Most people hate Sundays because it signals the end of the weekend. I, however, love Sundays. They include “me time”, football, and family dinner. On Sundays, there are no kids’ sports or anywhere we have to go. We get to spend the whole day in the house. Some people may not like that, but as a single mom working full time with 2 kids in sports, it is nice to have a day that we don’t have to go anywhere.
So How do I spend my Sundays to make sure that my week is productive and successful? I’ll tell you.
First thing is to wake up early
I don’t mean 5-6am. I just mean don’t sleep until noon. I typically wake up between 7-8am on Sundays. Which is still sleeping in to me since I normally wake up at 4:30-5am for work. My kids however will sleep until 10 AM. Sometimes they sleep till noon. Which is fine with me since it gives me a few hours to myself. I make myself some coffee and oatmeal then I do my weekly reflection and to do list.
Weekly Reflection and To-do list
I start my week by doing a weekly reflection. I look back on the past week and think about what I did and didn’t accomplish, things that made my life easier vs made my life harder. What do I still need to do? Then I make a to-do list for the upcoming week. I make sure that all appointments and sporting events are on the calendar for the week, along with my work schedule and the kid’s school schedule.
Once I have the calendar all set up, I make a meal plan for the week. Meal planning is not as hard as people think it is. I have it down to a science now so this only takes me a few minutes. I plan to write another post all about meal planning soon. So be on the lookout for that. Once I make the menu, I make a grocery list of everything I need for the week, and then I order my groceries online. Most places have free curbside grocery pickup. This saves me so much time. It is important to order the groceries now so that they will be ready around noon.
The next thing I do is Clean
I know, I know. That is not what you want to do on a Sunday. But I promise it will make your life easier. And I don’t know about you, but I can clean much faster when the kids are sleeping. Did you know that your environment plays a huge role in your mood? Well, it’s true. Getting your house cleaned up also allows you to go into the week already feeling productive.
The first thing I do is turn on my wax warmers and put fresh wax in them. I love it when my house smells good. Scentsy has the best wax warmers and bars. You can get some here at Scentedgarden.scentsy.us.
Next, I start with the chore that I hate the most; Dishes. If there are any dishes in the sink, I do them. I quickly tidy up then sweep and mop the floors. I also take this time to work on laundry throughout the day. The first thing I do is throw a load in the washer. Then I switch it to the dryer after I mop the floors. Want to know what I do while I’m waiting for the clothes in the dryer? I exercise!
Next, I Exercise
While I’m waiting for the clothes in the dryer to get done, I do a quick 20-minute exercise routine using my fitness app. The Better Me app is awesome. This app has hundreds of routines for beginners. Some are 5 minutes long and some are 30, but on average they are about 20-25 minutes. So I do one of these exercises. If I don’t feel like doing those, I will at least get on the treadmill for 30 minutes while I listen to music. Music is a great way to boost your mood. Music has helped me get through some pretty tough times. That’s why I pay for Spotify every month but won’t pay for Netflix. Music is more important to me. I also have these awesome noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones. So I don’t wake the kids.
Then I take a quick Shower
Once the dryer is done, I switch the laundry. I quickly fold and put away that one load. Then I take a quick shower. I do not shave or wash my hair. This is just a quick 5-minute shower to wash my body after sweating from exercising. Then I get dressed for the day. I’m not saying dress formal. Sweat pants are fine. Just as long as it’s not pajamas. Did you know that simply putting clothes on helps improve mood and energy levels? If I am in pajamas, I don’t feel like doing anything. But if I have jeans or sweatpants on, I am more likely to get up and be productive.
After I shower and get dressed, I go pick up my groceries
Sometimes I don’t need to go to the store, which is great, but often times I need to get milk, bread, eggs, and other perishable items for the upcoming week. Remember to order your groceries early in the morning so that they will be ready around this time. Since I ordered my groceries online, for free, all I have to do is go pick them up. If you have little kids, this is the time to wake them up and get them dressed for the day. Maybe serve them a quick breakfast. If your kids are older, let them sleep and go to the store alone. I am so glad that I can now leave my kids home alone while I go shopping. This has made my life so much easier.
By now, It is usually about noon
I know you are thinking that there’s no way I did all of that before noon. But that’s the beauty of getting up early and doing everything while the kids are asleep. I can do everything much faster, and get done sooner.
Now I have the rest of the day to do what I want
Many people use Sundays as a day to relax and do nothing. I still have time to do this. If I want to catch up on my favorite shows, I can. If I want to play a video game, I can. I will let you in on a little secret. I am a gamer. Yup! That’s right, I’m a nerd. I like to play video games. The kids have a switch but I have one for myself too. And right now I’m obsessed with 2 games; Hogwarts Legacy, and Disney’s Dreamlight Valley. Yes, I am a Disney nerd and a huge Harry Potter fan. Even though I love to play video games, I have made a deal with myself. I am not allowed to play until all of the important stuff is done. This also motivates me to get my cleaning and laundry done quicker.
During Football season, our Sundays are spent watching football with friends and family. I mentioned earlier that Sundays include family time. In the fall, that is spent watching football. But the rest of the year, we may use this time to just hang out at home. The kids and I may watch some TV, play a game or do some dancing. Sometimes the kids may even help me make Dinner.
Dinner on Sundays should always be a Home cooked Meal
During the week, our schedule is pretty crazy. We usually eat things that are quick and easy or we may order out for dinner. So on Sundays, we like to have a nice home-cooked meal. Especially comfort foods. I also use this time to teach my boys how to cook. This is part of our family time as we eat dinner together.
After Dinner, I Relax and Pamper Myself
Earlier I mentioned “me time” as being part of my Sunday routine. Well, this is what I was referring to. This is a great time to take a relaxing bath. Light some candles or turn your wax warmers on, put some music on, and soak in some Epsom salt or bubble bath. Soak your feet in a spa, and put on a face mask. Wash your hair, shave your legs, and use some exfoliator. Whatever you like to do to treat yourself.
I like to soak my feet and put on a face mask. I put a relaxing scent in my wax warmer in my room, and I leave the mask on and my feet in the spa for 30 minutes while I either read a book or write in my journal. I use my Alexa device to set a 30-minute timer. There are many benefits to reading and journaling, especially for your mental health. Then I take a shower where I wash my hair, shave my legs, and exfoliate.
One more thing to do before Going to bed early…
Laundry is done so all I have to do is pick out an outfit for work in the morning and pack my lunch so that I don’t have to do them in the morning. This also helps me transition from weekend to work mode. Helps me prepare for the work week.
It is also important to get your beauty sleep. Go to bed early (or semi-early) so that you feel well-rested at work on Monday. I try to aim for 10pm. Sometimes it may be earlier, it just depends.
In conclusion..
There is so much that can be done on Sundays. You don’t have to dread them. I love Sundays. That is when I am the most productive. I get my cleaning done, I exercise, I go grocery shopping, I have family time and me time. Don’t treat Sundays as the end of the weekend. Treat them as the beginning of a new week. A time for reflection and productivity. Soon you will start to look forward to Sundays just like I do.
