If Mondays feel like they’re killing you, new research suggests your body might actually agree. Scientists have found that anxiety tied to the start of the week leaves a measurable biological trace—one that can stick around for months.
Researchers in the UK analyzed hair samples from over 3,500 older adults and discovered something somewhat disturbing. People who reported feeling anxious on Mondays had cortisol levels up to 23 percent higher than those who were stressed on other days. Cortisol, if you need a reminder, is the hormone your body pumps out when it thinks things are about to go very wrong. It’s your fight-or-flight hormone.
The hair was tested weeks later. Which means the stress from one day, Monday, was still showing up months after it hit.
Monday Anxiety Is Wreaking Havoc on Your Body
This wasn’t just a work thing either. Even people who had already retired showed the same pattern, which suggests your nervous system might still be clocked in whether or not you are.
The study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, didn’t find the same effect for anxiety reported on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or literally any other day. Only Mondays left a long-term hormonal footprint. It’s unclear why, but whatever Mondays are triggering, it’s something your body doesn’t seem to shake off.
Cortisol spikes aren’t just a mood issue. Long-term elevation can damage your immune system, mess with your heart, raise your blood pressure, and increase your risk of diabetes. Not coincidentally, heart attacks and cardiac deaths are already more common on Mondays. Doctors refer to it as the “Monday effect.” This study suggests it might be more than a coincidence.
The lead author, Dr. Tarani Chandola, stated that the results indicate most people don’t adapt to Monday stress over time. And for some, the anxiety builds a pattern their body carries, whether or not their calendar says “weekend.”
So, you’re actually not being dramatic. Monday dread might be chipping away at your biology, slowly and repeatedly, without your conscious consent.
You may think you survived another Monday. Your body might not agree. And the evidence could literally be growing out of your scalp.
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