The end of the month is here, and like all the other months this year, the time has flown by. Time waits for no man, so the best way to make the most of your time is to be proactive by planning and preparing. In fact, how you end this month will determine how you start the next one. In this blog post, I’m sharing five important things to do at the end of every month to set yourself up for success.
5 Productive Things to Do At the End of Every Month
1. Reflect. There is something genuine and authentic about ending the month with closure. As you end this month, take a moment to reflect over the past thirty days. Determine where you dropped the ball, and how you can do better next month. Recognize any accomplishments and goals you have reached, and allow those things to encourage you in what to achieve next month.
During my reflection time, I read over my journal entries and personal notes. I also take this time to pray and express thanks to God for all He has done this month. I believe taking the time to reflect is one of the most important things to do at the end of every month.
2. Make plans. Now that you have reflected over the last month, it’s time to make plans for the new month. Grab a sheet of paper, and do a brain dump of all the lingering tasks that need to get done. Prioritize tasks that need to get done, and schedule your tasks for the month in a planner or calendar.
On the last day of each month, I pull out my planner and start to map out simple plans and tasks for the new month. Holidays, doctor’s appointments, work obligations, and family activities are rarely subject to change, so I start my monthly planning session by marking those hard dates in my planner.
3. Clean your house. Throughout the month, you may be able to get away with a quick clean every few days or so. However, at the end of the month, scheduling a deep clean is the best way to cleanse your environment before the new month begins.
4. Declutter. If you are anything like me, you too have accumulated lots of random clutter in the last thirty days. Before you start a new month, declutter by getting rid of all the unnecessary junk from the past month.
Your Purse: Remove all receipts, candy wrappers, loose change, and other random things that have accumulated in there.
Your Phone: Move your photos to an external hard drive to free up space on your phone. Delete old voicemails, text messages, and apps that you no longer need.
Your Email: Clear your email inbox of unnecessary emails and spam.
Other things to declutter:
- bedrooms
- living room
- the diaper bag
- the car
- computer desktops
- your desk
- social media chat and inboxes
5. Check expiration dates. Many people get paid and go grocery shopping on the last day or the first day of the month. To save money and space, take inventory of the foods you have in your home before going out to buy more groceries. Check the expiration dates of foods in your refrigerator and throw away all expired foods. Get rid of leftovers that have been sitting in the refrigerator all month. Look in the pantry and determine what staple foods you need to buy more of, and what to throw away.
6. Inventory the closets. Take an hour or two to inventory the closet of each person in your family. Raid your closet and get rid of anything you know you will never wear again. Head on over to your kids’ rooms and check their closets for clothes that no longer fit. Pack away clothes that aren’t in season, and donate anything that won’t be worn again. Starting the new month with a tidy closet can make getting dressed quicker and easier.
7. Treat yourself! I like to take time and celebrate the newness of a new month. You made it through whatever you had to face this month, so don’t take it lightly. You have worked hard this month, and now you are one step closer to what you have been working for. Take time to do something you enjoy and end the month with a smile on your face.
Leave a Reply