10 Ways to Make Monday a Little Easier
10 Ways to Make Monday a Little Easier
There’s this stigma around Mondays that they’re so frustrating, rushed an chaotic. Part of the reason is that we’ve spent the last two days with friends and family, relaxing and separating ourselves from work, and the idea of going back to the grind isn’t always a peaceful one, even if you are lucky enough to love what you do. BUT - there are some things you can do to make Mondays a little less crazy by seamlessly easing into the work week. Here are 10 ways to make your Monday a little easier.
Grocery shop. Shopping at farmer’s markets are a great way to get outside with your loved ones and grab some groceries for the week ahead. Stop by your local grocery store on the way home to fill in the gaps (meat, packaged items that might not be at the farmer’s market).
Prepare meals/prep foods to cook throughout the week. This is another way to hang with your significant other or friends as you hang on to the last little bit of the weekend. Cook a delicious meal for Sunday dinner and make extra leftovers to take for lunch the next couple of days. While you’re in the kitchen, prep some egg muffins and chop fruits and veggies for snacks.
Clean your home/apartment. Having a clean living space helps us feel more relaxed and organized.
Review your calendar and write to do list. I take 30 minutes for a Sunday night prep session. I like to fill in my calendar with meetings, appointments and dinner dates and create two to-do lists - one for my personal life (mani/pedi, send Mom a birthday card) and one for my work life (write blog post, film workout). Knowing what you have coming up the following week allows you to prepare instead of being surprised and feeling rushed Monday morning.
Schedule your workouts for the week. How many times have you gotten to Wednesday and realized you haven’t made time to workout? Take a few minutes to schedule your workouts into your week by adding them to your planner or the calendar in your phone. This way you have that time set aside so no appointments can creep in and take the time slot.
Make a note of your top three goals for the week. Having a few clear focuses for the week helps me get closer to my larger goals one step at a time. Writing these mini goals down allows me to prepare and visualize the steps I need to go through starting Monday morning.
Review any reports or prepare for Monday morning meetings. I include this in my 30 minute Sunday night prep session. This way I know if I need to review a shot list for a blog photoshoot or look over client programs.
Clean out and organize your gym bag, purse or briefcase. No matter what time I wake up on Monday morning I’m inevitably rushing to get out the door. There’s nothing more frustrating than being five minutes behind and searching for your car keys. Take five minutes Sunday evening to organize your purse or gym bag so you don’t have to deal with it in the morning.
Get home early Sunday night. Give yourself a couple hours Sunday night to prepare for the week ahead. Practice yoga, shower, light candles, snuggle, read a book and zen out a little before the week begins.
Plug in all electronics. I know this sounds like a no brainer, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten to the gym with dead headphones on a Monday morning.