Imagine your best Monday morning.
Are you the type of person who needs to start the week slow and ease into it? Or, does having a list of new tasks excite you? Wherever you find yourself on this spectrum, there’s probably some room to introduce a little bit of magic into your Monday morning.
The start of the week can be a bit jarring. So, if you need to retool your Monday mornings a little bit, this is the place to start.
Think about what tasks you hate doing at the beginning of the week and why. Sometimes it’s best to eat the frog first and get it done - but for some it’s a great idea to find some ways to add in glimmers of joy at the start of a new week.
Monday morning magic starts with prioritizing your tasks, energy, and then planning from there.
This quick audit of your current routine is really important because it shows you what’s working and where you can improve to make your whole week better. Monday mornings can really set the tone, so it’s best to do them right.
Start on Friday
Okay, so Monday morning magic isn’t exactly magic. It takes a little planning to start the week off on the right foot, and the more you can do to prepare for Monday the Friday before, the better! Don’t worry, it doesn’t take a ton of time and effort, just enough so that when Monday morning rolls around you won’t feel stressed about the tasks you need to complete.
Here’s where to start:
- Examine your upcoming schedule. Make a mental note of any meetings or deadlines that are set for Monday. This way there won’t be any surprises when you dive into work.
- Prioritize your tasks ahead of time. It can be difficult to find a groove on Monday morning, so it’s best to figure out early on what will require your effort or whether you can lay low and get some administrative tasks out of the way. An easy way to accomplish this is with the Ink+Volt Priority Pad, which was designed so that you can focus on what matters most!
- Draft where you can. Maybe you have an email you want to go out first thing Monday or you have a request that’s fresh on your mind. Don’t wait until Monday morning when new priorities may pop up and cause distraction. Instead, draft what you can and save it for later. This is one of the best ways to streamline your day.
- Plan something enjoyable. Even if it’s something as simple as a morning meditation or splurging on a latte, having something to look forward to on Monday morning will make easing back into the week even better. Remember to put it in your schedule or set a reminder so it doesn’t get put off.
Set a weekly affirmation
Setting the tone for the week is important, especially because no two weeks look the same. Regardless of whether you have a hectic schedule filled with engagements and deadlines or a little bit of a lull, finding an affirmation that resonates can help keep you focused and aligned with your goals.
Your affirmation should accomplish two things: It should be positive and relevant. If you have a busy week, it could make sense to focus your affirmation around focus and productivity. If your week is full of new tasks, commit your affirmation to being gentle with yourself in trying new things.
These are just a few affirmations you can adopt or adapt:
- “I am looking forward to new challenges and learning new things.”
- “I give myself permission to rest when I need it and return to my work fully present and energized.”
- “My future is bright and the road ahead is paved with good intentions.”
- “I can ask for help when I feel overwhelmed so that I can be the best version of myself.”
There is a lot of power in affirmations, so make sure you find one that fits your week. If you need a little more inspiration, check out these 25 affirmations for confidence that will surely make any Monday morning a little more magical.
Set a routine - and commit to it
Monday mornings can feel especially daunting after a few days off, but sticking to a routine can help make the transition a bit easier. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to schedule your morning down to the minute, but you can begin to build an outline of what a fulfilling Monday morning should look and feel like so that each week you know what to expect. That little bit of familiarity can really ease any anxieties that pop up with the beginning of a new week. When establishing a routine:
Do: Add a little variety. Task switching can be helpful when you already feel a little bit distracted or overwhelmed by the number of tasks on your to-do list. Remember that you don’t need to get to everything, but giving yourself some variety can boost your motivation and give you easy wins when you need them the most.
Don’t: Pack your schedule too tightly. It’s great to be ambitious at the start of the week, but it’s also important to be realistic. Committing to too many things at the beginning of the week may seem like a good idea, but it’s easy to crash and burn if you’re not careful.
Do: Look for patterns. What’s something that you can put on repeat every Monday morning? Introducing a little bit of autopilot to your routine is actually a good thing because it saves energy and will allow you to use it where it really matters.
As difficult as it can be sometimes, sticking to a routine can be helpful, so make sure it works best for you. Wake up around the same time, take a few stretches, and dive (or ease) into another great week. You got this!
Written by Kara Mason
