Things to do on a Sunday to prepare for the week ahead
Last Updated on October 26, 2024
Photo by Breakslow on Unsplash
Sunday is the only day of the week where we get to do things as a family, and we try to get out somewhere as much as we can.
It’s also the day of the week where I do as much as I can to prepare for the week ahead, so my days are spent getting things done, and filling any small pockets of time that I find myself with doing things that will enable me to tick things of my to do list.
If you’d like to start doing things on a Sunday to prepare for the week ahead, so you don’t feel so stressed once Monday rolls around, but you’re not sure where to start, here is a Sunday to do list to help you get started.
You definitely don’t have to do everything on this list, just pick and choose what suits you at your current stage of life.
SET UP AND ORGANISE YOUR TO DO LIST
For me this is the number one thing on my Sunday to do list. If I have no time to do anything else, this will always get done.
Whether you use a bullet journal, Google Calendar, paper planner, or any other organisational tool, setting up and organising your to do list enables you to have a productive week and prioritise the things that need to get done.
Working on your to do list also means that you won’t double book yourself, you’ll prioritise things that must get done, you’ll be as organised as you can for family events, and meet any deadlines that you may have for work or personal reasons.
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DO SOMETHING FUN
For many of us Sundays can be the day we love to hate. It’s the last day of the weekend before we have to return to work, or family duties.
So you don’t spend the day dreading the week ahead and only doing chores, Sundays are a great day to do something fun, either solo or with the family.
Doing something fun on a Sunday will also make you more productive on a Sunday night, as you’ve had a chance to blow off some steam and do something non chore related during the day.
MEAL PLAN FOR THE WEEK AHEAD
Having a meal plan for the week ahead may take a little time when you start, but it saves a lot of time in the long run as you’re not spending time every night thinking about what to eat, and then going to the grocery shop multiple times a week to get that night’s ingredients.
Meal planning means different things to different people, some people like to plan all of their meals, some just their snacks, and some like to spend Sunday afternoon batch cooking so they don’t have to cook during the week.
The best thing to remember when meal planning is to do what you feel comfortable with, plan the meals that you struggle to make time for the most, and try to use what you already have.
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GET YOUR LAUNDRY DONE
Doing laundry is something that I do a couple of times a week, but getting it done on a Sunday night is something that I’m going to try.
Adding laundry to your Sunday to do list means that you can start your week with as many clothing options as possible, everyone will have clean clothes and full sets of clothes that they need for school or work, and you won’t feel stressed at the end of the week looking at the pile of laundry you have to try to fit into next week’s schedule.
HAVE YOUR CHILDREN’S SCHOOL THINGS SORTED
This is my first year of having a child in school, and it’s definitely taken some adjustment getting used to all the school things that I have to remember on a daily basis.
An addition to my Sunday to do list is to now make sure that all the next day’s snacks and water are packed, any school related emails are dealt with, and any homework is completed.
Related post:
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SCHEDULE SELF-CARE TIME
A great way to end the week is to schedule in some self-care time, or if you can’t fit it in on a Sunday, then add some to your to do list.
Self-care time doesn’t have to take a long time, even just 10 minutes to wind down, read a chapter of a book, or simply have a cup of tea will do wonders in letting you ease into the week.
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RESET YOUR HOME
Doing a quick tidy up of my home on a Sunday night is a great way to end the week. It allows me to sit down and relax once the kids are in bed, and then start the week on a clean slate.
If you’d like to end the week with as tidy a home as possible, some of the things you can add to your Sunday to do list to reset your home include:
- Emptying rubbish bins
- Sweep the floors
- Throwing out expired food
- Putting things away into the rooms they need to be in
- Doing any chores you’ve scheduled for the week ahead so you can get ahead as much as you can
I hope you’ve found some things on this list you’d like to start on Sundays to make the week ahead less stressed.
What’s on your Sunday to do list?