8 Things I’m Thankful for on Sunday

Don’t spend Sunday feeling down…

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get the Sunday night blues. It’s like Friday at 5pm and Monday at 8:30am are just too close together. When you hustle all week, the weekends are just too short.

It’s very easy to fall into a sadness on Sunday night. It’s almost like mourning the weekend, even though it’s technically not over yet. Most of us dread Mondays. Back to the grind– office, gym, cooking, etc.  There’s a lot to get done and a whole five days of work ahead of us.

But instead of wasting the last moments of my weekend being sad, I instead reflect back on everything for which I am grateful. There are so many small things I can do on Sunday that will not only make me happy in the moment but will also ease the burden of the work week ahead. Now, not everything comes for free. Of course, some of these items require a little elbow grease, but in the end, they are totally worth it.

So as I sit in bed, setting my Monday morning alarm, I reflect on all the little things that I am thankful for.

Here are 8 things to be grateful for on Sunday:

1. Clean Sheets. Whether or not I do laundry over the weekend, I always put clean sheets on my bed on Sunday. It’s so nice to start the week with fresh sheets. I can curl up in my crisp, clean linens and know that I am ready for the week.
2. A good book. My bedtime routine involves reading in bed to help relax and fall asleep. I am especially thankful for a good book on a Sunday night. Maybe it’s because I give myself a little extra reading time or just the idea of escaping into a novel, but a good book is always something to be thankful for.
3. Sunday Dinner. Growing up in an Italian-American household, Sunday was definitely designated for family dinner. Usually we ate together during the week, too, but Sunday Dinner was extra special. Cody also grew up with a similar tradition, so we tend to switch off every other weekend with whose family we eat with. No matter what, I am grateful for Sunday Dinner.
4. Leftovers. For some reason, I am always bad about getting my lunch ready for Monday. So, I’ve gotten into the habit of making sure there are leftovers. Sometimes, I take home a portion from Sunday Dinner or if we go out to eat on Saturday, I usually take home at least half my meal. Either way, leftovers are the perfect cure for Mondays.
5. Candles. I’m a big fan of lighting candles around my house. Something about the relaxing aroma and somber flame helps me feel more centered as I’m getting ready for the week.
6. Google Calendar. I hate to think about work before the week even starts, but I always like to look ahead and remind myself what the week entails. Getting mentally prepared for projects and events on Sunday helps me stay focused throughout the week. I don’t know what I would do without the calendar app available at my fingertips.
7. Herbal tea. I tend to have a cup of tea before bedtime. It’s become part of my wind-down routine and is always comforting. Taking advantage of this on a Sunday night makes getting ready for the week a little more bearable.
8. A steamy shower. I am definitely more of a shower person rather than a bath person, but I truly relish my shower time. It’s the time when I try to focus my positive thinking and amp up my self-talk. Shower time is about relaxing, so I try to leave all thoughts about my to-do list outside and just focus on the happy things in life.

I feel it’s a really good motivator to self-reflect on all the positive things we have in life. Instead of focusing on the impending Monday and work week, it’s imperative to enjoy the time off and be grateful for everything life has given us.

I’m definitely not a morning person or a Monday person, so giving myself some extra “me” time on Sunday night is really important to getting ready for the week. I’m so glad that I have some good routines that keep me focused and happy.

What are some things you are grateful for on Sunday? Let me know in the comments below.