The Tuesday Slump stays as long as you let it

Our Focus Mode feature, plus the science behind looking for beauty.

Onward Weekly

Onward Team

October 13, 2026

If you woke up today feeling a bit of apathy, maybe lingering anxiety or dread, you are not alone. In fact, while the 'case of the Mondays' can be a thing, behavioral psych tells us that it's actually Tuesdays that bring the biggest slump.

But regardless of which day you feel the slump, it's all about how we react to it. There's this great teaching in Buddhism called the Second Arrow. The First Arrow is the bad thing: the slump, the tiredness, the irritation. It hits you, and it hurts. But the second arrow is our reaction to it. It’s the dwelling, the stewing, the guilt, and the story we tell ourselves about the pain.

Feelings, by their very nature, are impermanent. They come and go like weather. It is our insistence on holding onto them—analyzing them, judging them, and stewing in them—that turns a passing negative feeling into a multi-day rut. You have to acknowledge the first arrow, but you don't have to hold onto the second one.

Bite-sized knowledge

The 90-Second Rule

Harvard brain scientist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor discovered that when a person has a reaction to something in their environment, there is a 90-second chemical process that happens in the body. Adrenaline and cortisol flush through your bloodstream and then completely clear out.

From a neurological standpoint, an emotional reaction only lasts 90 seconds. If you are still feeling that exact same anger, sadness, or stress 10 minutes later, it is because your brain is actively choosing to rethink the thought that re-triggers the chemical loop. You are firing the second arrow.

Give this a try

Name it and release it

The next time you feel a wave of overwhelm or apathy hit you at your desk, set a timer for 90 seconds. For that minute and a half, let yourself feel it entirely. Name it out loud: "I am feeling incredibly unmotivated right now."

But when the timer goes off, consciously refuse to feed the loop. Shift your physical environment—stand up, get a glass of water, or look out a window—and let the chemical flush complete itself.

New In Onward

Home Page coming soon!

What makes Onward stand out above the rest is our acknowledgement that you're a human who approaches every day differently and, because of that, your workflow should change to help you.

With our new Home page, you'll have a clear view of the crucial elements of your day so you can work a bit healthier.

Help yourself focus on what matters!

Open Onward

Stay Updated

Join our newsletter to get the latest updates, tips, and exclusive content for wellness-focused professionals.

By subscribing, you agree to receive emails from Onward. We respect your privacy and will never share your information.