One of the many things I love about Sundays is my ability to prep for the upcoming week.  I didn’t use to do this, but I’ve learned over the last year or so that a little prep on Sunday makes for a much less stressful week.  I tend to break my preparation into categories.  I do this mainly so I can tackle any necessary preparation at the right time.  For example, it is nearly impossible to prep for the week ahead during the witching hours of baths, dinner, and bedtime.  So I leave that time open for complete focus on the kids and family.

Here’s how I break it down:

Sunday Mornings

• Coffee and blog reading – I love to use the quiet time in the morning to catch up on blogs from the week that I didn’t have time to read earlier.  It’s relaxing and allows me to breathe before any chaos of the day comes running down the steps.
• Menu Planning and Grocery List – I wish I could tell you that I’m a coupon shopper or that I look for sales before making my menu and list, but the truth is I base our meals of what is on the calendar for the week.  If I know we have numerous activities on any given night I’ll make that a crock pot meal so it’s ready when we have a window to eat.

Social Media

• Plan blog posts for the week – I always have an idea or two sloshing around in my head so I’ll take time to make a few notes or put things in my draft folder to finish later in the week.
• Return emails – I try to respond to blog comments, my online groups, or review offers as best I can.  Doing this on Sunday leaves me open for whatever comes in during the upcoming week.

Project Preparation

• I’ve learned through years of marriage that the husband and I work best together if we plan ahead.  I’m big on tackling projects on the weekends while he’s big on thinking through and planning what needs to be done before hand.  We always take time to think about what we want to do for the NEXT weekend.  We make lists of supplies or things that might be needed in order to begin and that gives us a whole week to pull it together.  This way I’m not waking up on a Saturday morning saying “hey, let’s paint today!” and waiting half a day prepping to do it.  For example – next weekend we are starting our vegetable gardens for the Spring.  By prepping now we have all week to purchase dirt, plants, and the necessary supplies to put a small “fence” around the beds to prevent the dog from terrorizing my crops.  

Kid Preparation

• Pack lunches for Mondays and prep lunch supplies for the week.  I try to have all lunch supplies packaged individually before the week starts (ex: grapes, crackers, etc.)  Then I just have to pull them out and throw them in lunch boxes during the week.  It saves a ton of time on a busy weeknight.
• Hygiene – I promise I bathe my kids during the week, but Sunday is the big bath and hygiene night.  The kids are scrubbed squeaky clean, nails are clipped, ears are cleaned out, brushing and flossing are monitored, and hair is dried.  This lets me know that they are at least starting the week off fresh and clean.
• Clothing – all Monday outfits, shoes, socks, accessories, etc., are set out on Sunday night.  No exceptions.
• Backpacks are checks, folders are signed, reading logs are updated from the weekend, and everything for Monday is already inside.  This means no show-and-tell or ice cream day surprises.  Plus, everything that needs to be signed is kept on our high counter so I am reminded it needs to be taken care of and sent with the correct kid.  

Busy Mama Preparation (usually after the kids go to bed)

• look over and update the calendar with anything that is happening during the upcoming week.  I keep a paper calendar but I always add kid and family events to my google calendar so my husband can sync to it and know what is going on.  This week alone we have karate x’s 3 days, piano, ballet, , preschool Easter party, boy scout pack meeting, karate graduation, volunteering at the preschool, karate fitness run, and hand delivering my dissertation to my committee.  See why I gotta write it down?!
• Fill er up!  I try to run out on sunday nights (or I send the hubby) to fill the car up with gas so there is no chance I’ll run late during the week or run low in the middle of crunch time getting from one activity to another.
• Make lists – Sunday nights I’ll make a monday to-do list or list of errands for the week so that I can work those in while the kids are at school.

I know this seems like an awful lot of stuff to do on a Sunday (and I didn’t even include the grocery shopping, the laundry, or church!), but I promise you that prepping ahead for the week is one of the few things that keeps my head above water.  Well, that and Lexapro.

So what do you do to prep for the week?