Mondays are difficult… Especially after a long weekend. Phew! The truth is it is inevitable; there is no running away from scary Mondays! So, I decided to tackle Monday through Sunday and that has by far been the best approach. Now do not expect yourself to magically fall in love with the idea of going to work on a Monday morning. That is impossible but you will be prepared to take on the challenges the first day of your workweek throw at you. Isn’t that good enough?

Meal Prep

It’s just a personal preference. Instead of spending time planning and preparing my meals every single day, I prefer utilizing my lazy Sunday afternoon to do that all at once. Nothing screams convenience than a grab-and-go meal prepared by yourself. Even if you are a stay-at-home or work-from-home mom, this will give you some time advantage during the week. You can either take that time to read a book, spend more time with your little one, or even find some time for your afternoon beauty nap. The idea is to adapt to some sort of order so that you don’t feel rushed and all over the place on a day-to-day basis. The truth is, we are all busy and life can get hectic sometimes but by doing little things in a more orderly manner you can ease the tension. Isn’t that what we want?

Do your ‘to-do’!

I maintain separate to-do lists for work and personal errands. First, I run through my schedule for the week and if I have any client calls/meetings that require any prep work done beforehand, I pen it on my work to-do list. Once that is done, I note down any personal errands I have to run (doctors’ appointments, grocery shopping, salon appointment, and all things personal)

One thing I used to do, when I had a 9 to 5 work-life, was breakdown Monday hourly. Simply because I can be quite slow on a Monday morning by having a clear mind and a precise to-do list, I could just jump right in, instead of trying to get organized in the morning. What we need to understand is, we work with people who also might not like Monday’s and being forgetful and unorganized can trigger someone else’s frustration and we don’t want to do that now do we? So just take fifteen minutes off your Sunday to get your scheduling sorted.

Plan your outfits

This is something I’ve watched my mom do every Sunday. She takes about half an hour and keeps her clothes ready/ironed for the entire workweek. Although I haven’t practiced this myself, I think this could make your morning less rushed. If you have any meetings or functions that week just keep them in mind when selecting your outfits. (You must also consider the weather) Once this is done, you don’t have to worry about waking up a little late on Monday (or any other day of the week). So, you can go ahead and set your alarm a little later because you don’t have to worry about what you’re wearing.

Quick declutter

Your room, vehicle, handbag… anything that needs your attention, just declutter and organize Sunday evening. I like to change my bed linen, clear my worktable (at home), add some fresh flowers to my room, and so on. Clear your bag/wallet, throw away any bills/receipts. Clutter can undermine one’s productivity. So, try to start your week clutter-free.

Monday playlist

No matter how prepared we are to take on Monday, it may seem like Mondays have a way of throwing us off. Music can help you boost your mood and help you maintain a certain level of momentum going. I find a good playlist to be of immense help to get through a slow Monday.

 Unwind

Finally… darling just pours yourself a glass of wine and delve into a good read… Normally I would say a cup of coffee but with Monday on the horizon, a glass of wine should do. Don’t you think…? (coffee, tea. anything is fine) Just relax and unwind before you take on the week…