It’s 12:00 noon on Sunday at my house and I’m gearing up for another busy week.
I’m about to start preparing for our last full week of school plus a typical week of work meetings, family obligations and appointments along with hosting my mother-in-law from out of town and a baby shower this weekend.
Sound familiar?
Whatever your week holds, here are a few ideas for getting it off to a good start that helps you face Monday with an “I’m ready for an amazing week!” mentality instead of, “Ugh, another week to get MORE behind!”
The main idea is to focus on what you can do to feel organized and on top of things so that when the inevitable unforeseen complications hit, you can handle them gracefully instead of letting them drown you.
Check out more ideas on my post called Tab’s Tips: A smooth morning starts the night before.
Here’s what I’m doing today. Maybe my list will spark some ideas for you.
1. Balancing my checkbook.
I do most of my shopping on Saturdays so I like to see what my bottom line is as I head into a new week so that if I need to purchase something (business or personal), I can just glance at my account balance to tell if I can do it.
2. Cleaning out my purse.
I get rid of the gum wrappers, receipts, errant business cards, old grocery lists, etc. and remove anything I accumulated over the week that doesn’t belong, then I restock my tissues, gum, lip gloss, etc. I also see if I need to clean the actual purse.
I don’t want to be the lady digging around in my purse with junk falling out when I’m looking for a pen during a meeting.
3. Washing my delicates and hand-wash-only items.
I have a few camisoles and blouses that can’t go in the washer so getting them washed and hung to dry all at once really works.
4. Puttering.
I will tidy up my favorite chair and table, sort through my jewelry, clean off my desk, wash my makeup brushes, put away the decorative Easter eggs that are still out, rearrange my sideboards…just little projects that take a few moments each but that clear the clutter and keep things organized and looking pretty.
To read my post about the definition of puttering, click here.
If you need more ideas, check out my Puttering Pinterest board.
5. Looking at my calendar.
I use a paper planner and write down everything from appointment times to what my boys need to wear for Spirit Week to calls I need to make to short to-do lists.
I look at my week and add as much as I can so that everything is at a glance, including directions to new places and errands I need to complete. It helps me feel less scattered.
6. Planning my outfits.
I hang them in my closet or just have them laid out in my dresser. Workout clothes, work clothes, play clothes…I put outfits together along with accessories and shoes so I’m not scrambling every morning.
7. Thinking about meals.
I try to take time to map out meals and hit the grocery store before the week starts. I also like to make a pitcher of iced tea or cook up some chicken on Sunday to have for the week. I make sure to have a few last-minute meals ready, too, like a frozen lasagna or quick-heat soup for nights when I can’t cook.
8. Doing a brain dump.
I like to end and begin the week by getting everything out of head and onto paper. Whether it’s an idea, an upcoming project, a task that needs to be completed or a phone call I’ve been putting off, I try to clear my mind and put action to the things that are weighing on me.
You can read my post about using a brain dump to create your to-do list by clicking here.
No, I don’t do all of these every week. And you have to figure out what works for you and your lifestyle.
But I hope that with a little preparation, these tips for starting your week off right can help you have a more joyful, beautiful and low-stress week, too.
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