I’m a planner by nature. I love planning ahead, thinking through details, and fine-tuning the future. I realize not everyone shares my love of to-do lists and preparation (thank goodness), so I’ve put together a list of what I do each weekend, usually on Sunday, to “reset” for the week ahead.
I have to tell you…these simple things truly set me up for a successful week. My mind isn’t cluttered with a million different things that I need to get done each morning before work or evening after work, which puts me at ease. There’s a peace in knowing things are taken care of! So here’s what I recommend:
1. Wash your sheets & make your bed
Even if you don’t care to make your bed each morning, take the time to wash your sheets on the weekend and return them to your bed, fresh and clean. It’s amazing how wonderful it feels to climb into a fresh, made bed on Sunday night! Plus, it’s a great reminder to slough off the junk from the previous week, and start fresh in the week to come. (If you want extra delicious smelling sheets, try using this. I’m a h-u-u-u-g-e fan!)
2. Do all your laundry & choose outfits for the entire week
I’ve been choosing my outfit the night before for many years now…and even though it takes just a few minutes in the evening to choose an outfit, it really saves me a groggy, sleepy headache in the morning of worrying about putting together a cute, professional look. Even better than choosing an outfit each night before bed is choosing a myriad of outfit choices on the weekend, hanging them with their jewelry, and choosing one each morning of the week.
I like to pick out and hang up more than five choices on the weekend because some mornings I’m feeling one way, and others I feel differently. I still have choices…just not too many. A whole closet is overwhelming in the morning, but nine or ten outfits on hangers is totally do-able. (Any leftover outfits are just carried on to the next week!)
Another bonus? I make sure to work my entire wardrobe, instead of sticking with my few comfortable go-to outfits.
3. Pick out gym clothes (or other specific outfits) for the entire week and pack them all
Just like with my work wardrobe, I pick out my gym outfit for each day of the week and pack them all in my gym bag. You may ask why I wouldn’t just leave the outfits stacked in my closet and reload my gym bag with a new one each evening? Well, because I’m lazy and this is easier. By throwing all the week’s outfits into my bag, all I have to do is put the bag in my car on Monday morning and grab it when I go to the gym each evening after work. After I work out, I carry my dirty clothes into my apartment and put them in the hamper. The next day, the same thing. No guesswork. No “oh but I didn’t bring any work out clothes, so I can’t go to the gym today” excuses either…I know myself too well for that!
By the way, this is my gym bag (view other colors here), that I absolutely LOVE. It has a water bottle pocket, a pocket for shoes that’s only accessible from the outside (eliminating the scare of dirty gym shoes touching clean clothes), a velvet-lined jewelry pouch sewn in, a cell phone holder, a place for socks and undies, and an easy-access outside pocket to stash my keys and wallet. So in love, and it wasn’t even pricey ($25). If you’re interested, you can buy it on Amazon here! This is where my gym outfits live all week until they’re worn!
4. Prepare breakfast and lunch for Monday (or the entire week)
I find cooking and preparing food very relaxing and peaceful, so I enjoy putting together a breakfast and lunch for the next day each evening. However, if you don’t particularly enjoy packing breakfast and lunch, it would make sense for you to prepare the week’s worth of meals on the weekend. Some dishes can’t be prepared too far in advance, but you can make up some items, like grilled chicken or pasta, and they’ll easily stay fresh all week.
For tomorrow’s breakfast, I’ve set up the ingredients for a smoothie (which I’ll blend with my favorite new kitchen tool!), and packed an oatmeal pouch in my work bag. For lunch, a container of the garbanzo bean and vegetable soup I made this afternoon. Make it easy for yourself, you’ll thank me you!
5. Empty all your trashcans
Like changing your sheets, emptying your trashcans is an excellent way to do away with the past week and reset for the week ahead. Plus, clean, empty trashcans at the beginning of your week won’t leave you with the added stress of needing to take out the garbage before or after work. “But that’s not very stressful, Blair,” you may say. True–but eliminating many little stressers adds up to a big weight off your shoulders as you begin your week! Try it, you’ll see! 🙂
6. Wipe down your bathroom & kitchen, and tidy up the rest of your home
No one wants to spend their entire weekend cleaning, but who says you have to? Take five minutes and wipe down your counters in the bathroom(s) and kitchen (preferably with this perfectly delicious smelling spray), return items to their proper homes, wash towels and dish cloths, and run the dishwasher before you go to bed on Sunday night. I don’t care who you are–there’s something wonderful about waking up to a clean home.
