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Tomorrow is Monday and while some people vehemently dislike the beginning of the work week, I don’t mind Mondays at all.
I tell you what I do mind — Sunday night. As I sit here during my daughter’s nap (yes, I know I am lucky that we get an hour break on weekends, but I’m pretty sure we’re on the last leg of it) and write out my to-do list for tonight, I really dread it. My plan is to get three hours of work in, make two entrees and lunch for tomorrow, clean up the basement, pay some bills, and make some progress on the photo book I’ve been “working on” for the last six months. I’d much rather veg out in front of the TV and eat takeout, but it’s not in the cards.
The thing is, I do this every Sunday night. And every Sunday night I regret it and every Monday I feel too tired from it. But I try to take Friday nights off to just hang out with my husband or go somewhere if we can get a sitter — we went to a great ballet and tapas afterwards this past Friday and it felt like a vacation — and Saturday nights we invite friends over for dinner or it’s a quiet work night. Since during weekend days I practically glue myself to my daughter (and yes, I realize this will eventually end, you know, when she decides that there are cooler people to hang with), it leaves Sunday night as the get-everything-done-for-the-start-of-the-week night.
I think I need to change that because in anticipation of it I become pretty cranky right about… now. Do you have any ideas? Do you load up on to-dos on Sunday nights or have you figure out a different way to get everything done?
This entry was posted on Sunday, March 30th, 2008 at 1:30 pm and is filed under Balancing Act, Your life.
Tags: chores, getting organized, weekend, weekend work
March 30th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
I often joke that I have “Sunday Night Affective Disorder”. I resent having to use the rest of my weekend to get ready for the rest of the week.
March 30th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I love your blog — so much of what you do I totally relate to! After coming to the conclusion that a constant state of fatigue is not the way to go, I’ve recently begun trying to get things accomplished early on Saturday and Sunday mornings. I have energy, and love the quiet time to myself (when I can think clearly without being summoned dozens of times!) . On Sunday night I can help my kids prepare for their week, and know that my to-do list is waiting for me, but hasn’t been completely ignored!
March 30th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Elizabeth — that is brilliant! I am going to borrow that term I think (with due copyright credit, of course:)
BlapaherMJ — I love the idea of doing more on weekend mornings — I need to get better about it. We take our daughter to ballet on Sundays, but Saturdays could work. I’m also trying to cook right now as she colors nearby — figure this will save me 1/2 hour tonight:)
March 30th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
We’re pretty sympatico. I used to hate Sundays and spent them dreading Mondays. By Monday morning, I was fine. I’m almost over that. Sometimes I’ll get a twinge or two on Sundays, but not bad an d not so often. Of course, my job’s gotten better so I actually like it now so I don’t dread it.
March 31st, 2008 at 7:11 am
I used to always have to work on Sunday night so that I could get a jump on the week ahead. And I also hated it. I never looked forward to the end of the weekend and it just made me bummed, to put it kindly. One day DH asked if I could change that practice, if I could make Sunday night about him and I. So I changed my mentality and put away the work. If I don’t get it done on Friday (or sometimes Sat or Sun morning) then, well, that is what Monday is for. Now it’s Monday and I have a pile of work to get done. Figures ;).
March 31st, 2008 at 10:35 am
i go back and forth on this - last night i was up working until midnight on a paper for work, only to have it ripped apart and completely rewritten by 10am. lovely.
however, unless i know i have something in particular that HAS to get done by Monday AM that didnt get done by COB on friday - i avoid the dreaded ‘to do’! i like to use that time to catch up on personal email, blog reading, WIM, friends online, etc. ok i also check work email because i know my boss is online and others but unless its something really pressing - it waits until monday.
I have found i am much more organized and mentally prepared if i start earlier on a monday then stressing out and driving my self nuts on Sunday night. somehow things that seemed ‘urgent’ just arent the highest priority anymore the next morning with a fresh perspective.
maybe you could move it to the first 1/2 hour of your Monday morning?
March 31st, 2008 at 1:03 pm
The time after dinner on Sunday is usually spent getting Red ready for school - getting everything together and in her bag, picking clothes and lunch out - and then relaxing.
I try to get anything that I need to get done finished up before dinner on Sunday. Or after Red goes to bed - but I don’t stay up too late or it will just make Monday worse.
I also try to make good use of her shower time and sometimes multitask during relaxation time. Last night we had borrowed a movie from my mom and we were watching that so I folded laundry. Then while Red was showering, I put some of the laundry away.
April 7th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I wish I knew what to suggest–I told my husband last night that we need a wife! There’s just too much to do and not enough weekend to do it in.
I usually spend my weekend trying to make my week run more smoothly. After my run to the grocery store, I divide up all the snacks, cookies, etc. for lunches into ziploc bags so when I’m making lunches I can just grab what I need; this also makes it easier when the kids want a snack.
I also cook up as much meat as possible for dinners during the week; for instance, I’ll brown a couple of pounds of ground beef and cook and shred some chicken, then portion it all out according to what I’m going to make that week. It doesn’t take long and I can usually do while I’m cooking a weekend meal or cleaning the kitchen, but it makes a huge difference during the week.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
I am liking a lot of the suggestions, thank you. The idea about finishing by Sun dinner is really appealing and so is starting early Monday. Will try to figure out how to do it.
And Lar — you made me laugh. I always say to my husband that we need to find a wife!