6 Ways to Prepare for the Week Ahead
Preparing for the week 
ahead is one of the best ways to have a successful Monday (and a successful week). Sundays are always reserved for me and things that need to get done. I’ll go to church and have lunch with my family—or do an early brunch—but that’s typically the extent of how much I get out of the house on Sunday. That’s just the way I like it, though, because being mentally, physically, and emotionally prepared for Monday helps me to keep my positive attitude up for the rest of the week. Below you’ll get to read about my top 6 ways that I prepare for the week ahead!
Enjoy Your Coffee
One of my favorite things to do on a Sunday morning is sit down, relax, and enjoy my coffee as I do something that isn’t mentally taxing. Usually—for me, at least—that’s either writing, updating my blog, or simply reading the news. Starting your day off with a sense of peace helps you stay on task for the rest of the day. Not to mention, everyone needs to be able to sit down and enjoy their coffee. It’s one of the best parts of the morning by far.
Clean the House
I am the type of person that if the house is dirty, I can’t think let alone try to get something productive done. So, that’s why I always start my Sundays off after my morning coffee with cleaning the house. I usually wake up around seven, so I typically start cleaning around eight. I do everything from washing and putting away the dishes and clothes to sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming. I usually finish around lunchtime—earlier when my husband offers to help—but I don’t take any breaks until I’m finished. Having a clean house has always made me feel better about the week because you never have to come home knowing that there’s stuff to get done (besides anything that was already on your list like schoolwork in my case).
Meal Prep
Meal prepping. It sounds
like a daunting task. I mean, it honestly really is daunting, but it is so rewarding for the week ahead. I never do anything crazy when I meal prep for lunches, so they always end up with some vegetable and some sort of protein. Not only does it save me money (fast food gets really expensive sometimes), but it also saves me from eating unhealthy choices especially since I only have a thirty-minute lunch break. Choose something that you really love to eat—it’s chicken for me—and make that with a few sides. Whatever I cook is usually super simple and can just be seasoned and thrown in the oven while I do other things, so make sure you’re not spending too much time on fancy meals!
Check Your Calendar
Once I’m finished meal prepping, eating lunch, and cleaning up after myself, I sit down at my desk to review that week’s tasks. I have a paper planner and usually won’t even add the events into my phone’s calendar, so I’ll open that up to see what’s on the agenda for that week. Sometimes, I’ll add work events if I have to travel for them, but most of the time, my work schedules and to-do lists stay completely separate from my home ones. It’s just easier that way.
Make a Weekly To-Do List
Weekly to-do lists have got to 
be the single-most important step on this list. It helps my brain stay focused on what needs to get done. On top of reviewing my planner, making this to-do list with everything that has to get done helps me to never forget about events and due dates. I can’t even remember the last time I forgot to turn something in or forgot about an event with my family and friends. Making these to-do lists also helps me stay motivated during the week because I add little checkmarks next to anything that I complete. It’s the little things, for sure!
Make Sure You Get 8 Hours of Sleep
So, this one is hard for a lot of people. Eight hours of sleep? You must think I’m crazy and have too much time on my hands. The thing is, though, I prioritize my sleep because I know that if I get too much or too little sleep, I’ll be a bear Monday morning. No one wants that (especially not my coworkers). Usually by the time I’m finished cleaning, meal prepping, and planning out my week it’s around suppertime. So, I eat, chill out for a bit, and then prepare for bed. I like to make sure I have enough time for a movie, too, because it helps me wind down (I stay away from horror, suspense, and thrillers at night). Most of the time it just ends up being a good Disney movie, though.
Mondays are rough, but you always have the ability to make them better. When you set your mind to it and prepare on Sundays, Mondays don’t have to be the worst thing in the world. I usually go to bed knowing that I’ve done everything I can to make my week the best yet. Wake up Monday morning with a great mindset, get a healthy breakfast, and enjoy the week ahead!
