Make Every Week Better

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Some weeks are fantastic! You’re at the top of your game and nothing can shake you. Other weeks start off on the wrong foot, and they seem to stay that way. Last week was like that for me. I just couldn’t sleep well and that affected e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g!

While there should always be room for real-life, which can be messy and leave you overwhelmed – having a list of things that can make your week better can be a tool for seeing more good days and weeks than bad ones. 

Let’s get into a couple of things that can change the course of your day and steer your week into something more than 5 Monday days in a row… 

Make the bed!

Many people don’t make their bed thinking – what is the point if you are just going to get back in it? Well, many experts say that the small act of making your bed means that you have immediately achieved something in your day. Even if you say you don’t feel like getting it done – it can make a huge difference. 

Not to mention it makes the space look a lot cleaner too! 

Also try to change your sheets on a Sunday so that you always start the week in fresh sheets. It’s weird right but subconciously these small tasks can make a big impact when added up.

Photo by Nienke Witteveen on Unsplash

Goal setting 

Depending on how your average week looks, you should find somewhere that you can sit and plan your week. Often people add too many things to their to-do lists and then become overwhelmed. I’m an expert at this. I scheduled things that realistically take hours thinking they will only take 15 minutes. I get depressed about this and start to let things slide. 

It is more beneficial to choose a few things that absolutely have to be done and then a couple that you’d like to get done. Then add a couple more of ‘if you have time’ things. So everything that is important will get done, while everything that can wait isn’t going to be distracting you and pulling your focus away. 

Goal setting shouldn’t just be work-focused or career achievements. Take a look at your life from a broader perspective – what health goals would you like to achieve? 

When you plan goals in weeks rather than months and years, they are the small stepping stones to achieving what you really want. Maybe you want to increase how often you walk each week – just add a few miles each week. 

Make sure to check off what you achieve – and find a way to be okay with the things that you don’t manage to get to. 

Inbox

They say that there are two types of people, the people with an empty inbox and those that have thousands of emails. The notification in a red circle or a phenomenally large number there can play on your mind more than you think. 

Every notification that you have takes up mental space, and when they are constantly there – they will remain something that you need to deal with. 

Try to aim for an inbox zero moment. You might want to go through the emails and see if there is anything important. But, the chances are you have things from months and months ago, and it is often better to delete as much as you can. 

Set aside 30 minutes per day until you have finished the task. It will be a lot easier to answer your emails in the future when you have less to look at in the first place. I’m pretty sure this is going to take me a couple weeks but know it’ll help my brain from feeling overwhelmed when I open up the 5 different email accounts I keep up with!

Outsource

If you have a lot every week, the last thing you need is extra work. There are lots of places that you can outsource to other people to keep your week running smoothly. There are a couple of things that you can take a look at. 

One of the biggest – and it can make the most difference is getting a cleaning company like Highland Park Housekeeping in to take care of the cleaning. As soon as the pantry and living room is all fixed up from our kitchen remodel, I plan to hire a housekeeping business to help me out! Whew I’m worn out and my house is a mess. This will help me soooo much and I can’t wait!

When it comes to working, it can be very beneficial to have a virtual assistant take care of the tasks that are time-consuming with little in return. 

Taking things off of your plate means you have more room for tackling your to-do list, which is important but more importantly it will give you back time that you can spend on your family. Take a look at where you could do with some help, and decide if you could make space in your budget to have someone else take up some of the things that make your week harder than it has to be. 

Photo by Precious Plastic Melbourne on Unsplash

Move your body 

Feeling tired and sluggish happens more often when you aren’t moving your body enough. The more you move your body, the more energy you have to expel. We know that our bodies need to be moved for a certain amount of time every day, and if that isn’t happening, then you need to make an adjustment. 

It can be tough to make sure that you get some time to work out, though, around school runs, work, cleaning, and other errands. 

Luckily there are plenty of YouTube videos, podcasts, and other ways to get a workout from home. Not all workouts need to be long and sweaty – but it is a good idea to get your heart pumping for at least 30 minutes a day. 

If you do have the time, then try to make sure that you are fit for a walk. You can join the millions of people who are now doing the Hot Girl Walk. Taking some time away from the desk and the home or workplace to stretch your legs is great for you physically and mentally. 

Weekly Mantra 

At the start of each week, pick a mantra that you are going to live by. It can be tough when you first start putting mantras and affirmations into your week – many people start out by feeling like they are faking it or silly for saying a mantra. 

But actually, over time, mantras and affirmations can become powerful when things get tough during the week. We are endlessly bombarded by advertisements that we are “not good enough”.  We have to help our mind to not subscribe to this ridiculousness over time!

A couple of mantras that can work are: 

• Progress is better than perfection
• Change is not good or bad. It is just different
• Keep moving forward (or be like Dory, ‘Just Keep Swimming.’)
• Small steps achieve big things
• I am grateful for what I have, but I will achieve more
• I’m ready for abundance and blessings
• I am loved by the Almighty God.

But you can make a mantra of whatever you want. You might be more of an ‘I’m going to kick today in the butt’ or ‘Don’t try me’ type of person. 

Self-care

Some days come out the gate, and they are hard and fast with no let-up. If you have a day that you have booked for some self-care and rest, you always have something to look forward to. 

It doesn’t have to be long luxurious baths or anything like that. So long as you have something planned for yourself, that means you need to focus on something that is completely in your control. 

Disconnecting can be part of your self-care, or it could be something that you have planned for a different time in the week. Either way, time away from your computer and phone is healthy. We are bombarded all day with notifications, and many of us can’t ditch the temptation of the internet (and social media) for long. 

Being plugged into your devices all day can have a negative impact on you. Often people spend too long on social media, then hold guilt for the time they could’ve been doing something more productive. 

And while not everything and every day needs to be productive, there are better ways to relax and unwind than watching 74 TikTok in a row. 

Small changes can make a huge impact on how you tackle your week. Here are some of the best ways to get some peace and calm:

Simple Self Care: How It Can Help You | SimpleStepsForLivingLife. 

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If you are feeling down or depressed for more days than not, please seek medical attention.  If you are feeling like you cannot go on, please call the suicide hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or chat here>>> https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/  Or visit the suicide prevention lifeline  at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/