Pre-Planning to Charge Your Week

Planning for the workweek is always cumbersome. You are not just yet done with the weekend and have to start thinking about what you are going to make for dinner that week, for lunch the next day, what you are going to wear, what is the weather going to be like? It's mind boggling. The world we live in is fast and we have to for the most part during the work week move with it and all you really want to do on the weekend is relax. And you should. Putting some of these things in your weekend can really impact your week for the positive and still allow for relaxation on the weekend.

Photo credit Charged

Their are many things you can do to make your Monday and the rest of the week run seamlessly. Here are some tips.

• Pre-plan your meals. Before heading to the grocery store think about what you want on the menu that week. You will save time and money by not buying things you do not need or forgetting an item you do.
• Cook for the week. Ok... maybe not the entire week but some of the week. Cook all the meat in advance (for those who eat it) for the week so you can easily put it in salads, create quick dinners when you come home and are tired and hungry. Make the baked potato's the day before then store. Rice holds up well done the night before as well. Think of what can be done in advance for your menu that week.
• Wash all the veggies and fruit. Before putting them away, why not get them all washed and ready to cook and consume! You can pre-chop your veggies for salads for the week the night before which is a huge time saver. Some fruit should not be washed beforehand as they will become soft and rot quicker like many berries. When washing ahead of time, think apples, peaches, plums and grapes. 
• Iron the night before. This is the one chore I loathe. BUT, if I think about what I am going to wear the night before and be sure it is clean and ironed, you bet it saves me at least 15 minutes in the morning. Even laying out your jewelry, watch and undergarments can shave off a few minutes of your morning. 
• Fuel up. Be sure your car has a full tank Sunday evening. You should never have an almost empty tank anyway in case an emergency occurs. This also helps in a big way when all you need to do is get to work with no stops. 
• Pack. Pack the kids bags and lunches before. Better yet, include them in it if they are old enough going through a checklist of what they need and having them add it to their bags or to their lunch.
• Get the laundry in. A week of clean clothes and towels is one way I know I will be able to spend more time with family during the week if this is done on a weekend. 
• Check email. If Monday emails consume you at work first thing in the morning, peek in your work email Sunday night and blast through a few of them. This will also give you an idea of what is in store for Monday at work with your schedule.

Sound like a lot? It might. But if you do a few of these things each weekend in preparation for Monday, Sunday will be more restful and your Monday more smooth.

Have a planning tip for the week? Let's hear it!