There’s no worse feeling than when 5:00 pm hits on a Sunday night and the “Sunday Scaries” kick in. We’ve all been there and it’s not a great tone to set for the new week ahead. It’s a bit cliche but thinking about Mondays as a fresh slate, a blank page, and, a chance to start the week over helps change your mindset to feel less anxiety.
For our family, Sundays are the best day to get organized, clean up, update to-do lists and discuss the week ahead. Below are a few habits that we’ve put into place to beat the Sunday Scaries and we hope these can inspire ideas for yourself and your family.
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1. Make a Master To-Do List
For this first step, you are going to transfer all of the thoughts swirling around in your mind and put them on a piece of paper as your master to-do list. This is the time to check your calendar for the week, make note of any upcoming appointments, work projects, kids’ activities, errands, groceries, your spouse’s schedule, or whatever you may have, and write it down.
Tip: I find it super helpful to use these magnetic notepads that I keep on our refrigerator to keep track of my notes for the week. Otherwise, I am also guilty of putting the notepad in the drawer and pretending my responsibilities don’t exist.
2. Pick Your Daily Priorities
Now, once you’ve made your list hopefully you feel a little better about having it out of your brain and on a piece of paper. It is now helpful to review your list, organize it by category and then assign out your priorities for each day. By separating your to-do list it makes the overwhelming list of items more manageable.
Example: My top 3 priorities for Monday include completing my work presentation, getting to my dentist appointment, and picking up the birthday cake for my son’s birthday.
3. Do a Quick Home Tidy-Up
Nothing makes me feel better than a clean home! A clean and tidy space helps you think more clearly and sets the tone for the upcoming week. Take 30 minutes on Sunday evening to reset your living areas by cleaning your dishes, starting the dishwasher, wiping down the countertops, vacuuming your main areas, picking up toys, putting away any miscellaneous items in their correct places, and folding your laundry.
4. Meal Plan (Just a Little)
You don’t need a spreadsheet of meals and snacks, but having a rough idea of what’s for dinner a few nights this week saves time and money. Even planning 3 easy go-to meals can take the pressure off that midweek “what’s for dinner?” question.
5. Plan Out Your Outfit(s)
It might sound silly, but what you wear on Monday can set the tone for your week. Choose something that makes you feel put-together and confident, even if you work from home. Bonus if you pick out your outfits for the entire week.
If you have kids, also picking out their outfits for the week will be helpful. I recently saw this clothes organizer on Amazon and wish I had it growing up! You could also easily make your own days of the week labels and tape them to an organizer you already have.
6. Sunday Night Tradition
Start a Sunday night tradition that you look forward to every week. Whether it’s ordering from your favorite neighborhood restaurant for dinner or taking time to yourself to read, work on a hobby or, watch your favorite show.
7. Get to Sleep Early
This may seem like an obvious one but we’re all guilty of staying up too late scrolling or watching a TV show. Try to get into your bed extra early on Sundays to wind down and start the week refreshed.
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