Mondayz amiright??

This will reveal just what a total dork I am but I actually really like Mondays, and always have! It’s a fresh start, and I always love jumping right out of the gate with a plan for the week. It would always make me sad when my kids or coworkers would grumble with a case of the Mondays, because whenever I succumbed to a case of the Mondays it just set the tone for my whole week. If you’re constantly living in the “post-weekend” it just always feels like you’re stumbling on a treadmill that’s forcing you forward against your will. I prefer a more “take the bull by the horns” approach to Mondays.

Yesterday I had a particularly awesome Monday. I’ve been taking things pretty easy since having Malone (lol and for the month or two before her arrival, lets be honest), so I’m really happy to be back onto the Monday grind. There’s just nothing like the productivity of a Monday, and it can set a productive, awesome tone for the entire week.

Fitness experts say you should never miss a Monday. Well, your planning and productivity czar Danica says the same, but about crushing your to-do list. After crushing my Monday yesterday I thought I’d write about some things that I do regularly to make my Mondays fun, productive, and generally non-miserable.

How to Crush a Monday

Start Sunday

“A Sunday well-spent brings a week of content.” I saw this quote on a dumb pinterest graphic and fell in love, because TRUUUU. I’m not saying you can’t relax and nap and lounge. You should! But start taking a little bit of time each Sunday to ensure that Monday runs a little more smoothly. On an ideal Sunday, I’d hit all of these. Start with a few that you know will work for you and your schedule, then build them into a weekly routine. (Ranked in order of my perceived importance.)

• Plan Monday and, ideally, your whole upcoming week. Make sure you know what’s required of you, what things you have coming up, etc. Make & prioritize a weekly to-do list.
• Plan something awesome to look forward to for Monday! Whether it’s your favorite lunch, a Sodalicious, watching an episode of your favorite show, making plans with a friend – whatever! It makes getting out of bed much easier.
• Prep your house. Coming downstairs to a dirty kitchen or Reese’s toys all over the living room is a fast way to start off my Monday on the wrong foot. Now on Sunday nights I ask for the Beard’s help in doing a quick once-through the house to tidy up, run the dishwasher, put things away, etc. It takes 10 minutes max and makes a huge difference.
• Pack up. When I was teaching I was always extra tired on Monday mornings and I would leave stuff or forget stuff, so I started laying things out or packing them up on Sunday night. Now I do it anytime I have somewhere to be in the morning with 2 kids, because between a car seat, a toddler, a diaper bag, and my morning can of Diet Coke I definitely don’t have any more room in my arms. I’ll pack my gym bag with water, or put mail that needs to be sent in my car ready to go. Stuff like that makes a huuuuge difference.
• Beauty Prep! Choose a 100 emoji outfit and have it ready to go. Take the time to wash your face, moisturize, brush, floss, mouthwash, clean your ears, all the tiny little extra steps you rarely take. It really does make you feel more fancy and put together.
• Early to Bed. Even if it’s just 20 minutes earlier than normal, I like to try to get in bed early on Sunday nights. It’s hard if you’ve been staying up all weekend, so sometimes I’ll take a sleep aid.
• Visualize a great upcoming week.

Wake Up Earlier

I’m not saying hours. I’m saying minutes. It’s a buffer. How many Mondays started off crappy because you were running late? Thought so. Or maybe it’s not even about being late – for me it was about the extra time before Reese woke up. An hour feels like three when it’s a toddler-less hour.

Take a Minute

Part of me wants to grumble or just motor off to some task, but the best way to start your Monday right is slowly. Prayer, meditation, scripture study, a warm mug of your favorite beverage, reading a chapter of your book – do something slow and deliberate. Your day will be completely different.

Early Wins

Pick a task that you can accomplish quickly and tackle it first thing. A big win early in the day really does help you continue the day with fire. You can even put simple things like “take medication” on your list, because we all know how good checking things off feels. Build some momentum!

Work Out

Not always possible, I know. But there’s a reason they say not to miss a Monday! Yesterday I had SO MUCH TO DO but I was committed to getting my workout in and I am so so glad I did.

Listen Up

If you don’t have a playlist for when you need to feel like a BOSS then, man. Make one today. I listened to my Queen playlist during my workout, and then listened to a podcast I’ve been super into (Up and Vanished) while I worked on freezer meals, folded laundry, and completed a bunch of my other tasks. Not only does it make dull tasks more fun, but you feel twice as productive!

Use Timers

I’ve talked about the Pomodoro Method before, but setting timers for specific tasks instantly makes me work faster. Trying to complete a task within a set time makes me faster and more efficient because I’m competitive as hell. It’s also a great way to tackle a task you hate – “I only have to do this for 10 minutes and when the timer goes off I’m done!”

Treat Yo Self

I don’t need to explain this one, do I?

I prefer to stack and crush my Mondays, even if it makes for a crazy and exhausting day. It makes the rest of the week easier and even if I do nothing else I feel pretty accomplished. Mondays are the best. They got nothing on you.