Don’t forget to tidy up the rest of your home as well. Return shoes to their respective closets, file or recycle paperwork, hang your purse on the rack…”reset” your home.
7. Check your calendar & create a fresh to-do list
One of the last things I do before I get my Sunday night Zzz’s is check my calendar (I use this large one, it’s great!) for the week and craft a relevant to-do list. This typically includes anything from items to purchase at the grocery store, to people I should call and catch up with, to bills that need to be paid, to blog posts I’d like to write, to things I want to do, to goals for the next seven days. Writing down what I need to get done clears my head of the madness and truly helps me to refocus for the week ahead.
8. Restock your refrigerator and pantry
A post about how I organize my refrigerator is coming soon (spoiler alert: it involves bins and a label maker!). Anyway, make sure to take a trip to the grocery store over the weekend to restock your kitchen–both the fridge and the pantry. There’s nothing worse than coming home from work to find that you have absolutely nothing to eat! We both know that nothing to eat at home usually means McDonald’s or another unhealthy choice to fill in the gap.
Instead, carve out time and hoof it to the grocery store. I hate grocery shopping when it’s chaotic and crowded, so I like to go early or late on Saturday or Sunday. I’ve also been known to grab my grub late Friday night! Hey, whatever works for you!
9. Think of the little things
Pictured above is a tiny plastic case that I fill with my daily vitamins (which are B12, Biotin, Femaprin, Evening Primrose Oil, HTP-5, and daily multivitamin chews) every night and pack in my work bag for the morning. Because I eat breakfast while I answer emails at work, I like to take my vitamins with me as they should be taken on a full stomach.
The point? Think of the little details that you will probably forget in the morning. If you always forget to feed the fish, put the fish food on the counter. If you can’t remember to water the plants, fill the watering can (I use my tea kettle) up the night before. If you’re always forgetting an umbrella, pack it on Sunday. If you enjoy having a cup of coffee in the morning, but can never seem to get up early enough to brew one, set your automatic coffee machine the night of (I use this one and love it).
Think through your morning. At first, it may seem tedious. But I’ve been doing it for so long that it’s second nature. It only takes me 10 or 15 minutes to prepare for the next day, but that short amount of time gives me lots of extra time in the morning, which is priceless!
That’s what I do each weekend to reset and prepare for the week ahead. It’s become such a habit that I don’t even think about what I’m going to do on Sundays–I already know. Each Sunday, I sleep in, head off to church, come home and prepare lunch, and spend the afternoon preparing for the week ahead. The evening is mine to catch up with friends, blog, bake, or watch a favorite movie. It’s a beautiful thing!
What do you do on the weekends to prepare for the week ahead?
When I originally posted this, I accidentally pinned it using the image below, with the number 12! I can’t delete it for fear or breaking lots of Pinterest links, so here it stays 🙂
*contains affiliate links
This post has been shared on Party Wave Wednesday & Thank Your Body Thursday.
This is a repost. It was originally published in September of 2013.
I just want to say that your blog is everything that I would write a blog about! It’s like you know exactly what I want to read! I recently graduated college and everything you write about is perfect for me at this point in my life! Thanks!
Thank you Ashtyn! I so appreciate the support!
What a great list! I really enjoy reading your blog, Blair. It is hard to believe you are the same little girl I used to baby sit!
I know you are super into natural cosmetics etc so I wanted to mention that those fabric softener items are SUPER bad for you. I know I love the way they smell but they are chuck full of carcinogens and you are breathing it in all night. If you are interested there are reusable dryer balls that are infused with natural scents. http://www.bouncingwoolies.com/ Sorry to be *that* person!
Yes, in recent months I’ve stopped buying the fabric softener for that very reason. But they really do smell unbelievable on sheets, my guilty pleasure for every now and then! 🙂 I’ll have to check out that website for a natural alternative! Thanks for your comment!
xo,
b
You know I never thought about doing this on weekend? I mean, I do lots of to-do list, but just for work-related things and shopping. But never settled any “ritual” or “set of activities” to do in order to relax myself and start anew every week. I’ll try it out, for sure I’ll enjoy! Thanks for the ideas!
