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I am optimistic and like to think of a new month as a chance for new experiences and opportunities. Although the world has been in chaos since 2020 began, I’m still hopeful and will continue to plan and prepare for good things to happen in my life.
When preparing for a new month, I like to prioritize productivity to make sure I am using my time wisely. I do the majority of my planning, cleaning, and organizing at the beginning of the month and lightly clean and declutter daily throughout the rest of the month to maintain.
Although I am a big believer in creating schedules and routines, I am also a homebody who loves entertainment. Although I do believe schedules and plans are important, I believe self-care and having fun are just as important and not to be overlooked. Just as I plan to clean, organize, and declutter for a new month, I also take the time to select fun and interesting things to do as well.
When it comes to entertainment, I love listening to music and binge watching series. At the beginning of each month, I set phone reminders for new releases that I want to check out. The album I have been looking forward to most is Come Alive by All Nations Worship Assembly. It was released just a few days ago, and is currently on repeat on all my devices.
For binge-worthy entertainment, I watch out for my favorite shows to return and look forward to new movies being released. This month, I’m looking forward to watching Trolls World Tour every single day. It was finally released for purchase a few days ago, and we have watched on repeat as a family more times than I would like to admit.
Another one of my favorite things to do at the beginning of each month is to curate a reading list for the month. At the beginning of each month, I pick four new books to read within the month. I like to read and complete at least one book a week, so I create my TBR List (To Be Read) list and acquire new books at the beginning of every month. The last book I read was Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter by 50 Cent and it was GOOD. The next book I’m looking forward to starting is The Tiger by John Villiant, recommended by one of my favorites, Ryan Holiday.
Whether you love creating schedules, watching movies, reading books, listening to music, or none of the above, don’t forget to set aside time to do the things you love this month. Your planner doesn’t have to only have appointments and deadlines, add a few fun things you are looking forward to doing as well.
Taking care of yourself is just as important as planning your routines and schedules. Here a few other personal things I like to add to my calendar to do throughout the month:
- Relaxing Activities
- Journaling
- Bubble baths
- Staycations (vacations spent close to home)
- Date Nights
After I add the “fun things” to my calendar for the month, there are a few things I like to do to get my home in order. Because I am a work from home mom, I spend most of my time at home. I work better in a clean, uncluttered environment, so at the beginning of each month, I like to prioritize creating systems to keep everything neat and tidy. By “resetting” my home each month, it becomes a place where I can live and create comfortably. The following list describes the top things I do at the beginning of each month to prepare for productive weeks ahead.
9 Things to Do at the Beginning of Each Month
1. Clean out your purse. You would be surprised at what accumulates at the bottom of your bag. Take the time to clean out any old receipts, gum wrappers, or any other forgotten foreign objects that have lived in your purse for the month.
2. Clean your car. We aren’t going to many places these days thanks to COVID-19. Despite the worldwide shut down, I still take the time to clean my car from the inside out at least once a month.
3. Create a plan. While you may not be able to plan every day, having a general plan for the month is a good idea. Grab a calendar, and jot down any notes you may have for the coming weeks. Ask yourself, Are there any birthdays or holidays I need to prepare for? What bills are due? What deadlines are approaching? Write your plans and deadlines down in your monthly calendar.
4. Take inventory of your closet. A lot can happen in 30 days. Seasons change, your weight can fluctuate, and your style can change. For those reasons, at the beginning of each month, I like to take inventory of my closet and remove any clothing pieces that don’t serve me in this season of my life.
5. Sort through your mail. Paper mail accumulates fast. At the beginning of each month, I like to sort through the accumulated mail and determine what paperwork to keep and file, or shred and recycle. Throughout the month, keep all of your paper mail in one central location to help keep paper clutter to a minimum.
6. Clear out your phone. Digital clutter is real, and if you aren’t careful it can and will take over your phone. At the beginning of each month, I take an hour or two to remove all digital clutter from my phone. I transfer all files and photos to an external hard drive to free up my phone’s storage. I go through my email addresses and unsubscribe to email lists that I’m no longer interested in. I also like to remove any apps that I’m no longer using on a consistent basis.
7. Take inventory of your pantry and refrigerator. Taking food inventory at the beginning of each month is an absolute must for me. If your home is like mine, your pantry has the capability to become a black hole of junk food and packaged snacks. Before I grocery shop, I like to look through the pantry and refrigerator to take inventory of the types of foods we have, expiration dates, and quantities. Taking inventory of the food you have can help you to avoid overspending on items you already have.
8. Declutter that infamous junk drawer. Ahh, the infamous junk drawer. Be sure to take time to sift through the accumulated junk from the previous month and make room for the junk you will accumulate this month. 😂
9. Choose a scripture to meditate on for the month. Every month, I like to choose at least one scripture to meditate on each month. I write this structure on a notecard and refer to it daily to encourage myself in the Word.
I pray you have a productive and prosperous month!
What do you like to do to start your month off right? Share with me in the comments below!
Sincerely, Victoria
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