How to Take Back Your Monday

If you were to ask most people, I would take a wild guess and say that Monday isn't their favorite day of the week. After two days of the weekend, it can be hard to get back into the routine of everyday life and being productive.

If Mondays tend to get you down (I understand haha), these tips are perfect for helping you get back onto track and to have productive week without feeling totally overwhelmed at the same time.

image via my Instagram

Make a to-do list for the week
On Mondays, I like to make a to-do list of everything I need to do that week. Usually this includes errands I need to run, tasks for Chic in Carolina, random items that need to be accomplished (like cleaning my makeup brushes). This helps me keep track of what I actually need want to get done and helps me more productive throughout the week as I try to include these tasks in my daily to-do lists.

Get an early start on work
If you saw my daily routine for this summer, you saw that I've been waking up super early for work this summer. I've never been an early bird before but I've found that waking up earlier helps me get so much more done. Accomplishing items on your to-do list earlier in the day means there's less to do later on and you also get into the mood to get stuff done (rather than the mood to sit around and watch Netflix).

Schedule plans with a friend for later in the week
On Mondays, I always try to set up plans with friends for some point that week. Not only does that get the ball rolling (as last-minute hang outs are often harder to coordinate), it also gives you something to look forward to throughout the week (knowing you're getting brunch on Saturday makes the week go by a bit quicker haha!).

Prioritize working out
My barre studio always talks about never missing a Monday of working out and I totally agree. Sometimes you just can't swing it but working out on Monday helps to serve as a stress-reliever (as Mondays tend to be fairly busy day, for me at least) and also help you get into a good routine of working out.

Set your three most urgent tasks
After making your to-do list for the week, it's easy to become overwhelmed by everything you need to do. Set three tasks that are most important for you to finish today as you have the rest of the week to finish the rest. Once you finish your three most urgent tasks (or make progress on them), work on checking off other items off of your to-do list.

Catch up on emails
I try not to spend a lot of time checking or answering emails during the weekend so on Monday morning, I always make sure to clean out my inbox and also send out a bunch of emails. This helps me feel more "on top of it" and better prepared for the week ahead. If you're interested in tips on staying on top of your inbox, be sure to check out this blog post.

Treat yourself
After a productive day, be sure to reward yourself, whether it's to your favorite iced coffee from Starbucks, to watch your favorite show on Netflix, to have an extra scoop of ice cream with dessert, or with a hair mask for an extra luxurious shower. This may not make you more productive but it will put you in a better mood, which is always a good thing!

Set the tone for the week
I love a productive Monday as it sets the mood for the rest of the week, helping me be productive throughout the week. Obviously I'm human so this doesn't happen every Monday but it truly makes a difference when I intentionally be more productive to set the tone for the week ahead.

Update your agenda
I currently use a Day Designer agenda (which I love and will be sharing with y'all at the end of August) and always try to keep it updated throughout the week. To kickstart that, I like to sit down on Monday and add everything into my calendar from my work schedule to dinners with friends to barre class. This helps me feel more organized and ready to take on the rest of the week.

Go to bed early
I usually try to get to bed early on Sunday but it's important to get to bed early on Monday night as well. Personally, when I get to bed early on Monday, I'll wind up going to bed earlier throughout the week, which helps me get more sleep and who doesn't want that (especially if you have an early morning alarm like I do this summer!).

Any other tips on how to take your Monday back? Let me know in the comments!