Monday’s are hard, but only if you let them be. So many of us are used to the routine of enjoying our weekend and dreading our Monday, and it’s become so socially common to hate Mondays even if you’re having the best day. We’re here to help you master your Monday and have created a list of tips to prepare yourself for all that Monday has to throw at you. You’ve got this, and we’ve got you!
If you know that you are going to be out and about, partying or traveling all weekend, the chances are slim that you’ll actually have time to be in the right mindset come Monday morning. Plan for this in advance by getting ahead on your to do list, planning out the following week and making sure that everything is in order and ready to go when you start your day on Monday. That way, not only can you fully enjoy your weekend without stressing or worrying about the next week, but you can be ready for the busy week ahead. Walking into work or school knowing what you need to do, where all your meetings are and when your deadlines are is a surefire way to feel like you’ve got this week completely under control. Whether you make a lengthy to-do list or color code each day by the hour, just writing things down and having them in one place will move your brain clutter to paper and allow you to to have a clear head come Monday morning.
Speaking of getting organized: our tried and true organizational tool is to write down our ideal schedule, so we can stay accountable for going to the gym, prepping meals and getting ahead on work. If you write something down for a specific time, you will be much more likely to get it done than if you just say that you will do it at some point in the future. Sitting down and actually making your plan can be a daunting task, but guaranteed that once it’s done you will be relieved, prepared and happy that you did it. Your schedule should include all the tasks, goals and projects you want to accomplish during the day, week, or month. This could include the time to meal prep, the yoga and meditation classes you want to take, the lunches with friends you’ve been meaning to schedule, and last, but very not least, some YOU time.
Cleaning up goes hand in hand with getting organized. While you can have your meals for the week ready to grab and go and your bag packed by the door, you’re still going to waste 20 minutes trying to find your favorite shoes if you don’t spend some time cleaning up. It’s so easy in our constantly moving lives to let clutter pile up throughout the week, and we all have that one chair with a 4 foot tall pile of clothes on it. Try to set aside an hour to put those clothes away, clear out unnecessary clutter or papers you no longer need, and put things back where they belong around your home. You don’t need to do a complete deep clean every week, but you’ll feel calmer come Monday if everything is where it belongs. Clear home = clear head.
4. Treat Yourself To Something Special Before You Really Start The DayYou’ve made it out of bed and into the car or onto the train. You’re still not feeling ready for the list of tasks you’ve already put together. You’re excited about your lunch, but you’re probably going to have to eat at your desk. And you’re thinking “Can I crawl back into bed, please.” The answer is no, BUT you owe yourself something for making it this far. Whether it’s your guilty pleasure latte, or in our case, that latte, plus a green juice, plus a chocolate croissant, reward yourself with something nice. Take the time for yourself to appreciate that you’ve made it this far, and you’re going to do everything in your power to make this week great. Whether you have the deadline to meet, you realize you haven’t seen your friends in weeks, or whatever is on your to-do list, you will slowly, but surely chip away at it. And you’ll do so feeling very satisfied with your chocolate croissant.
Your day is what you make of it. As tempting as it is to hit snooze and blame it on the Monday blues, that’s not going to start your week positively and will set a poor tone for the rest of the week. Try to wake up 15 minutes to an hour early on Monday to start your day on a positive note, whatever that means for you. It can be doing yoga in your living room, taking a walk around your neighborhood, meditating, cooking breakfast or simply taking extra time for your routine so you don’t need to rush. Starting your Monday relaxed and positive will help you to set the tone for the rest of the week, and aid in your weekly routine as well.
We hope that these tips will help you master your Monday and help you hit the ground running to have an amazing week. Share your Monday miracles with us in the comments and what you’re doing to make this week work for you!