Win Monday

One of the rules I’ve been focusing on lately that’s really helped me reset my routine is simple, but easier said than done.

Win Monday.

Just win the day.

We’ve allowed ourselves to be conditioned to dread Monday. We always talk about “Sunday Funday” and “Fri-Yay!” 

I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say, “Mon-Yay!”

But maybe we should start.

Have you ever noticed how getting your workout done first thing in the morning sets the tone for the rest of the day … and how much more energy and optimism you have?

The same rule applies to the week as a whole.

I find that if I have a sluggish, unproductive Monday, it’s really hard to break that pattern and finish the week strong so I can accomplish all the things I want to.

So if you’re looking to get a fresh start, get back into a routine, or create some momentum, winning Monday is a great place to start.

Here are some simple strategies you can start implementing right away:

Plan Your Week On Sunday: If you go into Monday without a plan, I don’t want to say you’re planning to fail … but that’s basically what’s happening. Set some goals and benchmarks for the week ahead every Sunday. Schedule your workouts for the week and block out the time on your calendar. Prep your protein and veggies for the first few days of the week. Success and momentum come from action, and the first step in taking action is to plan what actions you’re going to take.

Plan Each Day The Night Before: Block out the times when you’re spoken for … whether it’s work meetings, commuting time, or picking up/dropping off the kids. When I’ve done this consistently, I’ve been amazed at how much time is left over. Once you see the time you have available, you can schedule in a few tasks and make a commitment to yourself to accomplish them.

Don’t Overdo It: Too much of a good thing usually isn’t good, especially when it comes to planning. One of the surest ways to have a lousy Monday is to overschedule yourself and not be realistic about what you can actually accomplish in the time that’s available to you. If you always find yourself saying how busy you are, or how there’s never enough time … this could be the reason. Be realistic. You may find that if you schedule two tasks to be completed and accomplish both of them, it feels like you won the day. Whereas if you scheduled 10 tasks and “only” accomplished two, it feels like a failure.

So let’s get out of the habit of dreading Monday and set ourselves up for success instead. Plan ahead, schedule your workouts, and be realistic. Winning beats failure any day … but especially on Monday. :-)