6 Sunday Habits For A Successful Week
Sunday brings about so many emotions! The feeling of another wonderful day off along with maybe some anxiety that the weekend is over and the hectic pace of the work week is about to begin. There was a time in my life when I got the Sunday blues – around 4 pm I started losing my relaxed zen state and began the mental checklist of the week. I saw a meme one day that called it SMONDAY – “the moment when Sunday stops feeling like a Sunday and the anxiety of Monday kicks in.” But what if we flipped the script and began to use Sunday as a day of preparation instead of obsessing about the week ahead. Sunday is the perfect day to set aside some “me time”, to reset and get your mind right and ready for what you have on your plate for the week ahead. I began this practice about 15 years ago and have found that when I stick to this practice, not only is my week better, but so is my entire family’s week. Here are my 6 tips to lead to a productive and less stressful week:
1) Have a slow morning – sometimes Sunday is the only day of the week that I don’t have to be up by a certain time. I get the luxury of sleeping in a little and just taking my time getting started. I love the quiet and peace of Sunday morning before my husband and daughter are up or our puppy Remi. I use this time to reflect, pray, have a cup of tea and just let my body wake up naturally. Sometimes I sit outside on my back porch or even go for a walk or run.
2) Write a to do list for the week – think about what you have to do in the coming week and make a list or put it in your calendar on your computer or on your phone. I used to call this time “calendaring”. I pull up my work calendar because I schedule all meetings and appointments here. Many times this jogs my memory of dr. appointments or meetings I had scheduled some time ago. I can then see what else I have going on to see if I can take my daughter to her appointment or if I need help from my husband or maybe my sister. I am able to see birthdays or important dates for those I love and it gives me time to buy the card or order the flowers. Sometimes I am surprised and find something on the calendar that I had forgotten about and it allows me to get myself prepared. I also take the time to schedule my work outs – seeing everything together at one time helps me balance my days and week. I easily see if a day is over-scheduled and if I need to move things around so I am not overwhelmed and can dedicate the time and focus necessary. Lastly, I try to return outstanding emails or texts that may have fallen through the cracks the prior week.
3) Meal prep – ahhhh – this has changed my life. And it doesn’t have to be a huge deal. You can make it as simple as making a quick menu for the week or go as far as cooking several meals to help make your evenings easier. Because I am focused on my health and wellness journey, I find meal prep a huge help in me making smarter choices. I prep my shakes and snacks so I just can grab and go each day without stopping to prepare everything and possibly just grabbing the cookies or chips because it’s easy. I like to involve my daughter in our menu selection so that she feels a part of the process. Many days she likes to help cook the meal. We also know upfront which days are super busy and may require an easier option or even the days when ordering take out is the best solution
4) Plan any key outfits or needs for meetings, kids events etc.
Is there something that you need to make sure is laundered?
Do you need to order something quickly on amazon? You know how our kids and husbands come at us last minute with stuff.
5) Make time for self-care – Sunday is the perfect day to find time for a little self-care. Take time to take a nap – oh my goodness, a nap is like a precious gift to me. Or watch a movie you’ve been wanting to see. Go to Starbucks and treat yourself to some “me time” and your favorite drink, schedule a call with your girls and catch up and laugh, check-in with family members, whatever brings your heart joy make sure you make time for it. It’s truly the little things that make our days fulfilling.
6) Go to bed early – it feels good to begin the week refreshed, recharged and ready to go. I try my best to get into bed early – even if I’m not sleepy I find getting into bed and reading or journaling, catching up on a good show or movie to be relaxing and a great start to having a productive stress-free week. Being rested and having a clear clutter free mind is a winning combination to success!