Motivated Mondays

"Ugh it's Monday" how many times have we all said this to ourselves or to others? After a weekend off every one dreads the morning of going back to work. Often times my husband likes to start the complaining Sunday morning, already thinking about the day to come. And as I sit here writing this, I too am thinking about my work week starting, ticking down the

hours until I get in bed, close my eyes and just like that wake up to a new week.

It is easy to give yourself some leeway the first day of the week. Drive to Dunkin instead of making breakfast, throw some random snacks in your lunch box, skip the gym, pick up take out on the way home from work. After all it is Monday. Sometimes just getting through the first work day seems like an act meriting an award in itself. Although I have found myself guilty of this many times, I have come to realize, that laziness does not just stop on Monday, it follows me through the week.

If I do not go to the gym on Monday, the odds of me going at all throughout the week plummets. If my meals are not planned on Sunday, the whole week turns into a mess of take out and quick nutrition lacking meals. And the motivation for the week is simply nonexistent.

An example is last week. Last Monday I decided to treat myself to Dunkin. I got my coffee and bagel, promising I would make breakfast the rest of the week. Well I woke up Tuesday morning and realized I had never made coffee the night before. Although I have precisely four different coffee makers that could have still made me coffee in 2-10 minutes, I decided to get Dunkin again. Wednesday and Thursday, I did make my breakfast at home, but by Friday I was ready for another treat myself and I ended up buying breakfast 3/5 days during the week. Now for some this may not seem like a big deal, and in the grand scheme of things it is not, but it shows that if I do not start of my week right, the rest of my week will crumble.

Until recently, I have never had a Monday through Friday consistent work week. In the past, it has been difficult to plan and stay organized. My sleep, work and social schedule were all out of wack and I had no guarantee of what my week would be like from week to week. Now that I am able to plan ahead and keep myself organized, I have not taken this gift for granted and I have put into place ways to set myself for a successful week.

My preparation starts on Sunday, sometimes Saturday if I have a busy Sunday planned. Each weekend, me and my husband go on a grocery trip to get all of the foods we will need for the week. After going grocery shopping, I clean out what has gone bad, and organize the new additions while, planning my meals for the week. Planning what I will be preparing for the week has eliminated food waste and minimized eating out.

If you don't plan what you are making each day it is very easy to say that you don't know what to make and either make something like grilled cheese or order door dash. Also by the time you pick something up and have an idea of what to use it for, it may be way past it's prime. A friend of mine was so kind as to give me a calendar white board that has Monday through Friday listed on one side. This way I am able to write out what we will be doing for dinner ahead of time, as well as any plans we have for the upcoming week. I also use the other side of the board to write out goals for the week. These are usually mini projects to do around the house and other continuous goals such as, saving money and going to the gym. My goal at the moment has been to go 2-3 times a week and this has been very achievable

Another way I prepare for the week each Sunday is to make breakfast for the week. Whether it be protein waffles, egg sandwiches, or Shawn's favorite, banana bread, I make enough for the week so that it is easy to grab in the morning. I also make a pot of coffee Sunday and put it in the Fridge, and this will usually last us 2-3 days before I make another pot. This way when we are tempted to go to Dunkin every day, there is an easy reheatable and usually healthier option waiting.

I also do little things Sunday such as get my work clothes laid out and ready, pack my lunch for the next day, and spend sometime unwinding whether it be with a bubble bath or my favorite show, to go into the next week calm and with a good attitude. I often times also write or at least map out my blog post, so that is planned for the week as well.

I have grown to enjoy Monday's and the new start they bring to the week. Maybe you will as well, if you go in with the attitude that Monday isn't a warm up for the week, its the day to break your personal record.

How do you guys get yourself motivated for the week? I would love to hear some of your tips and suggestions!