10 Smart Things to Do on Sunday for a More Productive Week

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How to prepare for the week on Sunday. To ensure you have a productive week, do some Sunday prep and planning… and enjoy a less stressful week ahead!

How to prepare for the week on Sunday. To ensure you have a productive week, do some Sunday prep and planning...enjoy a less stressful week ahead!

A big part of the horror of Mondays is that awful switch from your total-freedom weekend to the strict order of the workweek. 

But what if you could better prepare to have a productive week…on Sunday?

Instead of wasting the day with that weekly case of the “Sunday Scaries,” try using your Sunday productively!

Accomplish some simple things ahead of time, to ensure you’re actually ready to start the week.

Getting ready for Monday and the week ahead means that each weekday will go more smoothly. 

Which means a less-stressed YOU!

Let’s take a look at some helpful Sunday routine ideas.

You don’t have to try all of them at once of course. Just start sprinkling in some of this Sunday prep to your weekend, and see how it goes.

You might just be surprised how much less stressful your week feels!

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How do I make my Sunday productive?

Resist your urge to sleep ‘til noon!

While it may seem like a good idea to ‘catch up’ on a bunch of sleep, you’ll regret it later.

Here are 3 reasons:

  • The day will feel like it went too fast. You won’t get to fully enjoy having had the day off.
  • It’ll be harder to fall asleep Sunday night. Which of course means you’ll be extra tired and cranky Monday morning.
  • You won’t get anything done! Nothing amplifies that Monday dread like feeling totally unprepared for the day.

Of course, I’m not saying you can’t sleep in a little later.

Just make sure you’ll have enough time to do some useful preparation for the upcoming week. AND have time to relax!

How to prepare for the week on Sunday. To ensure you have a productive week, do some Sunday prep and planning...enjoy a less stressful week ahead!

Change your attitude

A negative attitude just makes everything worse!

CHOOSE to be more positive. Yep, it’s actually a choice.

You’re blessed to have a job, and that you’re physically able to work.

Not everyone in the world has that privilege. 

You’re really only hurting yourself by spending Sunday in a bad mood because you’ve decided that you hate Mondays.

Note: Do you dread Mondays because you REALLY hate your job? Check out these 5 ways to make a full-time income from home.

Okay, let’s check out some Sunday prep ideas to ensure a less stressful week ahead.

How should I prepare for the week ahead on Sunday?

1. Meal plan

Take 5-10 minutes to decide what meals you want to eat this week.

Check your fridge, pantry, and freezer to see what meals you can make out of what you already have.

Look at your store’s sales flyer to see if anything sparks some dinner ideas. Or ask other people in your house what they’d like to eat this week.

If you can keep a running list of your favorite meals, it makes creating a weekly menu super easy and fast.

Related: 10 Easy Tricks to Get Started Meal Planning This Week

💡 Pro-tip: If you absolutely HATE meal planning, try a service like Eat at Home Meal Plans

Every week, they’ll let you choose from 4 different types of meal plans. AND they give you the coordinating recipes and shopping lists. (Use code Rebecca25 to get 25% off!)

Click here to see what Eat at Home has to offer!

2. Get Groceries

Now that you know what you want to eat this week, jot down the coordinating shopping list.

Do a quick grocery shop, or place an order for pickup. You can even use a service like Shipt, and enjoy the luxury of having someone else shop and deliver your groceries.

Want to try a grocery delivery service? Click here to try SHIPT for HALF PRICE!

Once you have your groceries in hand, do a little meal prep.

That means things like hard-boiling a bunch of eggs for healthy snacks. 

Or putting several chicken breasts in the Crockpot or oven to cook. You’ll love having the cooked meat ready to add to a variety of dinners!

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How to prepare for the week on Sunday. To ensure you have a productive week, do some Sunday prep and planning...enjoy a less stressful week ahead!

3. Check Your Calendar

Part of feeling prepared for the week is knowing what to expect. 

Take a look at your calendar to see what appointments you have scheduled.

Make note of any birthdays or occasions you may need to buy cards or gifts for.

Check with your spouse or partner to see what they have going on.

Make note of the kids’ activities, or anything out of the ordinary going on that will involve effort from you. 

4. Do a Brain Dump

Take a few minutes to write down everything on your mind.

