10 Ways to Use Sunday for a More Productive Week

The weekends are magical for so many reasons. Whether you use these days to relax or go on lots of adventures, there’s no doubt we all long for the beautiful downtime. Despite what I end up doing, every weekend has one thing in common for me: it helps me prepare for the next week.

Sunday, especially, is my productive day. I go on errands and handle anything that needs to be done to prepare for the upcoming week. Although I’d always prefer to just be a lazy bum, I try to do as many things as possible to make the workweek a little easier.

If you’re looking for ways to lighten the load of work you have throughout the week, I highly recommend doing some, if not all, of the following tasks. For me, personally, it makes a huge difference.

1. Meal Plan

I started doing some legit meal planning a couple years ago, and it really helps me eat healthier and also avoid being too lazy to cook throughout the week . When I jot down dishes and recipes to make for dinner every night, I don’t have to think too much. I just go to my schedule and make it happen.

2. Get Groceries

Once I’ve planned our meals for the week, I have a good idea of what food we need from the store, which helps me avoid having to stop on my way home from work to get last-minute supplies. I know a lot of people prefer getting their groceries mid-week, but I really like having a stocked fridge to start off the week.

3. Meal Prep

This one doesn’t always get done because I often run out of time on Sundays, but if I can spend a couple hours meal prepping, I’m one happy girl come Monday and Tuesday. This usually entails boiling eggs, cutting up veggies, preparing our lunches for at least a couple days, and if I’m really motivated, I’ll also prepare part of dinner for Monday or Tuesday.

4. Clean House

Another thing that makes me happy? A clean house. When I’m blogging, working remotely, or just…living, I feel much more relaxed when there isn’t clutter and dishes everywhere. It’s bizarre how much getting laundry washed, floors picked up, and so on helps my brain. Plus, it’s that much less I have to do during my busy workweek. (Bonus if you can get a robot to do part of the work for you.)

5. Plan Workouts for the Week

There’s a general workout schedule I try to follow, but once in a great while, I’ll also go an extra step by planning the actual workouts to do each night after work. If it’s not a a pre-made routine I’ve used before, and I’m feeling motivated to create a new circuit, I’ll jot that down, which saves a lot of thinking/researching for the specific night I plan to perform the routine.

6. Go Through Tasks for Week

Even if it’s just glancing at my calendar and mentally sorting through all that the next week has to come, I think it’s important to go through the tasks ahead of you for the week. This can help you be more efficient and plan your time better. Unless I have a chaotic week, I usually just make a mental note of all of these things, but I’m also a lover of making lists, so I may also add to my already out-of-control collection of sticky notes if I’m feeling overwhelmed. (When it comes to blogging, I try to always have at least one week planned out, which really cuts back on the stress.)

7. Hang Out with People

If I’m going to be real right now, I usually prefer weekends with absolutely no plans. I like things to do every couple weekends, but I’m the type of person who really needs her downtime. However, I also tend to be pretty busy throughout the week with other things, so if I’m going on adventures with people, it’s nice to use my extra time on Saturday, especially, to do this.

8. Get Inspired

Everyone finds inspiration from different places. If I’m dreading the week to come, I like to take some time to get myself ready and motivated to tackle it all. Great options I’ve found to help include podcasts, reading inspirational quotes, browsing my favorite blogs, meditating, working out, and so on.

9. Relax

By the end of my Sunday, I prioritize having at least an hour to watch TV and not think. I hate weekends when I don’t feel like I have an ounce of time to just…do nothing. It’s so nice to shut my brain off and relax for a little bit. Whether it’s going out in nature, binge-watching Netflix, taking a nap, or reading for hours, you do you. Make time to relax!

10. Go to Bed at a Decent Time

And to end your super crazy awesomely productive Sunday, it might be wise to go to bed at a decent time. If you can function off minimal sleep, well…I envy you because I need at least 7-8 hours. But! Going to bed earlier can help you avoid having a “case of the Mondays” and get the week started right.

So now you know how I prepare for a successful week! I don’t know about you, but by the end of Friday, the house is usually a mess and my brain is not functioning at its best. Doing all these little things make a huge impact, and they’re definitely needed again by the time another weekend hits. If you need some help midweek, as I do sometimes, here’s a little extra advice…

Bonus Tip: Fuel with healthy foods throughout the week to get your body functioning at its best. While the above tips can help the week go more smoothly, eating a nutritious diet can help you feel your best while you’re powering through all your responsibilities.

If you didn’t notice in the above pictures, I’ve been getting a little boost recently by drinking Naked Cold Pressed Juice. I got the chance to try these juices as part of a blogging campaign, and this is one of the first times I’ve actually tried the whole juicing craze. Since I don’t own a juicer, I enjoyed getting the chance to try the new line from Naked with minimal effort. I talked about my experience a few weeks ago and said my favorite kind was the “Lively Carrot.” After trying a few other flavors, I think my new favorite is the “Bright Greens.” Considering how many veggies are in each bottle, I’m surprised how much I enjoy the flavors. Of the five kinds they make at this point, there isn’t one I dislike. I could easily drink one of these every day. In addition to the flavor, I appreciate the simplicity of the ingredient list, and there’s no added sugar or preservatives. Naked Pressed is something I really can get on board with, and I encourage you to pick one up if you see them at the store!

Naked Cold Pressed Juice is currently available in select stores on the West Coast, but it’s being released nationwide soon. So keep your eyes peeled!

How do you prepare for a productive week?

Do you usually run errands on Sundays? Or do you do them as they come up throughout the week?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.