A determining factor in how smoothly your month will go starts with what you do at the beginning of every month.
It’s the time to be organized and set yourself up for a productive month! These 9 important things to do at the beginning of every month will help you with exactly that.
We can easily get swept up in life’s craziness. We hardly touch the ground. And quite frankly, adulting is hard…
I have been at the receiving end of this and the only outcome was anxiety. That is until I learned to organize my life for a productive outcome.
It is life-changing when you realize the power of planning.
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9 Important Things to Do at the Beginning of Every Month
1. Set up your monthly budget
I would recommend creating an Excel sheet to keep track of your income and expenses. Otherwise, you will get to the end of the month and have no idea where your money went.
Know your expenses.
- What are your monthly bills?
- When are your bills due?
- Do you still use all your subscriptions?
- Do you have any loans?
Focus on your essential recurring payments first and then focus on savings. Decide how much you want to put in your savings account, emergency fund, or invest, etc. Take that money out of the equation.
Now you can determine the rest of your budget.
- How much do you need for groceries?
- How much do you want to spend on leisure?
These are the variable expenses that you should be able to work around.
This is a crucial step at the beginning of every month. If you do not have a budget, I recommend you get one real fast. It will reduce any financial anxiety you might have.
2. Mark your calendar
Take out your planner and mark all the important dates for the month. In the chaos of life, we can easily get sidetracked.
Note down any dates such as:
- Business meetings
- Family events
- Birthdays
- Project due dates, etc
Another thing you should do at the beginning of every month is to schedule appointments. Make arrangements with your doctor, hairdresser, nail tech, or whatever engagements are necessary.
After these two activities, your diary will consist of your ‘skeleton planning’ which makes it easier to schedule other responsibilities in-between without double booking.
3. Digital declutter
Digital decluttering is the process where you organize and clean your digital life.
This may sound like a small insignificant task, but take it from me, it is essential. I have not touched my personal email for years and was left cleaning thousands of emails in one sitting. If I did this monthly I would never have to struggle through that.
Here are some examples of a digital declutter you can do at the beginning of every month:
- Emails – as I said above. Delete the unnecessary emails and star the ones you need. Also, unsubscribe from emails you do not have any more interest in. Oh, by the way, you can get a *free* mini workbook to level up here!
- Photos – I take many photos like I have 15,000 photos on my phone this very second. But luckily, I have organized them into various folders. Manage them before they pile up.
- Social media – Yes, this is something you can declutter. Go through all the accounts you follow and unfollow the ones that do not affect you negatively.
- Check this out! I’ve just written The Ultimate Guide to A Digital Declutter. It includes 25 different ways + a FREE template.
4. Create a meal plan
I won’t judge you if you skip this step, because I absolutely despise meal plans. Although, they are useful.
One thing about me, I hate cooking or anything kitchen-related. No, that is a lie. I love decorating my kitchen and making coffee. But that is it.
I get an unbelievable amount of anxiety when I have to decide what to cook. However, when I plan my meals, I get less grumpy and anxious when cooking.
Therefore, make meal plans at the beginning of every month or at least every week. I try to plan a week in advance these days and it helps.
Anyway, that was my little rant. Thank you for listening. Or reading…
5. Make a monthly to-do list
So you have already penned all the essentials down on your calendar, and now you can create a to-do list. These two actions go hand-in-hand.
This to-do list can be things like:
- Buy a dress for an upcoming event (sounds fun)
- Type a monthly report
- Buy Fluffy his deworming tablets
- Create a content calendar
- Go to the gym (couldn’t be me)
This list is for anything and everything. Just jot down anything that comes to mind. Then schedule it into your calendar.
6. Set your monthly goals
Last week we spoke about your mid-year reset routine where we discussed the remaining 6 months of the year. Although important, do not undermine setting monthly goals at the beginning of every month.
I have a recommended strategy for this topic.
Firstly, align your major yearly goal into the upcoming month. Hereby I mean, break down your major goals into smaller tangible goals for this month that will progress you towards the ultimate goal.
Wow, that was a mouthful.
Secondly, create a secondary goal as a challenge. I am trying this for the first time and I’m excited!
For me, it is to read a book. This may not sound like a challenge at all. Unfortunately, it is for me. I am bad at finishing books, which is ironic because I love writing.
I want my secondary goal to be a fun, new thing that could potentially become a fruitful hobby. Let me know if you have a secondary goal!
Finding the perfect Christmas gift doesn’t have to break the bank! These cheap Christmas gift ideas under $20 are thoughtful, fun, and
Welcome to my not-so-secret diary! It’s time for my October monthly recap – a month of reflection. This is an ongoing series
7. Do a house declutter
Once again, not my favorite thing to do.
Might I skip it? Very likely.
Should I skip it? Maybe not.
To do house decluttering stresses me out (I naturally tend to stress about everything…)
That is why I have a different approach this month. I will only declutter one area of my house and another next month. That way I will get through the house without overwhelming my little brain.
8. Choose a book to read
Now this might not apply to everyone if you decided to make this your secondary goal. Here is a list of 40+ hobbies you can choose from to incorporate as your fun goal of the month.
But I do think this is a good habit to develop. I am starting with a fictional book, although I want to get into personal development books. I have a few in my bookcase, but like I said I am terrible at finishing books.
This could help you unwind and relax. Imagine sipping on a glass of white and drifting away into an imaginary world. This is another tool to reduce anxiety and make adulting bearable.
9. Schedule a ‘you day’
By far the most important thing on this list!
I am such an advocate for mental health and prioritizing it.
Have at least one ‘you day’. If you can have more, even better.
This can be in the form of a self-care Sunday, like this one. Or an outing to a place you have always wanted to visit.
You are in charge of ‘you day’. This is meant to recenter yourself and to relax in peace. If your house is too busy, take a trip to a spa. As long as you make ‘you day’ a priority.
A household or yourself cannot function when you are at 0% battery level.
Conclusion
I hope these 9 vital things to do at the beginning of every month have helped and uplifted you for the upcoming month.
Don’t overcomplicate it and do not allow the chaos of life to take over. You are capable of taking control of your own life.
Have a great month and let me know if this was helpful! My emails are always open (and don’t worry, I actually check my emails now *wink*).
Love, Steph ♥
