Sunday is the perfect day to prepare for the upcoming week. If you often feel stressed on Monday mornings, taking a few moments to unload all the thoughts and to-dos from your mind the day before can help. This allows you time to strategize and plan how and when you will get things done. With just a few simple steps, you can ensure that your week will start smoothly and with minimal stress. Here are five of my favorite Sunday habits.
What do successful people do on Sunday?
They plan. They don’t leave their week up to chance, instead, they take proactive action, and with the details in one place, proceed to make a game plan on how they will spend their time. Sunday is the beginning of the week, but it’s also when most of us, as modern-day Christ followers, go to church. For so many years, I felt convicted and confused about doing anything other than church on a Sunday. It was to be a day of rest. Even with the example of Jesus healing the lame man on the Sabbath, it still didn’t quite register (don’t judge me…).
It wasn’t until a friend shared a clip on Instagram from Joeseph Prince that I fully understood the type of rest I was called to experience. He said, “Rest isn’t inactivity; it’s spirit-led activity.” What better way and time to be intentional about your week than to plan it out in the company of the Holy Spirit? While these tips are designed as a starting place for you, invite the Holy Spirit into each moment and follow His lead.
5 Sunday Habits for a Productive and Organized Week
#1 Tidy Your Home
Yes, this seems like a no-brainer, but if I’m being honest, I’ve been that woman who thought she could tidy her home in the middle of the business, homeschool, and life chaos. Don’t be like me. Take the time on Sunday to tidy up before the to-dos of the week pull you away. This doesn’t have to be an all-in Spring Clean , but taking a few moments to declutter countertops, put away clothes, makeup, and toys, and freshen up your home will give you more mental peace than you think. I love to listen to worship music or even podcasts during this time to keep my heart and mind aligned.
#2 Declutter and Organize Your Work Space
If you are a WAHM (work-at-home mom), your workspace is technically a part of your home. True. But, how easy is it to turn off the work switch on Friday, close the door to your office, and pretend that the mess on the other side is just a part of work? Decluttering and organizing your workspace can significantly help to reduce clutter and anxiety. This is also a great time to make your space inviting. You spend a lot of your time in your work area, so make sure it feels good! Add some plants or flowers to brighten up the place if possible, remove objects that aren’t useful (such as old magazines), and make sure any hard surfaces have been cleaned. I know you take lunch breaks at your desk…
#3 Plan Your Meals
Planning your meals for the week is a great way to save time and money and prepare for the week ahead. I’ll admit that meal prepping does not come easy to me. Instead, I made a Sunday habit of meal planning and give myself time daily for meal prep.
Here are some tips for planning meals:
- Take inventory of your pantry. Before planning what you will eat and when take a look around your pantry. This will allow you to prepare meals around what you already have and can even inspire new ideas. It also prevents you from buying something you already have (I can’t be the only one who does that…)
- Allow others to contribute. I love allowing the little ones to plan with me. While their imaginations run wild sometimes, I find that what they really want isn’t always as extravagant as I try to make it. I also ask my husband to contribute and control the nights he is expected to cook.
#4 Plan and Review Your Week’s Schedule
The best time to plan your week is on Sunday before you begin it. This gives you space to think about your schedule and plan out all the tasks and activities that need to be done during the coming week, helping you be more organized and productive all week. The first thing I do before I start to plan my week is a brain dump. I take all the stuff out of my head and organize them into personal or professional to-dos (I’ve created a free template for you HERE).
Next, I glance over my list week and grab any to-dos that may have slipped through the cracks. Then, I prioritize based on due dates or other factors that could increase urgency, like following up with a doctor, etc. From there, I grab my planner and map out when I will get the most important things done, keeping in mind to schedule this time around meetings and other appointments. I also don’t expect myself to get 20 things done in one day. I set a realistic goal to a combination of 3-5 personal and professional to-dos a day and space them out over the course of my “working hours.”
After planning your schedule on Sunday, review it each morning and again before you step away for the day. This will help keep track of what needs to get done each day throughout the week and provide a helpful checklist when starting or finishing a task or project on any given day.
#5 Go To Bed Early
Sleep is vital for your body, mind, and soul. It’s a no-brainer that you should get enough rest each night. But how much sleep do you need? How many hours of shuteye will keep you energized and productive during the day?
According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults aged 18–64 need at least 7 hours of sleep per night (including naps). Those 65 years or older should get at least 7–8 hours per night. However, other factors can affect your sleep needs:
- Gender—Women tend to require more sleep than men because they have lower testosterone levels, which helps them stay awake longer than men can.
- Age—The time it takes for someone to fall asleep increases. An infant may take 15 minutes or less; an adult could take up to 2 hours.
- Diet—People who eat high-protein foods (meat) tend to feel more tired during the day after consuming these meals.
Pay attention to your body and create a Sunday habits for sleep that works for you.
If you prepare for your week on Sunday, you will be much more organized, productive, and efficient.
It may sound like a lot of work to plan for an entire week, but if you take the time to do it on Sunday, your week will run much smoother. As you develop these Sunday habits, you’ll be able to stay on top of deadlines, meet expectations, juggle all the things you juggle, and do it with a little less stress. If this is your first time planning out your week, be patient. It’s a habit that takes time to perfect as you learn what works for you and what you can realistically get done in a day. Brain dumping is always a good first step, even if you only plan one day at a time. Be sure to snag a copy of the FREE Sunday Week Prep template.
How do you prepare for a productive and organized week? Comment below!
XOXO, JD