Monday Madness (February)

Feb 16

Manic Mondays

Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day

Manic Mondays

Monday Madness (February)

Today's Musings, History & Folklore

"It's just another manic Monday!"

Having a bit of a Monday? Everything a little off kilter? Weather not cooperating? Well, maybe a bit of dancing will help if you can make it through the day. But don't be surprised if your Monday class has a bit of trouble starting up smoothly ... you'll soon be in step (or not) with this quirky 40 bar reel for 4 couples with its diagonal rights and lefts and interlocking reels.

But don't worry, the dance ends with eight hands round, so any interim muddles and mistakes can be covered up! Just check to make sure you're in the right circular order at the end!

And if you need a rationale, there’s actually a legitimate reason Mondays are challenging. For many, the weekend schedule is different than than the weekdays and we may stay up later or sleep in, shifting our body clock — then the Monday morning schedule shifts it right back again one way or another. Scientists call this “social jet lag,” and can make us groggy and slow to start the week.

Also, our mind shifts to contemplating or worrying about the upcoming week ahead on Sunday night, which adds a little extra tension.

The good news is Monday Madness fades quickly once we get moving and talking to people — which is why dancing is the perfect way to end a Monday. It certainly sets you right up for whatever Tuesday will bring! 🤪 ☔ 🌧️ 🗓️ 💃 🕺 🕺 💃

Monday Madness (February)

Mondays have always had a reputation — and not just because we forgot our dance shoes again. Psychologists sometimes call it the “Monday blues”: after two days of looser schedules, the brain has to abruptly switch back into structure. Your sleep clock is still running on weekend time, your memory is foggy, and suddenly you’re expected to remember where you parked your brain, your bag, and the 3rd progression of the dance you definitely practiced in your head. That’s why Monday mistakes are oddly predictable: late arrivals, missing items, and the mysterious inability to count to eight.

There’s even a biological reason. Stress hormones rise faster on Monday mornings than on other days of the week — especially in people who enjoy their weekends. Your body is essentially saying, “We were grazing peacefully yesterday… why are we migrating again?” Coordination and focus dip slightly, which explains why Mondays are peak days for small errors: sending emails without attachments, walking into the wrong room, or confidently dancing the previous week’s choreography.

Historically, Mondays weren’t always the dreaded start of work. In medieval Europe, many tradespeople informally took “Saint Monday” — a semi-holiday after market day or church feasts. People eased into the week slowly, finishing personal tasks before returning to full labor on Tuesday. The Industrial Revolution ended that gentler rhythm. Factory whistles demanded punctuality, and suddenly Monday became the sharp edge between freedom and obligation — a role it has never quite escaped.

So if a Monday feels unusually clumsy, it isn’t laziness and it isn’t age — it’s rhythm. Human beings naturally transition better than they restart. The modern week asks us to leap instead of step, and sometimes we land a little sideways. Fortunately, like a dance figure, once the first few bars are over, the rest of the week usually falls back into time.

For more on how Mondays can be challenging, click the poster!

Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!