Let’s face it, everybody loves the weekend! Sunday’s especially, are a day for relaxation, refresh and reset, so trying to stay productive can definitely be hard.
Without a set schedule, the weekend can end up being 2 days of pure unplanned and unproductive chaos.
Although our Sunday’s can be enjoyable and something we all look forward to every week, Monday comes around and smacks us in the face.
Using your Sundays to complete productive tasks may be the key to a successful week ahead.
As much as you want might want to give into the temptation of doing nothing all day, the reality is there are some things “highly productive” people do on a Sunday to make them more effective.
But what exactly should we be doing to make sure our week runs smoothly and is as productive as it can be?
Whether you’re a student, work a 9 to 5 or run your own business; take the time to implement these productive things to do on a Sunday and see how much you can get done throughout the week.
Why is my Sunday so important?
What you do on your Sundays will determine how the rest of the week plays out.
Your week may have been extremely chaotic, messy, stressful or just downright miserable. What Sunday does is give you time to reflect on the past week and prepare for the one ahead.
It also takes away some of that stress you may feel during the week because you already got it done on the weekend.
Many of us spend Sundays lounging, watching tv or just wasting away…literally. Changing your mindset and using Sunday as a day to “get straight” can be extremely empowering and change your life.
Here are just some small habits to do each Sunday that you can start implementing now to see a more fulfilled and productive week ahead…
12 Productive things to do on a Sunday
It’s important to note that you do not need to do all of these things in order to stay productive throughout the week.
Take what resonates with you and start small. Build up these small habits as you go along and take it at your own pace.
Create a Sunday routine
Use these productive things to do on a Sunday and create your own routine from them. Everyone is different, whether you have kids, need to visit family on the weekends, go to church etc, remember to create a routine that suits your life.
Everyone’s version of “productive” is different, so if you are able to do one of these things consistently that is being productive in my book.
Start the morning off with something you love to do
Time it takes: 20 minutes
No one wants to feel as if their Sunday was all work and no play! That’s why I recommend starting off the day with an activity you love.
For me it’s going for a walk to the local coffee shop and listening to music. For you it could be doing your favourite workout, watching your favourite show, catching up with a friend, painting your nails, taking a bath, the list is really endless.
Whatever you do make sure it’s high vibes only and set your day off on a positive note!
Create your Ultimate “Sunday” Playlist
Time it takes: 5 minutes
I don’t know about you but having the right motivating and inspiring music really helps me be extra productive throughout the day.
On a Sunday my playlist usually consists of upbeat music with inspiring lyrics, to help me get off my butt and get sh*t done.
Add some songs to your own Sunday playlist and stay motivated all day.
Take time to focus on your goals
Time it takes: 5 minutes
Start with a list of top 3 goals for the week. These 3 goals should align with the bigger goals you set for yourself Yearly, Quarterly and Monthly. By taking the small consistent action towards your goals each week, it will help you achieve your goals long term.
If you want more help on how to set long term goals you’ll actually achieve, read my post on setting and achieving goals in 2022.
Use a weekly planner to plan the week ahead
Time it takes: 10-15 minutes
It’s important to plan ahead with anything that you do. Using a weekly planner to plan the week ahead can ensure that you crush your goals and be the most productive version of you possible.
Not only does planning the week ahead help you know what needs to be done, it will also give structure to your day. No more wasting time figuring out what it is you have to do every day because you’ve already made a plan!
Tip: Make sure you plan each day that your hardest task is done first.
I like to use a digital planner to plan my week ahead. I set up my schedule for the week on my iPad using this template.
Once that’s complete, I’ll set a shortcut icon on my home screen so that I can refer to it anytime I need clarity.
Boy does this make me super productive!
Whether you use a digital planner, paper planner or calendar, add this one task to your Sunday routine and thank me later..
Sort out your budget for the week
Time it takes: 10-15 minutes
My spending can get a bit wreck-less during the week especially if I haven’t set a budget.
