3 Things You Should Be Doing On Sunday To Prepare For A Better Monday
Yes, we enjoy our jobs but the anxiety that comes along with it…not so much. Like many of you, I too work in a fast-paced environment. There is very rarely a slow moment in the office and on Sunday night I find myself worrying sick about how Monday will go. #MondayBlues are not unusual. Many people experience anxiety, worry, and sadness when anticipating the work week ahead. Not to worry though! Here's what to do on Sunday night for a better Monday morning!
So make a cup of tea, grab your favorite blanket, curl up in bed, read this post, and get ready to decompress and reenergize yourself. Monday, here you come!
1. Make a list of things you are excited about.
I discovered this ritual in a Forbes article about stress associated with work and decided to try it out. On Sunday night, I make a list of all the things I’m looking forward to during the week ahead. Whether it’s drinks with a girlfriend or hearing back about a new opportunity, I write it down. I whip my list out on Monday before work just to remind me what I have to look forward to throughout the week. It may seem silly but it’s really effective. During the day, we are consumed with work-related tasks. It’s good to have a friendly reminder that you DO have a life outside of work and that Monday won’t last forever. The list has made a HUGE difference in my outlook on Mondays. I no longer dread Monday morning because I remember that it’s just a challenge to be met and the reward for a hard days work is written down on my list.
2. Complete one Monday task.
Tackle one of your Monday tasks a day early. By clearing your desk of one thing you’ll feel less anxious about the amount of work waiting for you on Monday morning. I like to check my email on Sunday to see if there are any tasks I can knock out ahead of time. Also, try checking your email and making a list of tasks that are priority for Monday. Just getting organized a day early will help you have a better handle on your work week. The list will help you identify where most of your attention should be allocated on Monday, so you don’t succumb to the pressure of a ton of emails.
3. Journal + Read.
Unwind. I’ve found that journaling is SOOOO decompressing. On Sunday night, your head may be buzzing with ideas, solutions and even worry. You are already trying to gear up for Monday, and your thoughts can become scattered. Unplug from your laptop and your phone. Spend sometime with yourself. Journaling allows you to expel all of those ideas, thoughts and worries swimming around in your head. Writing it down and expressing it can be so relieving. Read over what you wrote, many times you’ll find that what is worrying you isn’t even a big deal. Also, reading over your thoughts could kick up a solution to some of the things your anxious about.
Also Read. Curl up in bed with some snacks and some music and read a good book. I always like to think a lesson can be found anywhere. A professor once told me: “All the answers are hidden in a book.” We just have to read to find them. Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, find something that you enjoy reading -- magazines included!
You're all ready for Monday morning! Just wake, pray, and SLAY!
What strategies do you have for tackling #MondayBlues? Share in the comment section below or tweet us @xoNecole
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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How A Stay At Switzerland's Luxurious 7132 Hotel Reminded Me To Live The Life I Deserve
Sometimes, as women—especially as single Black women—we simply need to be reminded that we are deserving of living a life we dream of. Even if that means creating it for ourselves. I recently set out on a weeklong trip to Switzerland, a trip I’ve been wanting to take for years, and near the end of my visit, I had an epiphany.
“DeAnna, this is the life you deserve,” I thought to myself as I took in the gorgeous bathroom in my suite at the famous 7132 Hotel and Thermal Spa. It was one of the most luxurious hotels (and bathrooms) I had ever stayed in—and that’s saying a lot for someone who often travels for work.
To help you better understand why this was such a mental awakening for me, I first need to give a bit of my backstory. I’m in my late thirties. I’m an attorneyand a journalist. I own a home and have traveled the world extensively. Essentially, I’ve done everything in life I set out to do. However, when it comes to dating, I struggle. Not because there is anything wrong with me per se, but because my career and “lifestyle” often create problems in my romantic relationships.
View from my hotel room
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I’ve been told everything from, ‘I can’t continue to date you because you seem to choose your career over wanting to settle down and have kids’ by a man after only the second date to ‘Maybe if you just sat down somewhere for a while, I’d actually wife you’ by someone who has honestly never proven themselves to be the settle down type. And these are only a handful of the things I’ve been told over the years.
It’s been frustrating, to say the least, and there have even been seasons where I purposely dimmed my light in hopes that my career wouldn’t push away potential suitors. I know what you’re thinking, “Girl, why would you even consider that? If they’re for you, it won’t matter what you do.” Hey, don’t judge me, but also, I one hundred percent agree.
My hotel bathroom
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That’s why this recent moment in Switzerland was right on time. When I first walked into the hotel to check in, I was blown away by the surrounding beauty. It was a five-star property with one of the world’s most famous thermal bathhouses. Yet, it was something about seeing that 90% of the hotel’s guests were couples, that forced me to sit back for a bit of introspection—while soaking in the thermal spa, of course.
As I went through the mental conversation, there was a battle of sorts. On one hand, I knew that being able to partake in experiences like the one I was having at that moment was important to me. I knew that, at times I actually love being able to dabble in the finer things—after all, I’ve worked hard to be able to afford them. On the other hand, and sadly, I knew that sometimes being a single Black woman that publicly showcases her “luxurious” habits can intimidate men and even scare them off from pursuing you under the guise of them feeling like they “can’t do anything for you, because you have everything.”
My hotel room
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So, what is a girl to do?
Do I minimize/hide the life and experiences that I have? Do I play down the hard work I’ve put in to get where I am professionally? Or, do I risk being single in exchange for being able to have said life, without backlash?
Luckily, the joy that I felt while being at this property won. There was something about taking a full day to simply pamper myself at the bathhouse and in my in-room steam shower and soaker tub, indulging in cuisine from a 2-star Michelin restaurant and doing all of this while surrounded by an amazing group of Black women that reminded me—this is certainly the life I was meant to live and that I deserve. Even if it means that right now, I’ll just have to provide it for myself until the right partner comes along. And honestly, I’m okay with that.
Restaurant at 7132 hotel
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