Prepare on Sundays to Set Yourself Up for Success

Sunday is often seen as a day of rest and relaxation, but it can also be a powerful tool.

Sundays can be used for intentional preparations that set yourself up for success for the week ahead.

As a busy professional, preparation is vital to maintain my health, family life, and professional work. It also serves as the foundation to achieve my goals. Doing so on Sundays allows me to show up for myself and for others who depend on me.

So, whether you’re looking to achieve your personal and professional goals, improve your health, or make the most of your time, you can also take advantage of Sundays to set you up for success.

By taking a few hours to plan and organize your week, you can gain clarity, reduce stress, and ensure that you’re on track to meet your goals.

I’ve outlined my strategy for making the most of this day in how Sundays can be the key to unlocking your potential.

Set Yourself Up for Success: Why Prepare on Sunday

Preparation on Sundays is often considered the best day to set yourself up for success for several reasons:

Set the tone for the week:

Sunday is often seen as the end of the weekend and the start of the workweek, making it a good time to set goals and plan for the upcoming week.

This can help establish a positive mindset and set the tone for a productive and successful week. It is because of this mindset and the tasks I accomplish that make Mondays not only productive but also enjoyable!

Setting ourselves up for a fresh start to the week will leave us less stressed and overwhelmed, ready to face the week ahead.

Increased focus:

Sundays are often less busy and less hectic than other days of the week, making it easier to focus on planning and preparation tasks.

This increased focus can lead to better results and more effective planning.

Better scheduling:

Having a dedicated day for preparation and planning can help make certain that these tasks don’t get overlooked or pushed aside during the busy workweek.

This can help prevent running around last minute and ensure you have what you need already ready to go.

Prioritize self-care:

Taking time on Sundays to focus on preparation and planning can also be a form of self-care, allowing you to recharge and reset for the upcoming week.

This can help reduce stress and increase overall well-being.

Set Yourself Up for Success: How to prepare on Sunday

In my morning routine post, one of the actions I pointed out upon waking up was to ask yourself empowering questions.

Weekends are no different, but the questions we ask ourselves may differ depending on the goals for the day.

So, on Sundays, ask yourself some variation of,

“What can I do today that will set me up for success tomorrow/this week?”

Your brain will respond with actions of organization and preparation.

Following each task you complete, you can ask yourself, “What else can I do?” or “What can I do right now?”. The goal is that you do more of that specific task at that moment to get more done.

For example, if preparing a work bag to go into the office on Monday will set you up for success by reducing the time you take to get ready in the morning, take that task a step further by putting the bag in your car so that you won’t forget it.

These simple actions can make an enormous difference over time in making the most of each week and, ultimately, each year to a lifetime.

Set Yourself Up for Success: Actions to take on Sunday

To get you started, I’ve created a list of just some of the actions I take to set myself up for success each week, many of which I am sure you already do.

• Review calendar for the week
• Schedule workouts, appointments, reminders
• List top priorities to accomplish for the week
• Do Laundry
• Clean and organize home
• Organize work bag(s) with items needed to accomplish tasks/errands for the week ahead
• Lay out clothes for the various activities of the week – day-to-day casual, workout, business casual for client meetings
• Take out trash
• Do the dishes
• Leave out a mug and Kcup for morning coffee (or travel mug for on-the-go)
• Plan meals, determine when I’ll need to cook and when I will be eating out
• Grocery shop
• Prep meals by pre-cutting vegetables and freezing items, making meal bases such as brown rice
• Package items for returns
• Run errands now vs. later in the week and/or determine the best day to route your errands based on where you will be
• Get ahead by starting or completing one of the tasks you listed to do later in the week
• Put items in car, such as your workout bag or items for errands
• Make a water bottle, easy grab and go on my way to my morning workout
• Make time for self-care
• Start your bedtime routine early
• Get to bed at the same time you plan to go to bed weeknights

While preparation on Sundays may not be the best day for everyone, it is a popular choice for many people as it provides a chance to get organized and start the week off on a positive note.

By taking advantage of this day, you can increase your chances of success and achieve your goals more effectively.

What are some actions you take? How have they made you more successful during the week? Leave your comments below!