If your head feels like it’s swimming (or drowning) in to-dos, you won’t get any peace.

Without any agenda or order, just dump it all down on paper.

Then you can prioritize it, and sort it into to-do lists for each day.

You’ll sleep so much better!

How to prepare for the week on Sunday. To ensure you have a productive week, do some Sunday prep and planning...enjoy a less stressful week ahead!

5. Plan Your Outfits

Nothing puts a cog in the morning machine like taking 15 minutes to pick your outfit.

Take some time on Sunday to decide what you’ll wear each day.

Do the same for (or with) your kids. That way you can make sure what everyone wants to wear is clean and ready.

Grab a divider like one, and put an outfit in each slot.

Be sure to check the weather for the week, plus include extra things like workout clothes if applicable.

That way you won’t even have to think about it in the morning!

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6. Plan something fun

Okay, since we’re off to such a productive start, you deserve a reward!

Nobody said that the weekend is the only time you can have fun.

Plan something fun to do on Monday or midweek.

Schedule a date night or to meet a friend for coffee.

Try a new fitness class or make a manicure appointment.

Choose something you’ll really look forward to.

See, the week is looking better already, isn’t it?

How to prepare for the week on Sunday. To ensure you have a productive week, do some Sunday prep and planning...enjoy a less stressful week ahead!

7. Tidy Up

It’s SUCH a drag to wake up to a messy house.

Take some time to straighten up on Sunday. 

Here are some ideas:

  • Put away clean laundry
  • Clean all those receipts out of your purse
  • Do the dishes
  • Empty all the trash cans
  • Change the sheets (and make the bed)
  • Jot down a weekly cleaning schedule for the week 

Sure, you can do a full-on house clean if you have time. 

But I prefer to do a daily tidy, plus a few little cleaning chores every day. That way I’m never spending all day cleaning the house.

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8. Check in on your finances

Take a look at your bank account. Check your balance to make sure you haven’t overspent.

If you have, you can find ways to adjust your spending during the upcoming week.

Pay any bills that are due this week, or set a reminder in your phone or calendar to pay them on payday.

I like to check my credit score on Credit Karma (it’s totally free!) about once a month. 

That way I can make sure nothing fraudulent has happened, and that all my accounts look correct.

Tips for getting started:

How to prepare for the week on Sunday. To ensure you have a productive week, do some Sunday prep and planning...enjoy a less stressful week ahead!

9. Relax!

You’ve worked really hard today, preparing for the week.

Be sure to allow yourself some time to relax.

Here are some ideas:

  • Do a Sunday night self care routine (like having a spa night)
  • Light your favorite candle and read a book or magazine
  • Write in your journal
  • Go for a walk and get some fresh air
  • Call or Skype a friend
  • Have a game night or movie night with your family

Whatever you decide, lay off social media on Sunday night.

You’ll either get depressed reading everyone’s complaints about the weekend ending, or you’ll get jealous that your friend from 6th grade is having a blast in Hawaii. (Again.)

Make Sunday evening about what YOU enjoy. You can see what everyone else is up to tomorrow.

Related: 10 Smart Reasons to do a Social Media Detox

10. Go to bed at a reasonable time

One of the very best ways to be prepared for the week ahead is to be well-rested.

Do your ‘tomorrow self’ a HUGE favor by getting to bed on the early side.

You’ll probably be tired from having such a productive Sunday anyway.

Imagine starting the week off feeling refreshed, not dragging!

💡 Pro-tip: Find yourself dreading your mornings? Sign up for this FREE 5 Days to a Better Morning challenge!

How to prepare for the week on Sunday. To ensure you have a productive week, do some Sunday prep and planning...enjoy a less stressful week ahead!

Ready to try some of these Sunday routine ideas?

As you can see, there are many ways to prepare for a productive week on Sunday.

Then you can just roll out of bed on Monday, knowing you’ve set yourself up for a successful week.

If doing all of these things feels overwhelming, just choose one that would serve you best, and try it this weekend.

Taking some action is always better than none!

I really hope of these Sunday prep ideas have inspired you. 

And that they make your Mondays just a tiny bit better!

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How to prepare for the week on Sunday. To ensure you have a productive week, do some Sunday prep and planning...enjoy a less stressful week ahead!

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