To set a weekly budget:
- List out all of your expenses for the week
- Give each category its’ expected budget and try to STICK TO IT.
- Come back at the end of the week for a “check-in”.
- List out the actual amounts you spent for each category
Doing this each week will allow you to see where your money is mostly spent and if you need to, give you the opportunity to cut down on your expenses.
Use this handy weekly budget planner to help set and reach those financial goals.
Clean out the fridge
Time it takes: 10 minutes
You’re going to want to do this task on a Sunday, so that you know what you have what you don’t and what you need to get for the upcoming week.
Don’t stress too much about this one, once expired items have been thrown simply give everything a wipe down so that your fridge is fresh for new items.
Out with the old and in with the new!
Plan your meals
Time it takes: 1-2 hours
Use a great weekly meal planner, to help you prepare for week.
Decide what meals do you want to cook, what meals do you want to order and is there any prep you can get done now to save time during the week?
Once your weekly meal plan and shopping list are done, it’s time to go grocery shopping.
Trust me, going to the grocery store with a plan is the way to go.
If you prefer, you can get your list done during the week and get your shopping delivered to you on a Sunday. I prefer to order my groceries for delivery as it can save so much time.
Do what works best for you.
Set out outfits for the week
Time it takes: 20 minutes
I always have trouble figuring out what to wear each day, even if my entire closet is full of black clothes.
Sometimes it make life so much easier to plan what I’m going to wear ahead of time, to avoid this anxious feeling every morning.
Not only does this work wonders with my toddlers outfits but it allows me to spend more time on my productive morning routine and makes the rest of the day super smooth.
Make sure all laundry is done beforehand.
Tidy up your environment
Time it takes: 20 minutes
Being around mess only helps me to be more unorganised and cluttered. By using your Sunday to refresh your environment, you’ll feel less anxious and more organized.
Trust me on this one, the weekdays (especially after work) are not meant for any type of cleaning or decluttering.
Tidy up your digital workspace
Time it takes: 10 minutes
Don’t get suckered into doing a complete computer deep clean, instead set aside 10 minutes each Sunday to organize a few folders on your desktop.
Or go through one email inbox to unsubscribe to newsletters, get rid of junk and organize the mailbox into folders.
Over time, you will notice your computer becomes more and more organized. You’ll know where everything is and be more productive as a result.
Spend some time with your favourite book
Time it takes: 20 minutes
Whether it’s your favourite book or a newbie, reading allows you to gain another perspective and more insight into a specific topic.
Reading self development and self disciple books are an even better way to help you reach your goals and remain productive.
If you’ve always wanted to increase the amount of time you spend reading, Sunday is the perfect day for it. Not only do you generally have less on your plate, but it adds a bit of relaxation to your day.
Start with a goal of reading 20-30 pages every Sunday. Before you know it you’ll be reading 20 pages every day.
Reflect and Review
Time it takes: 10 minutes
Whether you do this in the morning or evening, its always important to reflect and review on the previous week.
In order to make your week ahead the most productive it can be, you should pay close attention to what things went well, what didn’t and how you can improve the week ahead.
Ask yourself:
- Have I reached my goals for the week?
- And if not, then why is that?
- What people, things or activities prevented me from reaching my goals?
- Is there any particular thing in the week, that stole either my time or energy?
- What can I do better next week to avoid this happening again?
- What habits should I continue to do that really helped me stay productive this week?
Use this Free Weekly Reflection Worksheet to your reflect and review.
By doing this, you can start to remove all the things that sabotage your productivity.
So save yourself the hard work by reviewing all the things you need to stop doing and continue doing to be more productive.
Conclusion
There you have it, 12 really productive things you can do on a Sunday to give you a head start into the week ahead.
The reality is, if you want to start getting things done and reach your goals, you need to put systems in place to help you get there.
Creating a list of productive things to do on a Sunday is a system that is sure to help you get there.
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