The key to having a great, successful week is to start it off on the right foot. What I do on Sunday has a big impact on how I feel for the rest of my week; I feel much more organized, calm, and ready for the days to come when I spend a few hours each Sunday implementing my rituals. From choosing my outfits to meal planning, here are several ways I prepare for the week ahead during the winter months.

Meal Plan

I start every Sunday by waking up at 7 am and making myself a cup of tea, before I sit down to plan our meals for the week ahead. I keep an organized binder of healthy recipes and our favorite go-to meals on hand, which makes planning for the week so much easier. No cooking or meal prep required, since we always double the portions for dinner and take the leftovers to work for lunch the next day. Both my husband and I fast through breakfast during the week, which is one less meal to worry about . Here’s a sample menu of what we might eat in a week:

Tidy Up Your Space

I like my space to be clean and organized, and a reflection of how I feel. If my home is messy, I feel messy and oftentimes have a hard time focusing. Each night after work, I spent a few minutes tidying up our home so that it stays clean all week. Every Sunday, I spend about an hour of my time dusting and cleaning my space thoroughly. I take care of any laundry that has piled up during the week as well. Never underestimate how great it feels to start the week off with a clean space.

Plan Out My Week

I am the type of person that very much has to plan my week out ahead of time. I love to make to-do lists; nothing is more satisfying to me than checking something off my list. It’s also a great stress reliever, as I don’t need to worry about forgetting a task or an important meeting I may have scheduled. I log everything in my favorite planner, and also input it into OneNote, an absolute life-saver for the girl on the go. OneNote syncs with my phone and computer, so I can make changes or access what I’ve written anywhere. Also extremely helpful if you aren’t able to bring your traditional planner with you somewhere, although nothing beats traditional pen and paper for me.

Choose My Outfits

I’ve mentioned this before, but during the winter months, I have a hard time getting out of bed in the mornings due to a combination of the chill and seasonal affective disorder. I don’t leave myself much time to get ready before work, so I like to have a general idea of what I am going to wear that week planned out on Sunday. It helps me avoid wasting valuable time standing in front of my closet and trying to decide what to wear. Usually, I’ll pick two or three pairs of pants or a skirt with tights, and a few different blouses. I have a lot of staples in my closet, and this allows me to mix and match and really make the most of my work wardrobe.

Indulge in Self Care

Taking time for yourself is so important, but taking time to indulge in self care on Sunday will help boost your mood, relieve stress, make you feel happier overall, and prepare you for the week ahead. My self care begins in the evening with a relaxing, aromatherapeutic bubble bath, candles, and a face mask. I follow this by moisturizing my entire body, bundling up in my coziest robe, and reading for an hour of solitude.

How do you spend your Sundays to prepare for the week ahead?

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