Using the Worst Day of the Week to Change Your Life
Mondays have…a reputation. We all know it. The day everyone seems to dread, the day that signals the weekend is over. Personally, I’m with you. I used to despise Mondays. I felt like I was spending the weekend getting caught up on life, no relaxation to be found. But what if the worst day of the week could actually be the day that helped you step further into discipline and peace so that your weekends don’t have to feel like “catch up”? Here are 5 ways to get started:
1. Review your priorities, not just your to-do list
Instead of jumping straight into tasks, ask: What actually matters this week? Clarify your top 3 priorities (personally and professionally) and let everything else follow when you have time for it. If something conflicts with your top priorities, say NO. Set boundaries and stop letting others rule your schedule! (And yes, I say this as a single mother)
2. Eat the Frog
The best thing you can do for your discipline is to eat the frog. No, not a literal frog. The first time I heard this phrase, the only thing I could think of is “who even thinks of this stuff?!” But essentially, eat the frog means do the things you dread, the things that make you groan at the beginning of the week (and in the beginning of your day). Not only does this guarantee it will actually get done, it also is proven to train your brain to be more productive overall! So for you, if you normally save deep cleaning for the weekends, find a way to break up the deep cleaning throughout your week! Start strong and challenge yourself to see if you can finish the deep cleaning tasks days before you expected to. (side note: we all have different schedules…but we all have the power to arrange our own schedules in a way that IS good vs just FEELING good.)
3. Clear one space you’ve been avoiding
Whether it’s your desk, your email inbox, that drawer in your kitchen or the fridge - clutter drains clarity. Creating order in one small space builds momentum and trains your brain to desire more and more clarity. Doing it on a day that you dread creates a monumental shift in your mind that could create exponential change that may surprise you!
4. Choose one thing to look forward to
Everyday, you want to have a list of tasks that keep you on target for whatever goals you have set. Have a reward set up for the end of the week if you stay on target for that week. Make Monday the hardest day (again, eat the frog) and the rest of the week will sail. I have never heard someone complain about being TOO organized, or TOO prepared for the week. Maybe you have, who knows! Either way, you’re seeking more peace and clarity, and giving yourself an incentive to complete your goals is self love! Whether its a dreamy bath, a new restaurant you’ve been wanting to try, a new outfit, a nap (yessss) or whatever makes you happy…you deserve to reward yourself.
5. Choose ONE grounding rhythm you’ll commit to
Once Monday comes around, choose one thing you can do everyday that brings you back to reality and snaps you out of “going through the motions” or “disassociating”. A walk. A daily prayer. No socials after 9 PM. Waking up earlier. One small rhythm can anchor your whole week and keep your productivity from becoming performance! It can be the focal point that helps everything else feel fluid.
These are five habits I use to make my weeks more organized and productive. There are hundreds of things we can do to start the week off right! For me, weekly planning has to happen Sunday night or the whole week is thrown off. For you, it might be something different. But reviewing your priorities, “eating the frog”, clearing clutter, incentivizing productivity and setting up a grounding rhythm is a foolproof method to make sure your week starts off perfectly!