16 Things Successful People Do on Monday Mornings

By Jacquelyn Smith

Monday mornings are the most critical time of the workweek — they set the stage for the day and week ahead.

"Because you've stepped away for a couple days, these back-to-work mornings are the most memorable for the rest of the week," says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job."

"They influence your mindset in a positive or negative way, depending on what actions you decide to take," Taylor says.

Most successful people are keenly aware of the typical Monday-morning workplace dynamic of unanticipated events, overflow of communications, and general chaos. "But after weathering hundreds of them, they realize they must gain control and stay upbeat," Taylor explains. "They take extra steps to compensate for this busy time of the week, and apply their best management skills to ensure that the day unfolds as smoothly as possible."

Here are 16 things successful people do on Monday mornings: