Monday mornings are the worst. That’s just a universal fact, right?! When I was working outside the home is was hard to get motivated – even though you had to be! Now, working from home, I have the option of staying in my pyjamas, sleeping in (did I mention my kids know how to turn on paw patrol by themselves? lol), and pushing my work back. I’ve never been a morning person, and it’s crazy hard to start now. But I need to. As an entrepreneur I have to be motivated to get stuff done, so I’ve worked hard over the past few years, and I have found a few tricks that I can do over the weekend to make for a productive Monday!
7 Things You Should Do for a Productive Monday:
Meal Planning like a Boss
When I’m on top of my meal planning, I’m on top of my organizational game. I take some time on the weekend to fill out this grocery list. I fill out the meals I want to make, and then the groceries I need for those meals. Then on top of that I can do a little early meal prep too, like cutting up veggies for snacks and thawing meat for meals. If you can do this on Sunday, you’re armed with a plan and a grocery list that you don’t have to worry about Monday morning!
Get the Laundry Done
Some people are really good at doing one load of laundry a day and folding one load a day. I’m not one of those people. I’m a bulk launderer, lol. This is where you may have to find your own work-life balance. There’s nothing I hate more than trying to get the kids dressed in the morning, and having to search through laundry bins or not being sure if it’s still in the hamper. Laundry washed, dried, and folded before Monday is a miracle.
Write Out Your Weekly To-Do List
I’m a list-maker. And a paper and pen list-maker at that. I need to physically write out my tasks so that I can cross them off later. If I take some time on the weekend to plan out my week – work tasks for Monday through Friday, and any appointments, play dates, or errands – my whole week goes smoother, and by Monday morning I already know the plan so I’m ready to get started and have a productive day.
Clean out Your E-mail Inbox
This is a quick and easy Sunday night task. Weekends are full of sales e-mails and junk we don’t read. Clean it all out, including the stuff you neglected or skipped over during the week. Leave your inbox ready for the new, important work e-mails so that you can focus on the important info and have a productive Monday morning.
Clean the House
Cleaning is the worst. Unless you’re Danny Tanner, you’ll probably agree with me! But there’s no question that you get more done in a clean house (it’s that darn work-life balance again)! When the house is dirty I use it as an excuse to procrastinate… “Oh, I better just wipe all these counters before I start working”. But I clean house makes you feel ready to work and always increases productivity.
Clean Your Work Space
Every week, without fail, my desk piles up with papers, receipts, half finished DIY projects, and craft supplies. I try to clean off my desk when I do my whole home clean up. I’ll set it up so that things I have to work on Monday morning are out and ready for me, but the rest goes away!
Take Time for Yourself
This is the MOST important one. If I don’t find time to relax, it seems like my work week never ended. One work week just rolls into the next and you never get a break. Read a book, watch a movie with your family, invite someone for dinner, or go out with friends. We often take time on the weekends to continue our renovations, but really that’s still part of my “work life”. Taking time to refresh in your personal life on the weekends will help get you ready for Monday mornings.
Here are some tips to help you maintain a Work-Life Balance!
