Monday, 6/24/24: Talking about deciding once

Happy Monday!

It’s a new week, which means it’s time for your next Monday motivation newsletter.

Read on below for some steps to a happier Monday and some positive thoughts to get your week started.

Three Steps to a Happier Monday

Each newsletter starts with three prompts to inspire gratitude and simple intention setting. Take a moment and jot down answers to these three questions. To give an example, I share my answers below.  

Step 1: What are three things I appreciated from the weekend? 

Step 2: What is one thing I can be excited about today?

Step 3: What is my intention for this week? 

GRATITUDE: From my weekend, I am thankful for a catch-up phone call with a good friend, time to relax and movie night with Matt. 

TODAY: Today, I’m most excited for my run outside this morning.

INTENTION: My intention this week is to read every day.

Okay, your turn! And if you want to share your three steps, I am all ears. 🙂

Meaningful Musings: A Decide Once List

I loved this recent blog post about a “decide once” list, or a list of products you decided are your go-to’s, therefore eliminating the need for you to spend any mental energy making decisions about it moving forward.

I’m a big fan of “deciding once” and saving energy for more perplexing things. After reading the post, I found myself thinking about what’s on my own decide once list and thought it would be fun to share – and to have to look back on, to see how my list and preferences evolve with time.

At first glance, some of the items below might seem small or frivolous, but the more I reflected on it, the more I realized how these “little” decide once things actually do make a difference in my day – whether that’s making my day easier, or more enjoyable or pleasant. And that means they are something to be savored!  

So with that, here are the items on my decide once list…:

In the kitchen:

Starbucks French Roast Dark Roast Ground Coffee: We had to start with coffee, right? At night, I love to program my coffee maker so that I am greeted with a freshly brewed carafe of coffee when I walk into the kitchen in the morning. Knowing that coffee carafe is brewed and waiting for me is truly what springs me out of bed. When it comes to ground coffee, I’ve found I prefer a very dark roast. And, for how much joy that first cup of coffee brings me, it is worth splurging a bit for the “good stuff.” My ground coffee of choice for the past couple of years (!) is Starbucks French Roast Dark Roast Ground Coffee. Love it!

Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray: I dubbed Dawn Platinum Powerwash as one of my best purchases of 2020 (lol), and I continue to echo this devotion to it today. It saved me when I didn’t have a dishwasher in my previous apartment and continues to be my favorite dish soap. It really is incredible!

Mrs. Meyers Hand Soap: I love having a seasonal Mrs. Meyers soap in my kitchen – Peony or Dandelion in the spring and summer, “Fall Leaves” in the fall and “Iowa Pine” in the winter. Such a fun way to mark the change in seasons!

For creating a cozy, comfortable bedroom:

Hatch Restore 2 Alarm: My smart sleep clock is one of my favorite parts of going to bed and waking up. It feels therapeutic to start my wind-down routine at night as I get ready for bed and read for a bit before falling asleep to the “dishwasher” sound. Then, in the morning, the gentle sunrise alarm really does make it easier to get out of bed!

Brooklinen Luxe Sateen Sheets: We invested in a set of Brooklinen sheets last year, and it is true what they advertise – they really do get softer and better with every wash. I wash my sheets on Sundays (more on that below) and there is no better feeling than slipping into these soft and cozy sheets on a Sunday night. It is truly a pillar of my week, ha.

Downy Light In-Wash Scent Booster Beads: When washing sheets on Sunday, it is a must for me to add an entire cap full of these scent booster beads to the load. I’m partial to the White Lavender or Woodland Rain scents, but really as long as it’s Downy Light, I think I’ll like it.  

In the bathroom:

Crest 3D White: My favorite – I have used Crest 3D White toothpaste and mouthwash exclusively for years now. In my opinion, it’s the best for keeping teeth white!

Climbing Rose Candle: A few months ago, I was in a restaurant’s restroom and noticed very pretty and clean scent coming from a burning candle. I recognized the candle as a Target name brand and made a mental note to pick it up during a future trip. I now always have a Threshold Climbing Rose in my bathroom at all times – I LOVE the light and floral scent. And at $6/candle, you can’t beat the price! I will say, I don’t think the “throw” of the candle would work well in a large room, but in a contained space (like a small bathroom) it’s perfect.

Trader Joe’s Microdermabrasion Scrub: I picked up this under $5 scrub a few months ago and have been impressed with it ever since! I use a small amount on my face a few times a week to exfoliate and it really does keep my skin soft. My favorite way to make sure I use it consistently is to ‘habit stack’ it with my hair washing days. I’ll keep it in my shower and while I’m waiting for my conditioner to soak in, I’ll apply to my face and wash off. It’s a win-win because since it is in the shower, I don’t have to worry about cleanup!

Miscellaneous:  

Salmon & Broccoli on Monday: Probably one of the best examples of “decide once” – for at least the past year, Matt & I have had salmon, broccoli and some type of bread (our current favorite) for dinner every Monday (well, almost every Monday!). It might sound boring to some, but it is really nice to ease into the week with a healthy dinner that can be prepared in minutes. I even buy a value pack of frozen salmon fillets, so that all we need to do is defrost salmon & buy the broccoli.

There you have it! Now, please let me know – what would you put on your decide once list? What are the little things in your day that you savor (not matter how small)!

Have a great Monday!

Picture of the Week

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 just one fulfilling day. You’ve got this! 

Let’s make it a great Monday!
Megan