Sunday, one of the few days a week we get to relax and unwind… sorta. Over the years I’ve grown to almost dread Sundays. Getting up early for church, cramming to finish any weekend homework, dreading going back to school, yeah it’s not exactly my favorite day of the week. However, I’ve learned that if you plan out your day properly and do some certain things, Sunday can actually be decent and can help you feel relaxed and prepared for the upcoming week. So, here are my suggestions for things to do to relax and prepare for the new week.
Catch Up On Homework
I’m just going to throw this one out first because it is definitely the most dreaded. If you’re like me you might have a tendency to procrastinate, a lot, and you might end up having to cram to do all your weekend homework on Sunday. While I’m definitely not trying to encourage procrastination because it’s a terrible habit that I’m trying to break, life happens and honestly, it’s only fair that we get Saturdays for ourselves to relax and do what we want. Anyway, my advice would be to get homework knocked out as fast as possible because you don’t want to be stuck staying up late trying to get things done. Once you finish all your homework you will feel so much more relaxed and feel more motivated to get other things done.
Clean Your Room
This is actually the very first thing I do on Sunday morning. Cleaning your room may be a chore and sometimes it may require a lot of motivation, but it makes life so much easier and it always makes me feel so much more organized. Cleaning my room also helps me manage some of my anxiety because I know everything is in its proper spot. Also if you’re ever feeling annoyed and unmotivated about cleaning your room just be thankful you don’t have to worry about cleaning out a litter box and rabbit cage… yuck.
Go to Church
I’m not going to say too much about this because I know some people don’t go to church, which is totally fine, but I know when I go to church sometimes it helps me feel a little more relaxed and prepared for my week. I also enjoy getting to see some of my friends at church that I don’t get to see very often during the week.
Layout Your Week in a Planner
This is one of my Sunday necessities. I feel absolutely panicked if I forget to fill out my weekly planner. Making a layout and plan for my week in my planner helps me feel more organized and it reduces my anxiety because I feel prepared for all my upcoming events. Not only is filling out a planner good for staying organized, it can also be really fun because you can get creative with how you decorate your planner or bullet journal.
Make Weekly Goals
Making weekly goals is part of what keeps me organized and motivated throughout the week. Setting goals for myself gives me something to work towards throughout the week. Some examples of good health goals to set would be working out for at least three days, or eating a serving of fruits and vegetables with every meal. Some examples of school goals to set would be to study for at least one subject every night or to practice your instrument (if you play an instrument) every day.
Watch A Movie or Some TV
Not everything on Sunday has to be work and school-related, some relaxation can also be a good thing too. Watching a movie or a *few* episodes of a TV show can be a good way to unwind and treat yourself a little bit. Make sure you don’t procrastinate any work that needs to be done and also avoid staying up late.
Face Masks and Warm Baths
This is one of my favorite Sunday activities. A nice face mask and a hot bath with a bath bomb is one of the best ways to unwind and relax. I always do this right before bed, so I am relaxed for bed and it makes falling asleep easier. To make the bath even more relaxing you can light some candles and put on some relaxing music.
Write a To-Do List
While this kinda goes with making a weekly layout, I like to break down my schedule even more and make daily to-do lists. If I have a strict list of goals and things to get done I am more likely to be motivated to do them. I always do this before I go to bed because it makes me feel less anxious about the next day, and it helps me sleep better because I know I’m not forgetting anything.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
This is probably my favorite thing on this list, I mean what teenager doesn’t like sleep? Anyway, getting a good night’s rest is important because it’ll allow you to start the week feeling well-rested and motivated instead of grouchy and exhausted. I always try to be in bed around 9-9:30 if possible because that allows me to get a full 8 hours of sleep, but to be honest if you can get to bed earlier I would do it.
I like to think of Sundays as my mental prep day for the upcoming week. I carefully plan out my week and my weekly goals, but I also try to relax and rest. I hope that these things will help you feel more organized and prepared for the upcoming week.
-Emily
Bookworm Girl 