15 activities to add to your productive monthly routine

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Introduction

Today’s post is all about productivity and getting things done. In addition to the Sunday Routine I have implemented to help me prepare for a productive week, I also love the idea of having a productive monthly routine. These 15 things to do at the start of each month really help me stay productive.

A new month is always the occasion to reflect and create new opportunities. Prepare for a great month ahead with this productive monthly routine.

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1. Reflect on the past month

Every new month is a new chance to take a fresh start. Take a few minutes to write down what you liked about this month and what disappointed you.

Were you able to smash your goals? Did you finish that important project you were working on? Did you work out enough?

Write things down and reflect on what you could have done better. This will help you with the following point.

2. Set new short-term goals

Having long-term goals is key to personal growth and success. To crush these long-term goals, you have to set short-term and mid-term goals.

You can decide, for example, to work out four times a week or save 300$ per month. These small goals will help you achieve your long-term goals. In this case, these would be, for instance, losing 20 pounds or saving 5’000$.

These milestones will help you track your progress and stay motivated.

3. Schedule appointments

Scheduling appointments at the beginning of the month is key to good organization. Think about everything you want to get done this month.

Need to go to the hairdresser? To get your nails done, to see a doctor, or go to the dentist? Try to schedule these appointments at the beginning of the month, write them down in your planner, and you will be ready to go.

4. Plan your month

What are the important events coming this month? Do you have any important presentations to do at work? An important exam or a birthday party to organize?

Plan these events so you can define deadlines. Being organized will allow you to be prepared and will save you a lot of stress.

5. Pay your bills

Depending on when you receive your salary, take the time to pay your bills at the end or beginning of the month.

Paying bills is annoying. It can take a lot of time and can feel like a pain. Nevertheless, taking a couple of hours to do it every month will save you a lot of money in late fees!

6. Check and update your budget

Checking my budget after paying my bills is one of my favorite things to do. Yup, I must be a bit weird. I love doing it because it allows me to see my progress in my debt pay off and wealth building.

I struggled a lot with money, and so did my parents when I was a kid. Seeing my bank account grow is now so motivating! Receiving my salary and updating my budget is definitely one of my favorite moments of the month.

Even if you don’t enjoy paying bills and budgeting, you should totally take the time to do it. It is key to personal finance and will help you achieve your financial goals.

7. Find new recipes

This is a new habit I implemented in 2020 during the first lockdown. I didn’t like to cook. I used to think it was too complicated and time-consuming.

Like many of you, I had to work from home during the first lockdown. As I couldn’t eat at the restaurant as I used to, I had no choice but to start cooking.

I realized that, no, cooking wasn’t that complicated and time-consuming. Cooking can be fun and allows you to save lots of money, so look for new recipes and try them out!

8. Clean your house

Like most of you, I imagine, I don’t wait until the end of the month to clean my house. I take a few minutes every morning and evening to clean around.

Still, the end of the month is the perfect time to do specific chores like washing curtains, pillows, etc. Take a few hours to clean your house at the end of the month. It will give you a fresh start.

9. Clean that fridge

This is something I actually do every week before grocery shopping.

Emptying the fridge and cleaning it is a great way to know exactly what you need to put on your grocery list.

If you don’t have 30 minutes to do it every week, do it at least once a month. It is also the perfect opportunity to check the expiry dates and throw away any products that are no longer safe for consumption.

10. Clean your car

Cleaning your car, just as cleaning your house and fridge, is a great thing to do at the beginning of the month.

Before implementing this habit, I would go 3 or 4 months without cleaning my car. You can imagine how dirty it was and how long it would take me to clean it. Now that I do it at least once a month, it doesn’t take me more than 30 minutes.

11. Organize your wardrobe

Organizing a wardrobe can be overwhelming. You can reorganize some parts of your wardrobe every month to make things easier.

I typically look for clothes I want to wear during the upcoming month, make sure they are perfectly ironed, and hang them to be ready to wear.

In addition to that, every 3 months, you can empty your wardrobe and put aside all the clothing that is not appropriate for the season to come. You can put these clothes in special bags and store them in a separate room.

This is a great way to make room in your wardrobe for the closing you will wear. This simple trick can help you save some time when choosing your outfits!

12. Have a marathon day

This is probably one of my least favorite tasks, but it is effective, believe me! Once a month, plan a day to do everything you have to do but keep putting off. It can be, for instance, going to the post office, cleaning your garage, going to the drugstore to stuck up on essential medication, mowing the lawn, etc.

I used to overthink these things and kept postponing them. Blocking once a month to do all of these tasks on the same day allowed me to free up some time for more cheerful things, and I no longer feel guilty for postponing them!

13. Plan your meals

Another thing that helps to start the month on the right track is to plan meals.

This task might seem time-consuming, but it will actually save you a lot of time daily.

Meal planning will help you save time because you will no longer need to spend time wondering what to cook every day. It will also help you save a lot of money because you will be able to know exactly what ingredients to buy, which will reduce food waste.

If you struggle to figure out what to cook, this Pinterest is your best friend!

14. Buy a new book

Buying a new book every month is a new habit I started implementing a few months ago. I used to read books only for my classes. Now that I graduated and have more free time before and after work, I enjoy reading.

Reading 15-30 minutes in the morning is a great way to start the day, and doing it in the evening is perfect for unwinding.

Reading is also great for personal growth as it allows you to learn new things and develop creativity.

15. Plan some fun

Working hard is important, but so is having fun. Do not forget to plan some fun time with your kids, husband, or friends, no matter how busy you are.

Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Taking time to rest and have fun is just as important as making money and being a boss!

Final Thoughts

Implementing a productive monthly routine is just another simple yet effective way to organize your life and ensure you get things done.

Routines are powerful because they make it super easy to implement productive, healthy habits.

If you are trying to improve your life, implementing routines is the best place to start.

Get organized and implement new routines and habits using the free resource below!