Plenty of noises bring joy to my ears: a baby giggling, a song featuring a catchy hook, clear rushing water moving over a rocky creek bed. The sound of my alarm clock at 6 a.m. on a Monday morning never falls into that category.
Few of us live for Mondays. If you’re anything like me, Mondays arrive out of necessity. I typically find myself recovering from the weekend. Usually in my pursuit to live life to its fullest with my family and take some time to rest, real life stacks up. I’m looking at you, sink full of dishes and pile of dirty laundry.
So even though I don’t love the sound of my alarm clock, I reach over and smack the snooze button and then nine minutes later pull myself out of bed. I know Mondays set the tone for the entire week. What I do on Monday matters.
Some weeks, I ace the Monday routine. Others, I fall a little short. But if I can accomplish the following 7 tasks on a Monday, I function better for the remaining five days of the week. Let’s be honest, there’s no magic in Monday. If I do these things every day of the week, I’m living my best life. So even if you tackle them on a Tuesday or Wednesday or even Saturday, you can make a difference in your world and the world around you.
Throw in a load of laundry
Laundry presents a mental block for me nearly every day of the week. However, the challenge to begin the process is even more difficult on Mondays. For that reason, I wash two types of loads of laundry on Mondays: towels and jeans.
This is because both are easier for me to fold. I’m not mired down in matching socks or hanging complicated items up. Removing the block allows me to get something done without feeling overwhelmed.
If your washer has a timer on it, toss those towels in the night before and set the time to be done when you get out of bed. Then move them on over to the dryer while cooking breakfast and drinking your coffee.
Clean out your wallet
For our family, the weekend means more unexpected expenses along with routine shopping. By Monday, I have more paper in my wallet than necessary. So in less than five minutes, I can easily clear out the receipt clutter and reclaim my wallet. In addition, using an app like Fetch Rewards can help you track your spending and get rewarded for what you buy.
Balance your checking account
Along the same lines, since spending typically goes up over the weekend, you need to pay close attention to your checking account come Monday morning. Cleaning out and entering receipts into an app isn’t enough. You also need to follow the income and outflow.
Whether you use software like Quicken, a budgeting app or an old-school check register, make sure you reconcile those expenditures. Glance at the week ahead to see if you have any bills due, too.
Eat your veggies
Your finances are not the only thing that needs to get back on track. You may have indulged a little too much over the weekend with rich foods. It’s a great idea to increase your veggie intake at the beginning of the week, too. Focus on green leafy and colorful vegetables. French fries don’t count.
Chop and prepare an assortment of your favorite snacking veggies to place on the countertop. That way, you’ll reach for them first instead of other less than healthy options.
Check your calendar
A quick calendar check might make your week. Failing to glance over the upcoming agenda could break your week. Spend 10 to 15 minutes making note of what obligations and meetings are headed your way. Having a good handle on your week focuses your purpose.
Make a meal plan
Meal planning doesn’t have to be complicated. Open the fridge, freezer, pantry and cabinets. Build the majority of your plan on those items in your home already. From there, make a meal plan based on what you have, adding only an ingredient or two.
Center your plan on what you have instead of what you don’t. Build a simple grocery list filling in gaps where necessary.
Release stress
Beginning a new week feels stressful. Rather than allow yourself to become overwhelmed by fear and flurry, pause. Take 10 to 15 minutes to read a chapter in a book or go for a short walk. Call a friend on the phone. Find a mindfulness app or YouTube video and concentrate on your breathing.
Even in the busiest of weeks, you have time to invest in your health and well-being.
Beginning well helps you to finish well. While this list of tasks may feel overwhelming, the majority only take 10 to 15 minutes. And some can be done simultaneously. You’ll be surprised at the broad impact of your actions. And when Monday night arrives and your head hits the pillow, you’ll rest easier. And even though it’s unlikely it will ever be your favorite sound, maybe when the alarm goes off on Tuesday, it won’t feel quite as brutal.
