The Power of Prep Day

Successful people have a plan. Having a plan does not mean things will be perfect. We create plans so we have something to fall back on when things go awry. A plan is there when you feel overwhelmed, when you’re stressed out, or when you have no energy to make decisions. A plan is a gift you are giving your future self.

Every weekend I spend 10 minutes looking at my calendar, thinking through our family’s week, and writing out a plan for the days ahead. This is my prep day routine!

Prep day is the day to get organized and meal plan, the day to mentally and physically prepare for the week ahead. I use our cute Prep Day Notepad to create my plan for the week by asking these four questions.

1. What is a rough meal plan for the week?
2. What groceries do I need?
3. What are the major appointments or events coming up this week?
4. What are a few tasks I can knock off right now to help me start the week off with a clean slate?

Are you preparing for the week or letting the days happen to you?

Let’s dig into these four questions to learn how you can actively prepare for the week ahead in just a few minutes.

What is a rough meal plan for the week?
If you’ve followed along here for a bit, you know that I have a Never-Ask-Me-What’s-For-Dinner-Again Meal Plan that works so well for my family. This meal plan came from the idea that many notable figures wear the exact same thing every day in order to eliminate unnecessary decisions, save brainpower and reduce decision fatigue. Why couldn’t I do the same thing for meal planning? Whether you have a regular meal plan system or not, it’s a good idea to outline a rough meal plan for the week!

What groceries do I need?
After you have a rough meal plan for the week, now you need to figure out what if any groceries you need. For me, this typically involves doing a quick inventory of what we have in the fridge, freezer, and pantry. Then, I place an order for grocery delivery. Don’t forget to add in healthy snack options and factor in days you might have guests or family over for meals.

What are the major appointments or events coming up this week?
Next, I go through our family’s shared digital calendar, along with my digital work calendar, and note any important deadlines. I transfer appointments and meetings to my planner and think through what I might need to do or prepare for said meetings. This process is intended to be quick! I simply want to gauge what kind of week it’s going to be. Is there a ton of appointments this week? Do I have a big work deadline coming up? What’s the vibe of the week — rushed and full, or slow and dedicated to solo work time?

What are a few tasks I can knock off right now to help me start the week off with a clean slate?
Starting off the week with a clean, fresh slate is the goal! Is there anything I can do right now, in just a few minutes, to achieve that goal? Maybe it’s a load of laundry, sending a few emails, or tidying up my workspace. There is something magical about checking a few things off before the week even starts. It makes you feel ahead of the game! It might even help ensure you aren’t playing catch up all week long.

I challenge you to take 10 minutes to plan for the next week. Get your own notepad or grab a piece of paper and answer the questions. The point is simply to get things out of your head and onto paper.