Note: This article was originally written by me, as a contributor article for AdviceFromAThirtySomething.com and published Sept. 2019. However, that website is no longer live. Therefore I am publishing an edited version of the article here on my blog, ReinventingRae.com

I love a good Sunday Funday. However, the older I’ve gotten, I find that I prefer to take time in between the fun to prepare for the week ahead. I’m sure we all have experienced having spent a few Mondays playing catch up, rather than actually getting anything productive done. So instead of dreading a new week ahead of responsibilities, I’ve started making my Sunday’s a little bit more productive. Which ultimately has helped me to take on each week with a more positive attitude.

Here are some things you can incorporate into your Sunday routine to feel better prepared and get ahead of the week.

WRITE OUT WEEKLY TASKS IN A PLANNER
I always find that if I plan my week ahead and write everything out on paper (or digital planner), my week tends to feel less chaotic. I usually take 30 minutes on Sunday to fill in my calendar including appointments, deadlines, errands, phone calls and any other miscellaneous daily tasks. Get creative; color code tasks, leave a space to journal your thoughts or write out your favorite quote to give some inspo during the week.
PRIORITIZE YOUR TO DO LIST
After I write everything out in my planner, I’ll go through my list of daily tasks and projects to accomplish for the week and prioritize them all. This can look different for everyone, but generally I like to list my top three tasks for each day and top three goals for the week overall. This helps me stay focused throughout the week while also working through the rest of my daily tasks.
SET YOUR ALARM TO GET UP EARLY
I’m usually not a morning person unless I set an alarm ahead of time to force myself to wake up early. Setting your alarm for the same time each day is key especially if you want to schedule in some gym time or a few extra minutes to grab a coffee on the way to work. Even though early mornings aren’t my favorite, I do feel more accomplished getting that extra hour or two ahead ahead of my day.
PLAN OUT YOUR OUTFITS
There is nothing worse than scrambling in the morning trying to find an outfit to wear. Laying out your clothes the night before can help you feel more confident and prepared for the next day. It may take up a bit of your time initially, but it will be one less thing that you have to stress over while your half-awake in the morning. Even if this just means doing your laundry on Sundays, to ensure you have clean clothes for the week.
TIDY UP YOUR HOME
Try setting a timer 15 or 30 minutes and use that time to clean up around your home. Pick up any clothes lying around, put fresh sheets on your bed, clean any dishes in the sink, clear any clutter on your counters (anything that you can tackle quickly that will help you feel more relaxed and organized). You can even go a step further and tackle an organizing project you may have been putting off lately.
PRACTICE SELF CARE
Sundays are a great day to do self care. Whether that looks like grabbing coffee with a friend, taking a workout class, getting a mani + pedi or just taking an hour to read a book. Self care is so important for our well being. And taking the time to care for ourselves can often help us feel our best.
CONFIRM ANY PLANS WITH FRIENDS AHEAD OF TIME
Life gets busy and plans can change in a moments notice. So I always like to reach out to friends to confirm any happy hours, dinner dates or concerts a few days ahead. This way if plans change, I know ahead of time and have the option to make other plans without feeling stressed last minute. And if plans are confirmed, I have something fun to look forward to in the midst of my busy week.
MEAL PREP
It’s easy to get caught up during a busy week and end up surviving off of wine and take-out. To avoid this, I like to make a trip to Trader Joe’s so that I can stock up on the essentials and also plan my meals ahead of time. Not only do I save money, but I also feel better eating healthier throughout the week.
LIMIT TIME SPENT ON YOUR PHONE
We are all guilty of scrolling our phones for hours on end. Sometimes it’s nice to just put our phones away and take a break. Even just taking 24 hours off social media can be a great way to refresh before a new week ahead.
REST & RELAX
Lazy Sundays are THE BEST! The kind of day where you sleep in, drink coffee in bed and binge watch Real Housewives or Netflix movies all day. A day to fully relax and recharge with no plans in sight.