Monday, 8/28/23: Talking about planning for September

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, a short story and a roundup of 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: I’m thankful that I was able to see my friend Tess and her family Friday, the most beautiful weather on Sunday, and my long-run (ran the longest I’ve ever run before – ahhh!).  

TODAY: Today I’m most excited about my quiet morning – have a few things I want to get done before the hustle and bustle of the week begins.

INTENTION: My intention this week is to do one thing/day for my upcoming trip. Can be overwhelming to think about all the to-dos, but I think breaking it down will feel more manageable. 

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

Meaningful Musings: September 2023 Intentions

This Friday is September 1! I can’t believe it, but fall, holidays, and end-of-year happenings are on the horizon, and we’re leaving another summer season behind.

One of the fun things that comes with being in a new apartment (moved in June) is noticing different markers of time. My running path now goes right past Lincoln Park High School, and on my run last Monday, I was almost shocked to see how many students and teachers were milling about on the sidewalk. Oh, right! I thought to myself… first day of school!! Signs of seasons changing. (Even if it was 100+ degrees last week in Chicago.)

Last year I started a monthly planning routine, and while I took a more relaxed approach to planning for this summer, I’m excited to get back to this reflection. The simple exercise – taking time to think about what I love about the month ahead, big things happening, and crafting intentions – helps me feel more present and intentional.    

So, this morning, I’m sharing my plans for September, in case it prompts you to plan your month too! I think it makes for a fun Monday morning activity 

September 2023 Planning

What do I love about the month of September?

• The weather. Sure, Summer with a capital “S” is ending, but summer weather stays around in Chicago for most of the month. Yay for another month of consistently warm weather and ample amount of daylight!
• College football is BACK. Best time of year!!! 
• I love the idea that September is the other January. There’s that collective “back-to-school” vibe in the air. It’s a good month for being productive and practicing new habits.

What big things are happening this September?

• GOING TO IRELAND. First time in Ireland – first time in Europe – and I’m so excited! Going with Matt and his family… counting down the days until we leave this weekend!
• Headed to NYC for work. Also excited for a quick trip for a project I’m working on and the added bonus of finally meeting some co-workers IRL (people I’ve worked virtually with for over two years now!).  
• Going back into the office multiple days a week. I’ve been going into the office on Wednesdays for a while now but will be adding another day in September. That changes up the routine a bit.  
• Running a half marathon! I signed up for this half marathon in January, and I can’t believe it’s in just a couple of weeks! I’ve really been enjoying training this summer and hope for a successful outcome. Luckily when it’s your first half marathon anything qualifies as a PR (personal record) 

So, yes, there’s a lot happening in September. But this is why I love this monthly planning practice… when I first wrote everything out, I was overwhelmed by the volume. As I reflected some more, I started to identify a few reframes that can guide how I move through the month.

For example, how fortunate am I that I have a weeklong trip at the beginning of a busy month? A great time to relax, recharge and gear up for what’s ahead. This reframe helps influences how I’ll approach this trip. While I’m very excited to do all-the-things, I also will be looking for opportunities to rest and enjoy the change of pace.

I’ll be traveling and away from my routines for almost two weeks – but I know how excited I’ll be to return to the ordinary and the everyday things and really craft my fall routine. When I start to feel a bit twitchy about not being in my usual rhythms, I’ll remind myself that second half of September = routine time, and prompt myself to think about what I want that routine to look like.  

September 2023 Intentions

• Enjoy calm, quiet Monday mornings. Even with the traveling and the fun things planned, I know I can carve out time on Mondays to journal, write, read… whatever I feel like doing! This might mean I don’t get a workout in Monday mornings or need to make sure I’m in bed early on Sundays, but I know starting my week with some solo, quiet time will pay dividends later on.
• Write out my “ideal week.” I’ve done this exercise before and found it really helpful for thinking about how I want to use my time, carving out open, free time, and helping me more intentional. With some changes to my routines, I thought this would be a great time to revisit the exercise. Planning to do this on the plane either on the way to or from Ireland!
• Get back in the habit of packing my lunch. One of the best parts – in my opinion – about working from home is being able to make lunch in the moment vs. in advance. Then, when I do go into the office, I get to break it up and splurge on an overly expensive salad. But with going back into the office more than 1 time/week, I just can’t justify multiple expensive salads. So, I’m still going to cherish my one, but also get back in the habit of packing my lunch. I used to do it five days a week… surely with some planning and preparation I can do it once or twice!! (A cute container should help ).
• Write my list of 100 dreams. This is an item on my 23 in 23 list that I haven’t completed yet. Also a great plan activity!
• Be realistic with myself about what I can and can’t handle. Even with the reframes and the planning, I’m giving myself permission to drop a few balls during this busy – and exciting! – month. As part of that, I won’t be sending out a newsletter next Monday or the Monday after (except for maybe a few pictures ), but will be back as normal Monday, Sept. 18. Can’t wait to catch you up on this whirlwind of a month.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead and see you in September!

On My Monday Radar

Sometimes we just aren’t ready to jump into our Monday to-do list right away. In case you want some content to procrastinate with, here is a roundup of a few positive things on my radar:  

• I finished Tracey Lange’s Connelly’s of County Down last week and liked (but not loved) it. I really enjoyed her first book – We Are the Brennans – so I was excited to see another book by her featured as a Book of the Month pick. Even though I was so-so about the book, I did love that it was a well-crafted family drama that had you pulling for the characters. I definitely read the second half of the book at an increased pace because I had to know what was going to happen.
• Five ways to start a financial ‘self-care’ routine. Liked these approachable tips and am always looking for new ways to tweak my financial routine, especially in a month like September (“the other January”).
• “I’ve Entered My Boring Outfits Era” – I fully support this. All the permission for practical, classic (a better word than ‘boring’ in my opinion ) outfits.
• Wow, Matt and I tried these frozen chocolate croissants from Trader Joe’s this weekend. For an at-home pastry, these were delicious. You leave them out to “proof” overnight (was fun to see how much they grew in size!) and then bake them in the oven in the morning. This was my post-long run reward on Sunday, and it was just all-around a fabulous way to start the day. (And yes, I thought about these croissants for most of my run, lol)

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