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make lists
Take a few minutes to jot down your week’s to-do list, or even just the Monday morning items. Focusing on your priorities will leave you feeling in control of your week.
outfit prep
Do you really want to choose clothes after a night of restless sleep? Put together your outfit — complete with jewelry, shoes, and bag — the night before to avoid sleepwalking into the office in your athleisure wear or two mismatched shoes.
yoga
Even if you’re not an avid Yogi, look up a few moves, including deep, cleansing breathing techniques, and practice for a few minutes before hopping into bed. There’s no mat or spandex required to feel the relaxing benefits.
meditation
Download a meditation app — we love Buddhify for its user friendly interface and simple offerings based on how much time you have. Answer the simple question: “What are you doing?” and whether the answer is Can’t Sleep, Waking Up, or one of the 14 other options, there’s a meditation for that.
monday morning playlist
Music is a scientifically proven mood booster, so before hitting the sack on Sunday, queue up a killer playlist on Spotify or set Pandora to your favorite energizing station, and for maximum benefit hit play before you even get out of bed.
exercise
We love a Lazy Sunday as much as anyone, but breaking a sweat has its benefits. You don’t have to go all out with SoulCycle or an eight mile run — even a scenic bike ride or long walk with your dog (or a podcast) will help you combat Sunday night insomnia.
schedule something fun
Don’t wait for the end of the week to plan something you’re actually excited about. If you’re constantly dreading Monday, make a reservation to try a new restaurant or plan to see a movie on a Tuesday night. The open tables and nearly-empty theatre are an added bonus.
wash your sheets on sunday
There’s really nothing like drifting off to dreamland in freshly laundered sheets to make you feel like an actual grown up. Here’s how to clean them like a pro.
set your alarm on sunday morning
Yes, sleeping in until noon on Sunday is your basic human right, but it also can impact your sleep cycle, making it tougher to fall asleep Sunday night and wake up feeling rested on Monday. Setting your alarm to wake up a little earlier Sunday will help you stay on a solid sleep schedule.
breakfast prep
Whether it’s pb+j multi grain pancakes or fruit-filled muffins, plan to prep an amazing breakfast on Sunday. Not only does it help you get out the door faster, fed, but thoughts of a hot breakfast might actually entice you to get out of bed in the first place.
pre-make oatmeal
Cook up a large batch or steel cut oats over the weekend and heat them up all week long. Get creative with mix-ins, from simple cinnamon and brown sugar to cocoa, chia, peanut butter, banana and beyond, it’s a warm and easy way to start your day.
smoothie-in-a-bag
When you spend a few minutes pre-packing bags of frozen fruit, leafy greens, and even seeds and nuts into individual bags, it takes seconds to add a splash of your chosen liquid (oj, almond milk, coconut water) and whip up a healthy smoothie.
spa sunday
Spend Sunday mentally preparing yourself for the week with a relaxing spa day. If you’re on a budget, DIY with a scrub, facial, and long soak in the tub.
freeze coffee
We learned this trick from beloved neighborhood bakery One Girl Cookies, and it makes so much sense. Freeze leftover coffee in ice cube trays and make iced coffee without watering it down. Happy Monday!
spend 15 minutes answering emails
This is a controversial move, (some argue it puts their mind on work making it tougher to spend those last few weekend hours relaxing) but we love to clear out a few emails on Sunday evening. This way, when we get to our desk Monday morning, instead of being blindsided by Bob from accounting’s latest 6 paragraph rant, we know what’s coming and how to handle it. If you block out a specific chunk of time and don’t go over, you can master this helpful practice.
take a few minutes to feel grateful
Take a few minutes to think about what you’re grateful for. Even the smallest things can make you feel good, focusing on the positive while clearing away the negative energy and anxiety.
pack an awesome lunch on sunday
Beat it, sad desk lunch. Pack something you’ll look forward to eating, whether it’s a White House salad or leftovers from that awesome dinner you made. (How clever of you to make enough for lunch!)
pre-cut fruits and veggies for the week
Spend 30 minutes or less slicing carrots, peppers, strawberries, melons, or whatever else you have on hand, then grab them throughout the week for a healthy snack, or toss them in salads, stir-frys, or other easy weeknight meals.
get a manicure sunday
Freshly painted digits, perhaps in a summer-y shade of pink, is a small but indulgent way to kick off your week.
prepare on friday
Instead of checking out early on Friday afternoon, use the last hour of the day to clear out your inbox, organize your desk, and do any task you’ve been dreading by keeping in mind how much easier Monday morning will be.
disinfect your phone
If not now, when? Our favorite trick is to use mini alcohol prep pads you can find at the drugstore. Wipe your phone down once a week to make it less like a portable biohazard.
10 minute speed clean
If you only have a little time on Sunday (or just don’t feel like playing Cinderella on your day off) take just 10 minutes to zip through some high-impact cleaning. For the freshest-feeling space, go over the bathroom sink and counter with a disinfecting wipe, then the toilet (IN THAT ORDER), empty all your trash cans, and clear out the dishes in your sink.
set your coffee maker
Add the water and pre-measured grounds on Sunday before going to bed, so when you wake up on Monday a hot cup of coffee is a one push of a button away.
make dinner for the week
Whether it’s lasagna, a simple chicken soup, or these garden veggie burritos, cook for an hour or less on Sunday and don’t spend a single minute Monday thinking about what to throw together for dinner.
more dinner prep
Hard boil a few eggs, prepare a pot of quinoa, pre-roast and slice chicken. Having these on hand means go-to healthy dinners instead of resigned Seamless pizza orders.
face your finances
Like many things in life, you can’t just ignore them and hope they’ll go away. Block out just 30 minutes on Sunday to look at your bank accounts and budget, or use a tool like mint to help set some simple financial goals. By taking control here you’ll have less to stress about in the middle of your Sunday night snooze, and might just feel more rested on Monday morning.
make dessert from scratch
After all that workweek prep, you deserve a treat. And when you spend the extra time whipping up a plate of paper-thin crepes filled with Nutella or a croquembouche, your Sunday is undoubtedly sweet.