My Monday Routine: How I Kick Off a Productive Workweek

Many people spend Sundays dreading the upcoming week or waking up with the Monday morning blues. But it doesn’t have to be this way. As an entrepreneur and the founder of hint water, I need to optimize every minute of my workday. That way, when the weekend rolls around, I am able to truly be present with my family and recharge.

Over the years, I’ve beaten the Monday morning blues by developing a routine that helps me supercharge my workweek. As soon as my 5:30 a.m. alarm goes off on Monday morning, I wake up—sans snooze button!—and get rolling. I find that if Monday kicks off right, the rest of the week flies by.

Here’s how I usually spend my Mondays to prepare my mind and body for a busy week. 

Step 1: Make it a priority to move. 

Exercise has become a crucial part of my life, but it wasn’t always that way. It’s taken time for me to figure out that I need to work out to feel balanced and focused. When I’m at home, that means hiking or running through the Marin headlands of Northern California with my husband and my dogs. If I’m travelling, then I might spend my Monday morning at a hotel gym or taking a brisk walk through a new city. (Related: 3 Non-Negotiable Daily Health Habits That Help Me Succeed)

I need this time to clear my mind, reset and center myself so that I’m ready to handle any challenge that might come up. I’ll even sprinkle some activity into the rest of my day by taking walking meetings at work, or going for a stroll around the neighborhood when I have a few minutes to spare.

Step 2: Scan your calendar for the week ahead.

?After my workout, I make a healthy smoothie and sit down to check my calendar for the week. This gives me a chance to mentally prepare and allows me to adjust appointments to accommodate any last-minute events, meetings or projects. 

For me, pausing to review my calendar and consider all the project and goals that I’m working toward is a gratitude practice. I take the time to zoom out and remember where I came from and what I have accomplished. When I read items like “interviews with business founders” for my podcast, “meetings to discuss hint inventory at major retailers” and “discussions about our new products” pop up on my calendar, it’s a reminder of how far we’ve come. I started hint from my kitchen at home. Today, the company is a leader in the category.

When I’m in a headspace of gratitude and perspective, I make better decisions about where I am going today, next week and in the future. From there, I can adjust my planned events for the week to reflect those goals. (Related: My Top 3 Mindsets for Success)

Step 3: Scroll through your feeds.

While screen time with social media and news feeds may seem counterproductive to some, I can’t start my week without it. It is the fastest way for me to stay up to date and informed about everything related to my business.

Not only am I consuming the news, but I’m also thinking about what I am going to post and put out into the world throughout the week. If you follow me, you know that I consistently post on Twitter and Instagram. Being active on social also helps me keep in touch with our customers and get a pulse on what they’re saying about hint. 

This Monday morning routine helps me start the week feeling like my best self. However, much like business, everyday life requires that you are adaptable and can roll with the punches. So, if anything comes up that interferes with my routine, I don’t beat myself up if I can’t do it all. 

Tell me: How do you beat your Monday morning blues? I’d love to hear your tips and tricks in the comments below! 

You Might Also Like:  

5 Tried-and-True Strategies to Make Your Company “Unstoppable”

Honest Communication is What Keeps Investors Happy

I Would Never Hire the Smartest Person in the Room—Here’s Why

Kara Goldin is the founder and CEO of San Francisco–based hint, a healthy lifestyle brand that produces the leading unsweetened flavored water and a scented sunscreen spray that’s oxybenzone and paraben-free. She is also the founder of The Kara Network (TKN), an online resource for aspiring and thriving business-minded people. Listen to her podcast,Unstoppable, where she interviews founders, entrepreneurs, and disruptors across various industries and keep up with her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.