Let me know how it goes!
xo,
b
LOVE this blog post! I’m trying to organize my life more this week so this came at the perfect timing! 🙂
Good luck, Kristin!!!
xo,
b
I love that there are other crazy OCD people like me 🙂 There is nothing better than waking up on Monday morning to a clean house with all of the laundry done and my meals planned for the week! Love this!
Yes! Crazy people unite!!!
xo,
b
Just a little warning, 5-HTP can be incredibly dangerous. It was previously linked to EMS. I’d be cautious about taking it and maybe try to find an alternative 🙂
Hmm, haven’t heard that. I ran out a few weeks ago and have yet to replace my bottle, so I’ll do a bit of digging and make a decision from there!
Thanks!
xo,
b
This is great! Thanks! I love having everything organized over the weekend to start the week fresh, but I have a hard time sticking to it! Hopefully I can keep it up after this post. 😉
Best of luck to you Alison! 🙂
xo,
b
love these ideas! am so going to try them. one thing i love is setting up the automatic coffee maker to go off 15 minutes before i get up. if the alarm does’t work, the smell of fresh brewed coffee does!
I do that too!!! Love the smell of coffee! 🙂
xo,
b
Love this list! I like to make my bed every morning, as it helps to give a jump start on the day. Thanks!
I totally agree! (Oops…didn’t make it this morning though!) It’s a Monday, so I’ll forgive myself. 🙂 Thanks for reading!
xo,
b
Nice blog. One thing I do each Sunday is charge all the items I need, like phone, music, laptops etc. At least I can get to Wed without a flat battery somewhere!
Thanks, Joy! Great tip!
xo,
b
I usually dread Sunday’s because the next day is Monday ( back to work!!) however, with the great ideas that you have listed hopefully, it will make my Monday mornings much easier !!. Perhaps I will learn to love Sundays!!
I hope your Mondays are less manic, Angel! Best of luck. Thank you for reading!
xo,
b
Hi Blair, thank you for posting this! I am trying to get more organized, and think that these tips will help me start my weekday mornings more stress free.
Good luck, Shelly! I hope your mornings become calm and lovely!
xo,
b
This is a great post, I will be trying it. (I only just found it via pinterest) Just wanted to say that the weekend is when I do meal planning for the week (dinners at least) and that this would be a good thing to add to this list. 🙂
So true about the meal planning! I, however, live alone, so meal planning would be a little silly. I end up eating the same meal for three or four days–so my week would be only two meals! For families, however, meal planning is critical!
xo,
b
This is great info. I have worked (every position from dishwasher to manager) I. The resturant business. The best thing I learned was to set yourself and your coworkers up for success. Everything was cleaned and organized at the end of shift. It makes coming in to work so much nicer. And you learn to appreciate how you spend your time. Either catching up or setting up.
So true, Mel! Have a great day! 🙂
xo,
b
This was awesome! Thanks for sharing. It was so motivating!
Thanks, Esmeralda!
xo,
b
Great tips!!
Thanks for reading!
xo,
b
Loved it. Thank you 🙂
So glad!
xo,
b
A great list!! My 1st time visiting your Blog! Love it! I must attend my Sunday Church meetings & fill my “Spiritual tank” to get me thru to the next Sunday!! I consider it a “necessity” to show “thanks” for a great week I survived & to ask for the “help” to get me thru the next one.
Great point!
xo,
b
I love these ideas! As a mother of 2 young children, EVERY little second counts! I, last year, started making them pick out their clothes the night before. Just last week, some WONDERFUL lady gave me a wardrobe from IKEA (Craigslist).. So I am going to start getting them to have their outfits for the week. Thank you! I haven’t thought of most of these ideas, but even for the ones that I have, it’s a GREAT reminder. I’ve read that “organization isn’t a destination, but a continuous journey”… how true that is. It is very difficult for me to stick to a routine. As soon as I find that I’ve mastered one area (of my life OR house), something else needs work. Thank you again for your ideas and inspiration!
