Have a snack

Introducing a bite-sized Name Three Things!

Welcome back to Name Three Things. If you enjoy this newsletter, please consider subscribing (it’s free) and sharing with your friends.

Hi, friends! In just a few weeks, Name Three Things will be one year old. If you’re unfamiliar with the story behind my Substack, you can find that here. I’m grateful to every person who’s made time to read my newsletter, recommend it, restack it, or share feedback in the comments. Thank you!

In celebration of my pending anniversary, I’m trying something new and I’d love to know what you think. I’ll continue to publish Name Three Things on a monthly basis, but between issues, I’m going to start putting out a bonus, mini issue that highlights three things to lift, inspire, or feed you in some way. Think of it like a snack between meals. Ready? Let’s do this!

Three Things I’m Doing to Fend Off the Sunday Scaries and Have a Better Monday

1. Sunday prep. Despite being my own boss and working from home for the last 23 years, I still deal with the Sunday Scaries. Actually, it’s more like the Sunday blahs — a blend of unease, disappointment that the weekend’s ending, and a dislike of Mondays that’s hard-wired from elementary school.
   
   That I enjoy my job changes nothing. Monday is still a mental hill to climb compared to coasting through the rest of the week. One thing that helps me is feeling a sense of control over the week ahead. Control is something I always strive for in the face of uncertainty. Blame it on my Enneagram Six/Capricorn personality.
   
   I’ve started taking time on Sunday to pave the way for Monday. First I clear any physical clutter from my desk. There are real mental health benefits to this. Our brains actually seek order. I wrote about it once for WIRED and a neuroscientist confirmed it.
   
   Next, I make lists on index cards of what I need to complete in the week ahead: client work, administrative tasks, story pitches. I also write 3 things on my Monday to-do list. Finally, I’ll go through my email and get my in-box organized so I’m not starting Monday with my attention pulled in a dozen directions. Yes, Sunday prep eats into my free time, but when you work for yourself, it’s all the same bank of time. Plus it creates a little oasis of calm when I return to my office on Monday.
   
   

2. Start on third base. Well, well, look who’s using a sports analogy. Monday always feels better when I’m productive, but my brain needs time to ease into a new week. I’m like that guy from the Dunkin’ Donuts commercial from the ‘80s muttering, “Time to make the donuts” as I trudge downstairs to my office with my coffee.
   
   To set myself up for a quick win, I start with a task that’s important but doesn’t require intense concentration. Like a graphic design job for a client, or billing for my business. I can listen to music while I work on those. Another option is doing final edits on a job for which I’ve already written a first draft. It’s the perfect warm-up for my writer’s brain and I get the satisfaction of crossing it off my list.
   
   

3. Build a reward into my Monday. So simple, yet so effective. If the weather is clear, I’ll plan an afternoon break to walk my dog and listen to a Podcast. Maybe it’s a favorite meal I can look forward to for dinner or a show on Netflix I’ve been saving for that night. Occasionally, my Monday reward is part of my Sunday prep and I’ll make a pot of soup or a big chopped salad I can eat for lunch over the next few days. It doesn’t take a heavy lift to perk up my day.

So now I’ll flip it to you: What do you do to make the start of your week a little less painful and a little more enjoyable? Please share in the comments.