Monday mornings are hard, right? It is just hard to get out of bed and back into the work-week routine. I have started a Sunday night routine of just a few chores and self-care things that make my Monday mornings a little easier.
1. I unload the dishwasher.
Sunday night isn’t the only night I unload the dishwasher, in fact there are many days where I feel like all I do is unload and reload the dishwasher. How do two people use so many dishes every week? I make sure I run the dishwasher on Sunday and unload it before I go to bed Sunday night. When I am packing snacks for Aaron and I on Monday morning, I don’t have to look for dishes. They are all where they belong and it makes getting breakfast and snacks ready a little easier. Plus, when I get home from work on Monday I don’t have to wash any dishes to cook dinner because that is the worst. If I have to wash dishes just to dirty them again I will talk myself out of it nine times out of ten.
2. I clean out the refrigerator
I have no idea how the fridge gets so messed up during the week. I cook dinner at least 5 nights a week, but we usually don’t have leftovers. We use Home Chef, so we have perfectly portioned meals each night. We did have people over this weekend, hence the leftover jello shots (a friend brought them), so there is a lot of extra crap in the fridge this week. I go through it every Sunday and throw away everything we won’t eat or has gone bad. I also restock the bottled water and sparkling water and start a grocery list for the week as I am cleaning everything out. I try to remember to pull the meat out of the freezer for Monday’s dinner so it can thaw in the fridge, but admittedly I am not great at remembering to do it.
3. I wipe down the kitchen counter
Is there anything better than waking up to a clean kitchen? I feel like the whole apartment is in order if the kitchen and bathroom are clean. I take 5 minutes every night, but especially on Sundays, and do a quick clean up in the kitchen. I wipe everything down and make it easier for the week ahead. Yes, our cupboards are baby-proofed. The cats can open them.
4. I wipe down the bathroom
I want the place I go to get clean to always be clean. I do a deep clean of the whole apartment on Saturdays, but on Sunday nights I do a quick wipe down of the sink and toilet. I also sweep the floor and change our towels. I have been loving this Method bathroom cleaner. I got it in a huge order I placed with Grove Collaborative, I tell you more about that later this week.
5. I fold and put away all the laundry.
I am really good at washing the laundry. I used to be really, really bad about folding it and putting it away. Luckily, we don’t have a place to pile up clean laundry so I have to actually fold it and put it away the same day I wash it. I usually do a load of laundry mid-week, then finish it on Sunday. I went through a phase where I picked out my clothes for the next day before I went to bed. Nine times out of ten I changed my mind the next morning. I now have a mental idea of what I want to wear, but I don’t take the time to get it ready when I know I will probably change my mind anyway.
6. I charge my FitBit
I know this one seems silly, but I live and die by my FitBit. I use it for my alarm and to track my steps, my sleep, my water intake, my weight, and I use FitBit Coach to exercise. I need my alarm to go off Monday morning, so I make sure I charge my FitBit Sunday night. Depending on how much I use it I also have to charge it mid-week.
7. I paint my nails.
Moving on to the self-care portion of Sunday. I paint my nails every Sunday while we are watching TV. I had my nails professionally done for over 10 years until I moved. Now I actually find it relaxing to do myself. I am not picky about nail polish brands, but I always use the Essie Gel Couture top coat. I love the gel couture polish, but I only have a couple of colors. I use any polish under it, but the top coat makes my color last all week long. You don’t need a light, it applies like a normal polish.
8. I wash my makeup brushes.
I love to start a new week with clean makeup brushes. Your makeup applies so much better, and it just feels like a fresh start to the week. You can read all about how I clean my brushes and the products I use here.
9. I do a face mask (or two).
These two are my current favorites. They were inexpensive from Ulta. I use the Heat clay mask first. It gets warm but not hot as you wear it. I like that it doesn’t dry and it only needs to stay on for five minutes. Then I wash that off and apply the Illuminating peel mask. This one smells so good and is cool and refreshing on your skin. Remember when you put glue on your hand then peeled it off? This is exactly what this mask is like. It dries in 15 minutes, then peels off easily and leaves your skin feeling great.
10. I clean up the living room right before bed.
This area is where we spend all of our time. We watch TV on the couch, eat on the couch, read or work on the couch, you get the point. This are quickly becomes the dumping ground for the remnants of our day. I like to start a new week with an organized space, so I pick up all the random things in this space before we go to bed on Sunday night.
I can’t promise you any of this will make you love Monday mornings, but they might make them a little easier. Aaron and I have to be out the door at the same time every day for work, so anything I can do to make our mornings smoother is worth it every second it takes.
Tell me I’m not alone in wearing this exact outfit every weekend. If we have no plans I am in a variation of this outfit from Friday night to Monday morning. There is nothing more comfortable than joggers, a baggy tank top, and a chunky cardigan. You know I’m right about this one.
