I have a theory that everyone should work for a day or a week in a job that they truly, spectacularly detest. I think it would concentrate the mind deeply about doing work that you enjoy and help you remember that your current job is not all bad. I remember working in a job (for 6 months before I got er, downsized) where the highlights were the toast at breaktime and the possibility of getting cheaper chocolate. That job definitely didnt suit me (to paraphrase Larry Gogan after someone has failed to answer most of the quiz question!). But I know that I learned a huge amount in that joband it forced me to identify what I was really good at.

It is possible to work in a job that you enjoy going into on Monday morning (no, really it is!) but if you find yourself operating in first gear on the first day of the week, here are some pointers to get you going again. Beating the blues

1. Do you want to be a victim or a victor? In many cases its a matter of choice. Are you going to be a moaning minny or are you going to have the moan and then move on. Which would you rather be..the cheerful person who makes you feel good to be around or the martyr who makes you want to lie down after 10 minutes in their company?

2. Ask for what you wantyou might even get it! Instead of focussing on what you dont like about your work/colleagues/commute/workplace, ask yourself what you really want and explore ways to get it. For example, if commuting is driving you mad, ask about the possibilities of teleworking/flexitimeask others if they would be interestedput together a plan to present to managementContrary to popular opinion, management do not have psychic powers and will not know what you want unless you ask for it.

3. Is this Monday or is it more? If you have the Monday feeling all during the week, perhaps its time to look at your career options. Do you need to change jobs, careers? Whats really important to you nowand can you honour that in your work? For example, many career-driven women experience a major shift when they have children

4. Make connections. Its a clich, but the importance of networks in making changes cannot be overestimated. If you work in a large company, see if you can get to know other people in other departments. You never know when opportunities could appear and at the very least you will get to know more people. Sit beside someone new at lunchtime, strike up a conversation with a co-worker you dont know

5. Connect to a bigger purpose: I remember once commenting on the importance of the devices they made to a worker in a medical devices company and she confessed that she rarely thought about that any moreeven though these devices literally saved peoples lives. What is the bigger purpose of your work? Who do you serve in your work? How could you serve them better?

6. Ask for help. Most of us are brought up to believe that self-sufficiency and independence is the way to go, but is it really so bad to ask for help? How do you feel when someone asks for your help? I doubt very much if you sneer at them and dismiss them contemptuously so what makes you think others will be less co-operative. You may need to choose your timing but in general people are more than happy to help