Hey Jessica!
Thanks for your comment. Organization is definitely a continuous journey! Good for you for being on that journey, especially with two little ones! 🙂
xo,
b
I am absolutely in love with all of this!! Thank you!
Yay! Hope your weeks go more smoothly by planning ahead!!
xo,
b
I’m well-organized but always looking for new ways to make my life easier. LOVE this post. I do some of these already but starting next week I’ll change my sheets and take out the trash on Sunday. It’s the little things, right? Thanks —you have a new fan.
Fellow organizers UNITE! Love it 🙂 Thanks for reading–best of luck to you, Christina!
xo,
b
Thanks Blair for a great list. I never have enough time in the mornings and I am always running out the door late. I am going to set myself a goal of developing your routine on a Sunday to help start each day less stressed. Love reading your blog. Suzanne
Such a great goal! Best of luck!!
xo,
b
This is such a great list! I wish I did every one of these things…
I just discovered your blog via a pin on Pinterest and have loved reading your engagement story! Super cute, glad I found your blog!
So glad that you found my blog, too, virtual friend! Hugs from TX!
xo,
b
I just came across this post on Facebook. First off, love your blog and am so glad I’m now following you! I consider myself organized, but decided to jot down these tips so I can check them off each weekend. I never considered picking out my outfits, and I realize I sporadically do many of the other things, but I think it would be easier to have a set day or two to knock them out. Thanks for sharing.
Glad this was helpful! Here’s to an organized year ahead of us! (Oh wait, it’s almost March…) 😉
xo,
b
I love this post!! Thank you very much!
So glad that it was helpful! Hugs!
xo,
b
What is the first link? It’s something about what you do when changing your sheets. It seems the link isn’t working for me?
The first link is to Downy Unstoppables: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0052457G6/blaisundblog-20
They’re little beads to put in your laundry that make it smell awesome! 🙂
xo,
b
Please AVOID 5-HTP. Try L-tryptophan (I use 500 MG and buy from Amazon). My husband had a major reaction to 5-HTP. He had to be hospitalized for three days due to high fever and dangerously high liver enzymes. Praise God there is not permanent damage.
Good advice. It must affect people differently–I had great results when taking it! So sorry your hubby had such a terrible experience.
xo,
b
Great blog! Really helpful. I would add: Water the plants.
Awesome add! (I don’t have any plants because I can’t keep them alive! 😉 )
xo,
b
I take gummy vitamins and other supplements in the morning as well, although I often forget when I have to do breakfast on the go. What kind of a container do you transport yours in, so the gummies don’t get the others goopy? Just curious 🙂
I bought that little clear box at The Container Store!
xo,
b
Boooo! You are defeating the purpose of the weekend!! Ugh.
I totally disagree but appreciate you sharing your opinion. I see my weekend as time to recharge and reset–all of this takes me 30 minutes tops and saves me literally hours during my week! For me, it’s time well spent. Enjoy your weekend! 🙂
xo,
B
I loved this post and it inspired me to finally create a kitchen command center/vision board for my family so we (well, really, I) can SEE and be reminded of the most basic things that, if I keep up with them, can and will make my life so much easier during the week. I love the list and most of your reminders made it onto my new weekend to-do chart.
So glad, Beth! Best of luck to you and your sweet family.
xo,
b
Loved your weekend plan! Will try to institute it ASAP. I’d love to read your post on how you organize your fridge. It looks a-maz-ing!
Yay! Here’s my post on organizing my fridge: https://blairblogs.com/2013/09/how-to-organize-your-fridge-or-at-least-how-i-organize-mine/
xo,
b
I found your tips on organizing for the week ahead to be very inspirational to me to try out.
So glad, Kathy. Hope you have an organized week! 🙂
xo,
b
Love this list, I’d add “fill the car’s gas tank.”
Great idea!
xo,
b
I love this list! My Monday’s have been hectic. I did all of these today and I feel ready for the week! I’ve also added cleaning out my purse, it’s messing in there. Lol
That’s a great addition!
xo,
b
Great post! Thanks for the advice. My husband and I will start this on Sunday. He starts a new job and I’m always frazzled in the morning with my outfits and lunch ideas! I’ve been wanting to make our Sunday’s more productive for our weeks, so your post helps a lot! I do have a question though. Your gym shorts look really cute, where do you find them at? I never usually wear shorts to work out, but I started Muay Thai kickboxing so I want to get some shorts for class.
