12 Weekend Must-Dos For An Easier Work Week

Do you find yourself struggling on a weeknight to get everything complete for the next day? Do you feel overwhelmed or stressed out when you get home from work because of all you have to do? Our time as working parents is limited on weeknights, so it’s hard to complete everything in a couple hours. Not to mention there are always unexpected things that come up with kids. In addition, it is easy to forget something when trying to cram so much into one night. Want less stress on weeknights? Read on for weekend must-dos for an easier work week.

Get Your Food In Order For the Week

1. Meal plan. Check out your fridge, pantry and freezer to gauge what foods you should use up. Plan out what you will have for dinner each night of the week. Make sure you have enough options for breakfast and lunch during the week.
2. Grocery shop. After your meals are planned, you know your inventory, the decision has been made where to grocery shop, and the grocery shopping list is made, hit the grocery store on the weekend. Go early or late in the day to avoid the crowds. While you are out run any other errands on your list. This includes filling up gas in your car if you won’t have enough to make it through the week.
3. School and work lunch prep. Prepare as much of the kids and your lunches as possible for the week. Put fruits, vegetables, and snacks in containers or ziplock bags so they are ready. If you have space in your fridge or pantry put each days’ items together so you can grab them all at once each night when packing for the day.
4. Make dinners for the week. It is extremely helpful to come home from a long day of work and just have to pop dinner in the oven instead of spending 30 minutes prepping it first. If you cannot have each meal 100% prepped do as much as you can. Have meats cut and ready. Have fruits and vegetables washed, cut or chopped. Make more time consuming meals on the weekend and have leftovers during the week.

Organize Your Home For the Week

1. Do laundry. Besides having more time to complete, doing laundry on the weekend means starting the work week with a full closet, chest drawers and fresh options. You will save time knowing all clothes are clean and available.
2. Cleaning. The weekend is a great time to pick up your house and do some cleaning. Start your work week with a clean house and everything put away in its place.
3. Restock items at home. Make sure your home is ready to take on the busy work week. Check each bathroom has toilet paper, Kleenex, Clorox wipes, hand soap, air freshener and any other bathroom essentials. Make sure your kitchen has dish soap and paper towel. Double check any other areas in your home that have paper or useable products.
4. Run the dishwasher. You have more time to empty the dishwasher if you run it on the weekend instead of during the week. This will avoid dishing piling up in and around your sink during the busy work week. In addition, all your dishes and containers will be available to use for meal prep. Depending on how often you run your dishwasher – make sure you run it on the weekend. I like to run mine Saturday night so it is less full at the beginning of the week.

Organize Yourself For An Easier Work Week

1. Plan what you are wearing for the week. Know what you are going to wear each day and layout your clothes or move them to the front of the closet. Include laying out your accessories and shoes. Check the weather to help you plan what to wear.
2. Check your calendar. Be aware of what is going on in your schedule for the week both at work and in your personal life. This can help you plan and get ready for any upcoming meetings, appointments or events.
3. Complete all paperwork. There is always some sort of paperwork to go through or fill out. Fill out any paperwork your kids need for school or daycare. This could include permission slips, homework, sign up sheets, and more. Go through your mail pile and toss any junk mail, file anything worth keeping, and take action on anything that needs attention.
4. Pay your bills. Do not wait until the last minute or final day a bill is due to pay it off. When you get a bill make a habit of paying it off right away. This way you don’t risk forgetting about it, and you can file or toss the bill right away instead of having it sit out on your counter or mail pile cluttering up space.

In conclusion, there are many things you can do on the weekend to make an easier work week for yourself. On the weekend, try making a couple extra meals, planning what you will wear during the week, and doing all your laundry. I promise this will decrease your home stress during the week.