Which are you: Motivation Monday or Manic Monday?

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There are some of us that thrive on Mondays, ready to kick off the week strong, and others of us that roll into the week kicking and screaming. The first five days after the weekend are always the hardest, right?

Well, they don't have to be! You absolutely do not have to be a Monday person- or a "morning person" for that matter. You can ask my boyfriend- I LOVE my sleep and it takes him a solid three tries to get my butt out of bed each morning. So if you're a night owl like me and tell yourself you work better under pressure, there are plenty ways you can step into the week a little more put together and a little less manic while still leaving time for the stuff that matters, like Schitt's Creek re-runs :)

One of the things I try to do over the weekend is figure out what the heck I'll be eating all week. If you aren't a master meal planner, that's ok! Even if you just split it up and plan some meals that will get you through Wednesday- that is still way better than nothing!

I have weeks where I am absolutely a lazy meal planner, especially if my boyfriend and I have a weekend of traveling or adventures. Weeks like that I order from a meal prep service (I love Freshly, or Catered Fit). Alternatively, if I do meal prep, I'll do so by cutting up a bunch of veggies and cooking them all together on a big sheet pan. I love to use Trader Joe's 21 Solute Seasoning on my veggies and my chicken! (Brown chicken in cast iron skillet on both sides, and plop in the oven at 375 for 12 minutes to finish. Let rest for 10 min before portioning.)

I will also do a big batch of rice or quinoa in the InstaPot, and gather a few different dressings or make myself. That way, I can mix and match proteins with veggies and sauces and get more variety out of my meals! Buddha Bowls come in clutch for exaclty this! This should take way less than an hour, and you have healthy food ready to throw together for lunches or dinners all week without any stress. I'll be sure to have a couple individual containers of yogurt or cottage cheese, and some cut up fruit to dip, as well as some granola bars.

For me, the worst thing is coming home after a long day to a hangry boyfriend, a dirty house and piles of laundry on a Monday night so anything I can do to cut corners all weekend long so that it isn't overwhelming me is a huge lifesaver!

Another thing I make sure to do Sunday night is lay out some work/workout clothes for Monday, make a brain dump list of what needs to be done for the following week, and get to bed as early as possible. Most people are convinced that a good week starts off on Monday, but I disagree! A good week, just like a good day, starts by what you're willing and able to make time to prepare for in advance the night before. There are too many things to be left to chance that can leave us feeling stressed and overwhelmed the second we open our eyes, and I HATE that feeling; the one of being behind before the day has even started.

So, if you'd like to try and become the type of person who takes control of their Mondays rather than leaving them to chance, I highly suggest you try these things out!

If you're looking for more recipes to add to your meal prep rotation, head on over to my instagram page for some inspo! www.instagram.com/dashofpepper.fit

Happy New Week Friends! Let's go kick some butt!

Sending you all love and light for your week ahead,

Kianne