” She believes she’s “surviving.” Both are right—and both are wrong.

In Berlin, Jonas, data analyst at a green-energy consultancy, follows #BareMinimumMonday religiously. He logs in at ten, finishes the essential reports, and logs off for a long walk. His boss, a believer in “output over optics,” praises his focus. Same behaviour, opposite perception.

What This Reveals About Work Relations
Bare-Minimum behaviour isn’t laziness—it’s a warning signal. When drive disappears, it means the emotional engine is overheated. HR must learn to spot “permanent Mondays” early; employees must learn to voice fatigue before it fossilises. Sustainable work is not about speed; it’s about stamina.