Hey Lauren! Best of luck to you and your husband! 🙂 My gym shorts are Nike, you can get them at Academy or Dick’s or another sporting goods place!!
xo,
b
Wayyyy to type A for me (I fly by the seat of my pants lol) but inspiring nonetheless! 🙂
Hah! Glad you were at least inspired!
xo,
b
Hi Blair, I just wanted to say that although this was posted forever ago, I found this post to be so inspirational and shared it with everyone I came across in my office these last few days because working the stressful job that we do, this seems to be a great way to really give ourselves some much needed self care after the beat down we take in our field of choice. Thanks for your wise words of advice! 🙂
You are so awesome!! Thanks for the encouragement! 🙂
xo,
b
What an incredibly thoughtful and practical list! I wouldn’t necessarily have thought of emptying all of the trashcans each weekend, but that makes so much sense.
Hey Suzanna!
Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I’m so glad you found this list helpful! 🙂 It really is the little things that count. Also–I just checked out your blog and your baby is SO precious! Congrats!!
xo,
b
This is list is so me. If I don’t plan ahead my week won’t work as smooth as I want. I love the pics.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Mendy! 🙂 I am such a planner, I’m glad to know I’m in good company!
xo,
b
This is such a helpful post I do a few of them and ones I don’t I’ll start I am very like you in the sense of future planning and organization
Awesome! Good luck!!
xo,
b
Hey,Blair I hope I can manage to do that because planning is not my thing but I know I need to do something as soon as possible.I lile your post very much.Thank you.
You can do it!!!
xo,
b
Outfits for the week!!!! Of course!!! All the other I do, but the outfits make SOOOOO much sense, even more so when you are dressing two others!
Yay! Hope this works out for you! 🙂
xo,
b
I really enjoyed reading your blog. I’m a list maker also but the one thing you left out is what I consider to be the most important and that is getting up early and going to church on Sunday. There is no better way to start the week is being fed the stuff that helps us handle everything going on in this world that is so turned upside down right now. If you make that connection you know God is always in control and is bigger than anything we might have to face.
Amen!
xo,
b
I actually have a question about the vitamins you listed. Do these come in some type of pack altogether or do you have to buy them individually?
Hi Abby! I buy them all individually. I know there are places that sell packs, though, so you could look into that. Or you could buy your own little pill bags and make packs for simplicity’s sake! Thanks for reading!
xo,
b
I just found this pin on pinterest and found it EXTREMELY helpful! 🙂 Thank you so much and I’m going to talk to my doctor about vitamins and supplements i want to look into getting on 5-HTP, looks like what I need to have in my body to fix a whole slew of issues.
Oh, I’m so glad! Thanks for reading!
xo,
b
This is such great advice and great ideas to remove some stress by making our lives easier on ourselves. Thank you! Definitely going to implement these! The gym bag is awesome!! You mentioned that it wasn’t pricey so I was so excited to order!! I wasn’t expecting it to be $158.00 though. Maybe I’m too frugal, but that’s definitely pricey to me! Gonna have to shop around a little. 🙂
It’s $158?? My goodness, that’s ridiculous! When I bought it in 2013 I think I paid $25!
Love this post! It was particularly good to know that I’m not alone in being obsessed with emptying the bins on a Sunday night 🙂
You, my dear, are my new guru!!!!!!
Five years later this is still some great advice!
I stumbled on this via Pinterest and it is inspiring! You do so much prep at the weekend – I had never thought of doing this and it’s such a great idea. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for the list. Some good ideas.
A few more things if you want to get to 12 –
Make sure pet food is stocked
Throw on junk mail
Check the weather and items in your car like umbrellas and scarfs, sandals
Clear off your nightstand so you wake up to a clean view
Make a menu plan and ingredients check. and a grocery list organized by days. This way if you forgot something you what day you need to get it by
Just some of the things I do
This is a great list! I hadn’t thought of choosing all the gym outfits. Having a packed gym bag saves so much time and keeps from making excuses!