Is Sunday a dreaded day for you? Even if you have a pleasant day planned, there is always that feeling in the pit of your stomach that another work-week is just hours away.
What if I told you that there was a way that you could take that dread down a notch! Sunday can be turned into an incredibly productive day to plan and prepare for the week ahead. Just a few hours of prep can take many of the inconvenient, time-sensitive chores out of your stressful work week!
Below are 9 habits that I have formed to set my week off to a fantastic start!
1.) Meal Prep the Easy Way
Don’t skip this! Meal prepping may seem like a difficult task, but it can be super easy! Although it takes some effort in the beginning, meal prep can quickly become easy and second nature. Take the following steps:
- Write down the quickest and healthiest meals you already know how to make.
- Pinterest and Google “healthy quick meals”. You will be surprised what you find!
- Make a list of ingredients you will need to make those meals.
- Don’t forget healthy snacks! (Dried fruit, nuts, veggie chips, trail mix, etc.)
View this as a challenge! For the emergency meals, you can even buy some healthy microwaveable meals (although nothing beats fresh). And don’t forget the bonus of a leftovers-meal!
In the beginning, I had to find what worked for me too! I was able to create an easy and healthy meal plan that only took a few hours at the beginning of each week. All meals completely finished!
Related Article: 11 Weekly Meal Prep Ideas That’ll Make Your Life So Much Easier
2.) Go Grocery Shopping
Don’t save this for the work week – especially if you dread grocery shopping!
Stock your fridge and pantry with healthy, yummy food and snack options.
Even if you like to shop from memory, take the time to sit down and write out a list. This will make your shopping trip quicker and more cost-effective.
Pro Tip: Eat before going shopping because you are 10x more likely to buy unnecessary snacks if you are hungry.
3.) Update Your Magnetic Fridge Calendar – Purchase One!
Each Sunday evening, I update my fridge calendar with the weekly schedule. Since I am a very visual person, this changed my life!
Each time I go into my kitchen, I see a calendar that reminds me of what I need to do each day! I write down my meal-of-the-day, my workout time, any event we are attending, and even a few inspirational quotes! I also have a magnetic shopping list that I can update each time I run out of a food item.
4.) Choose Your Outfits for the Week
“What do I wear today!? I have 50 seconds before I have to run out the door!”
Have you ever arrived at work and realized your shirt had a big stain on it or your pants were coming un-hemmed? This can be avoided by simply planning and inspecting your outfits ahead of time.
Inspect, iron, and hang up the outfits that you are going to wear each day. If you wear jewelry, find a piece that works well with the outfit. This is a simple Sunday task that can take some stress out of your morning routine.
Related Article: 9 Serious Signs You Have No Work-Life Balance
5.) Set Aside One Hour For Yourself
This hour can be made VERY productive!
Give yourself a manicure, pedicure, or facial. Light a few candles and take a bath. Sit down with your favorite magazine or use Pinterest to search some of your interests.
Make this time all about you! You can even work this tip into your week, especially if you are looking for ways to effectively relieve your stress. Tip: You can take a bath with a face mask and follow it up with a manicure or pedicure. Multi-taking can be relaxing and productive too!
6.) Do Something Meaningful
What is important to you? Family, friends, fitness, church? Sunday can often feel like a sad, wasted day leading up to the work week.
Plan to do something that you find enlightening and productive! I go to church each Sunday morning, a place where I reset my mental and spiritual batteries to prepare for the week ahead. I also connect with friends and enjoy catching up with those I care about.
Don’t spend your day on the couch watching Netflix! Start doing something that will make you feel constructive and positive – a great way to start a new week!
7.) Plan A “Treat Yourself” Day
This doesn’t mean a day at the spa! Most of us live on a budget, right?
Choose a day in the week that you can buy something nice for yourself. A drink at Starbucks, a small online purchase, a special lunch, a pedicure, a dinner-date with friends, a snack from the vending machine – something that you can look forward to! Just make sure it fits into your budget.
8.) Prepare For The Next Morning
Although you have already meal-prepped, there are still some other morning routines you can knock out the night before!
Pre-load the coffee maker; set out your breakfast cereal with a bowl and spoon; portion out your daily snacks into Ziploc bags; locate your car keys; have your coat and shoes by the door.
Accomplish as many Monday-morning tasks as you can the night before. You don’t have to start your work week off stressed and rushed!
9.) Get Your Sleep!
Nothing is worse than starting the work week off feeling sleep-deprived and grumpy.
Taking the steps to maintain a healthy lifestyle is incredibly important. A good night sleep can do wonders for the Monday Morning Blues. Turn the TV off, set your alarm, put your phone on silent, and dim the lights a half-hour before bed. Bright lights and electronic screens don’t allow your brain to relax and enter rest-mode.
Give yourself a full 8 hours of sleep, so you can wake up rested and ready for a productive day.
Related Article: 12 Easy Nighttime Habits for Better Sleep
When I started to implement these hacks into my Sunday, my week-day mornings became less rushed and more peaceful. I didn’t have to check the time every few minutes to make sure I wasn’t going to be late for work! Sunday became one of my most productive days, helping me to be successful the rest of the week.
Start implementing these hacks in your life! You will be surprised how much progress you will see from implementing even one of the suggestions listed above. Let us know what your favorite hack is!
If you have any questions about this article, just let us know in the comment section below! We’d be happy to help you out!
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