Light List Vol. 3
This essay appeared in the Monday morning newsletter on 3/23/26. Subscribe here!
Three Steps to a Happier Monday
Before we dive into a new week, let’s pause and ask ourselves some simple questions to reflect on where we’ve been, get excited about something today and set an intention for the week ahead.
GRATITUDE: What are three things I appreciated from the weekend?
TODAY: What’s one thing I can be excited about today?
INTENTION: What is my intention for this week?
For me, I’m thankful for warm, sunny weather, time to run errands by myself and getting out of a reading slump. Today, I’m most excited to go on a walk after work. And my intention for the week is to go to bed on time!!
Okay, your turn! And if you want to share, I am all ears. 🙂
Monday Musings: Light List Vol. 3
Welcome to Volume 3 of The Light List: a monthly, running list of things making life feel lighter lately.
Recent reads+ What I Do On Sundays to “Help My Future Self”: I always love reading about others’ approach to planning, and especially what they do to set themselves up for the week. I feel like I’m always trying to find the right rhythm (somewhere between getting prepared and actually relaxing). There were lots of helpful ideas in this one. Like most things I read, I take what resonates and leave the rest.
+ The Surprising Psychology of Why Work Feels Harder Than It Should: On the power of words and how we describe our work – my favorite part: “What if instead of expecting my work to be hard, I expected it to be easy? I started catching myself anytime I’d say things like ‘this is torture’ or ‘this is so hard’ or ‘I’m so stuck’ and I’d just say like a kind of deranged affirmation, ‘I expect this to be easy.’ And it is almost that simple. It started to get easier.”
+ How Not to Procrastinate Bedtime: Since being back at work, I’ve started falling into a bit of revenge bedtime procrastination – where I push off going to bed in pursuit of a little more leisure time at night. After I get Ben down, I want to unwind, sometimes tidy up, sometimes catch up with Matt… but it’s a slippery slope. I love my early mornings, but they only work when I go to bed early. When I burn the candle at both ends, it’s not good for anyone. So I’m recommitting to an earlier bedtime, with help from reminders like this: “getting into bed does not take zero minutes.” My new goal: between walking out of Ben’s room and sitting down on the couch to relax, I need to get everything ready for bed – so I’m not tempted to procrastinate it altogether.
Recipes I’ve been making on repeat
+ Matt and I have been loving these ground beef, sweet potato, avocado and cottage cheese bowls. It sounds like a random mix of ingredients, but I promise it’s filling and delicious, especially with a little hot honey drizzled on top.
+ I’ve also been making a batch (or two) of very simple, oven-baked meatballsat the start of the week. They make lunches come together in a snap and are great for a quick snack, too.
+ And my go-to Sunday dinner lately: sheet pan chicken sausage and veggies. It’s incredibly simple (the chopping takes the longest), but it’s such a nice, healthy way to end the weekend. I love using a bunch of fresh vegetables from our grocery run, and we almost always have leftovers for Monday lunch, which feels like a win.
Spring shopping
+ I’ve started picking up a few things here and there for spring. Recent additions include these ecru pants – very comfortable and flattering! I’m wearing them multiple times a week – and a pair of casual sneakers that go perfectly with them.
+ While at the mall this weekend doing returns, I tried on this tee and immediately bought it. I love a boatneck neckline, and the sleeve detail makes it feel a bit more elevated than a T-shirt. I got it in white, but I’m tempted to go back for the black or navy stripe. I think it’ll be a staple for this in-between season.
+ As I continue updating my wardrobe post-pregnancy, one thing I’m still on the hunt for: a good white workout top. When did every workout top get cropped?! I ordered one from Target, but I’m still looking for something full-length, comfortable and not too tight. It sounds like it should be easy to find, but surprisingly… no.
+ Not clothing-related, but a small thing bringing spring into my days: this Mrs. Meyer’s clementine scent. I picked up the soap and spray, and it’s making my kitchen feel like spring in the best way.
What’s been adding lightness to your life lately? I’d love to hear about it!
That’s all for today! I hope you found something in today’s newsletter that sparked motivation, made you smile or inspired a positive Monday thought. Don’t underestimate the power of starting small… a fulfilling week starts with one fulfilling moment. You’ve got this!
Let’s make it a great Monday!
Megan