6 Things to Do on Sunday for the Best Work Week Ever

There’s nothing worse than starting your week with chaos and frustration! But by completing a few tasks on Sunday you can avoid a week of chaos, disorganization, and frustration. Today I’m taking you through each of the 6 things to do on Sunday for the best and most productive work week ever!

6 Things to Do on Sunday for the Best Work Week Ever

You don’t have to dread Monday mornings and hectic work weeks any longer. Just a little prep on Sundays will have you saying “buh-bye” to those crazy, chaotic, and stressful weeks. Complete these 6 tasks each Sunday, and you’ll enjoy the best work week ever!

#1 The Tah-Dah List

The Tah-Dah list is a concept I first heard from the Flylady. It’s a list of all of the things you accomplished yesterday, last week, last month, so far this year, etc.

It’s a nice pump up session in preparation for our next step, which can be a little disheartening.

I like to write my Tah-Dah Lists in my journal, so that I can review them on days when I’m feeling frustrated or bummed out. I also like to add some encouraging stickers as if I were back in grad school! 😉

Time Commitment: 10 minutes

#2 Brain Dump & Prioritize

Just as you clean out the clutter from your home, you need to clear the clutter from your brain. The best way to do that is with a Brain Dump.

All you need is a notepad or notebook, paper, and  something with which to write. You can also add a timer if you find you’re spending too much time on this step.

I like to use a spiral notebook, so that I can keep building on each week’s brain dump.

Look around your office, on your desk, in the drawers, on the floor, on the shelves, at your calendar, at your planner, in your email inbox, in your office inbox, etc., and answer the following questions.

For many people this is an ongoing process. The trick for me is to write for 10-15 minutes, then stop. If things come to mind throughout the week, I add them, then I repeat the process on the following Sunday.

Brain Dump Questions

**Resist the urge to become overwhelmed when looking at this list! It’s long, but the questions are meant to work like triggers, so that your mind will remember anything related to those areas.

• What projects are unfinished?
• What steps need to be taken to finish those projects? (*Need a Project Planner to break the steps down? Grab one HERE!)
• What items need a place to live, as in “everything in its place?”
• Do you need any office supplies?
• Does your computer, printer, phone, or other tech items need maintenance, software, updates, or scanned for viruses and other vulnerabilities?
• If you drive your car for work, does it need cleaned?
• Does your car need any maintenance?
• Are there any concerns with your car?
• Are there emails you need to send or return?
• Does your inbox need decluttered or organized?
• What’s happening this week?
• What prep do you need to complete for this week?
• Are there any events that aren’t on your calendar that need to be?
• What else pops into your mind when you look at your calendar?
• How do you want to start your day?
• How would you like to end your day?
• What do you want to accomplish this week?
• What would you like to read this week?
• Is there anything you need to mail?
• What small steps can you take this week to make progress on your big goals?

These questions will likely trigger other dump items that aren’t related. That’s okay. Include them, and keep writing until you run out of things to write (or until your timer goes off).

Obviously, these questions are specific to work, but you can also do a brain dump for your household and family. Or combine them into one big brain dump (this happens naturally for me).

Once you finish your brain dump, go back through your list and prioritize the items on it. Which are important, urgent, and need to be addressed right away? Which items can be addressed after you’ve finished your important and urgent tasks?

Time Commitment: 10-30 minutes

#3 Check Your Calendar

You likely did this above, but it’s also important to look at it outside the context of the brain dump.

What do you have going on this week? Can you prepare ahead of time, so that you avoid any added stress?

Is there something special going on with your kids that you need to prepare for? When my kids have a day-time event that I want to attend, I try to get ahead of my workload. That way I can attend the event, focus on my kids, and avoid feeling added stress.

If you struggle with using a calendar, check out this post where I share how we created a calendar routine and how it changed our lives (sounds dramatic, but it really did change our lives): Add Hours to Your Day with One Simple Tool.

Time Commitment: 5-10 minutes

#4 Review Your Goals

It’s helpful to keep your goals in the front of your mind. It keeps you focused and will also help you with the next step.

My favorite place to keep my goals is in my PowerSheets from Lara Casey. They have revolutionized the way I write goals, work on them, and how I prioritize. I actually review my PowerSheets each day after my morning yoga session.

This link is about PowerSheets (scroll to down a little), and this link is for purchasing your own set of PowerSheets.

Time Commitment: 10-15 minutes

#5 Create a To-Do List for the Week

Grab your very own copy of this To-Do List HERE!

I try to pick the top 5-7 tasks I’d like to complete this week, write them on my to-do list, then assign them to my work days in my planner.

The danger here, especially after completing a brain dump, is to make a list of 50 things you want to get done in a 5-7 day period. This sets us up for disappointment, so try to limit your week’s to-do’s to less than 7. This will also help you to be more productive, because you’re avoiding overwhelm and feel like you can actually complete the items!

Want the To-Do List printable in the photo above? Snag it HERE!

Time Commitment: 10-15 minutes

#6 Clear Your Desk

There’s nothing like starting your week with a clear and clean desk surface! It just kicks things off right!

This one usually takes me about 5 minutes, and I talk more about the importance of a clear desk surface in this post: Organize Your Home Office in 8 Steps.

Time Commitment: 5-10 minutes

Now, you’re on a roll, and you’ve completed the 6 things to do on Sunday for the best work week ever! But, if you’re feeling seriously motivated, here are a couple of bonus steps that will make your week even better.

Bonus Steps

#7 Clear Your Email Inbox

Look at all of that white space! Refreshing, right?

Email gets out of hand quickly and, during the busy work week, it’s easy to just let it go until you inevitably miss something important.

By taking 10-15 minutes on Sunday to clear your inbox, you’ll be better able to stay on top of it during the week. And you’ll have a beautiful, organized, and decluttered surprise each time you look at your inbox. 🙂

I’m still fine-tuning my email inbox system. I rarely have a completely empty inbox, but I try to keep it to less one page of emails.

Time Commitment: 15-20 minutes

#8 Clean Out Your Purse, Work Bag, and/or Mobile Office

This will help you to avoid missing anything important and similar to the step above, provides a nice surprise when you get into it during the week.

To learn more about how I put together and use my Mobile Office, click HERE.

Time Commitment: 5-10 minutes

Say No to Work Week Chaos

These steps, including the bonus steps usually take me less than an hour. That’s a small price to pay for a chance to enjoy your best week ever!

In the beginning, the steps may take longer than the listed time commitment. But as you practice them, they’ll get easier and your time commitment will shrink.

Say “No!” to weekly chaos, disorganization, and frustration by making these 6 things to do on Sunday part of your regular routine. Take time to prep for the week ahead of time and enjoy your best week ever!

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Related Posts

If you enjoyed today’s post, you might find these related posts helpful!

• 3 Essential Routines for Home Office Organization
• How to Build Strong and Lasting Business Routines
• 5 Essential Morning Routine Elements

Here’s to the best work week EVER!

Thanks for being here,