Monday Meltdown feat. Backronym Blues

Background Bits

It’s Monday again, and if you’re not feeling those bubbly Monday vibes like I am, don’t worry – you’re not the only one!

During the pandemic, WorkLife addressed a LinkedIn survey which found that 66% of professionals experience the “Sunday Scaries,” and a whopping 41% noted that the pandemic had exacerbated these feelings.

In 2023, Human Resources Online reported that a survey by Zety showed that 41% of employees regarded Monday as their most disliked day, with a high pressure environment, heavy workloads, and numerous meetings being the main culprits.

If you’re one of those professionals susceptible to Sunday Scaries, Monday Blues, or an advocate of a Bare Minimum Munday, why don’t you flip the coin and check the other side of the medal with – backronyms?

Backronyms. Because Acronyms Are for Rookies.

Acronyms, Backronyms, Acrostics…

If you haven’t heard of backronyms, chances are you have heard of acronyms. So let’s start from the beginning.

Acronyms are words created from initial letters of known phrases. Think NASA = National Aeronautics and Space Administration, UNESCO = United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or CAPTCHA = Completely Automated Public Turing Test to tell Computers and Humans Apart. (Yes – that’s what CAPTCHA means, in case you missed it.)

Backronyms, also known as bacronyms, are words that are retroactively given a meaning. That is, in the beginning (there) was a word, and its meaning was built around it later. Kind of like reverse linguistic engineering. Remember GOLF – Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden?

It’s also worth noting that backronyms should not be confused with acrostics. An acrostic is a literary form in which the first letters of each line, usually a full sentence, in a poem or text spell out a word or message when read vertically. Famous poets that wrote acrostics include John Keats, Edgar Allan Poe, Lewis Carrol, and others.

Using Backronyms

The term “backronym” was first used in 1983 by The Washington Post in a wordplay contest.

Backronyms often include clever, funny, or motivational content. They are memorable, quirky, and witty, which makes them excellent tools wherever wordplays and creative language are needed.

Politicians and organizations sometimes use backronyms to rebrand controversial terms. For example, the USA PATRIOT Act was subsequently dubbed as Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001.

Furthermore, they are often used in hackathons, teambuilding events, and product launches, while some companies even retroactively invent meanings for their brand names using backronyms – a prime example of how branding meets storytelling.

Personally, I love using backronyms as part of PREXcoaching® – either as a coaching instrument, mnemonic device, or a creative challenge for mastering the storytelling skill mentioned above. It’s an excellent warm-upper, brain teaser, and language exercise.

And to stay on that track – if Monday hits you like a freight train – take the weight off your shoulders with my favorite selection of Monday Blues backronyms from the gallery.

Over to You

Do you have your own interesting or quirky Monday Blues backronyms? Get in touch and let us know.

If you like this post and are a fan of backronyms, share the fun with your friends and family.

And remember – keep your mind sharp and your smile brighter.