I’ve been thinking about what makes a good week over a “bad” week – and the difference comes down to what I put off.
There are things that I know I want to do – not because I think I should – but because I know they make me feel good. And yet there are those weeks where it just doesn’t seem to happen. And the longer that goes, the harder it is to get back into gear.
I think routines are a really good way to remind yourself of what matters, to keep momentum and stay connected. I’ve learned that here in Bali, it’s a place that seems carefree and even a little disorganised – yet routines and rituals are ingrained into the everyday. I also see a lot more smiles around here – so there’s something to it.
Sundays have become my check-in point to do the things that set the course for a better week. And while these 3 little routines aren’t in themselves very exciting – the way they make me feel is.
Three Sunday Routines
Prep your Fridge.
I got this idea from a cafe here in Bali. It’s called The Nest Home Cafe and its designed to look and feel like you’re having coffee in someone’s home…
My husband and I were seated pretty much in the kitchen of this cafe – and I got an up-close view of their kitchen flow and how they set it up to be efficient.
We order a mushroom soup and hamburger. She walks over to the fridge and I can see that they have it completely organised shelf-to-shelf with stacks of see-through containers. She grabs three containers, each one filled with the makings of a burger: pre-sliced tomatoes, prepped salad leaves and beef patties formed and ready for the pan…
She grabs another two containers. One’s filled with pre-made soup another with sliced mushrooms. She sautees the mushrooms, pours the soup over it and serves it up.
In an instant and with ease, she cooks and assembles this entire meal and I’m thinking – we should all have a fridge like that!
Meal planning can be tricky because you might not know today – what you want to eat next Wednesday. You don’t know if you’ll be in the mood for a light salad or a hearty soup…
Try prepping your fridge with ready-to-go staples – it gives you more flexibility, but also more ease in putting together a meal throughout the week:
- cooked brown rice
- pre-chopped veggies
- shredded chicken
- cooked black beans
- roasted pumpkin
- ready to eat salad greens…
Plan Something Good.
Once the week starts, it’s hard to find time to do the things that you want for yourself – like coffee with a friend, a yoga class or date night with your partner.
A calm Sunday is a great time to think about the week ahead and decide what you want to spend your time doing. Pick one thing that you know will make you feel good and then schedule it. Write it down on the calendar, book the date, set a reminder – and when the time comes, all you need to do is show up!
Freshen Up.
I used to think that people who seem to have everything togehter, are naturally that way. But I’ve realized that the real difference is that they work at it more consistently.
Which is smart! It’s harder to start, to build up momentum again. But lot of us travel through these extremes of highs and lows – being super productive and then super discouraged, then starting back up again.. it’s exhaustive.
Consistency is a much easier path to follow because it takes less time and energy to do the work of staying on top of things.
Here’s a few things that, if done each week, won’t build up to become a drain on your week… if I do even just one thing, it always makes a big difference:
- Clear out the mail
- Clean out and organize your work/school/baby bag
- Sort through your closet, pick up anything on the floor, refold anything that came undone
- Tidy up the house, look for things that got put out of place
Done consistently – it’ll take minutes compared to hours!
I’d love to know – what are your favorite things to do on a Sunday? Let me know in the comments below.
Have a great week!
Militza Xx
