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Did you know that you can design the week of your dreams? With intentional planning, you can create a fulfilling week that aligns with your values and brings joy to your daily life.

While many of us get excited for what the weekend has to offer, the truth is every day holds the potential for happiness and purpose. In fact, how you start your week — through simple acts of self-care — can make a huge difference, according to Good Housekeeping. Read ahead for tips on how to create a week that feels energizing, joyful, and truly fulfilling.

It’s not just your week, but how you start it, which can make a difference. So remember to be kind to yourself through acts of self-care. This can include taking a walk, a bubble bath, meditating, or carving out some time for yourself to unwind and watch your favorite show. Through these steps, you can start off the week feeling refreshed and energized.

Meal prepping is a great way to eat healthy and save money, according to SELF. One hack for shaking up your meals? Make essentials that you can mix and match with your meals. This can include prepping a variety of whole grains, leafy greens, and a tray of root vegetables. Packing your pantry and fridge with tasty essentials will make your week easier and bring tasty varieties to your meals. 

Looking for ways to bring health, relaxation, and fun into your week? Make time for movement. Easy ways to exercise include incorporating a 5-minute yoga routine you can do anywhere to relax. You can also invite a friend to that new workout class you’ve been curious about. By trying a new workout routine, you can prevent future injuries and have fun! So don’t forget to go to that spin class that’s been on your mind.

While spending time on your computer at work may be a big part of your routine and watching Netflix can feel tempting, make sure to spend time outside. “Beta-endorphins increase with sun exposure, and beta-endorphins make you feel good,” Tracy Mann, a registered dietitian and wellness coach in Colorado, tells SELF.

Making time to go outside is easy. Instead of eating lunch at your desk, head outside with a colleague. Making dinner plans with a friend after work? Opt for a picnic while watching the sunset instead of sitting indoors at a restaurant. 

It can be easy to want to sit on your couch after a busy weekday, CNN reports. But did you know that doing an activity after work instead could give you a much-needed boost of energy? Instead of only focusing on your weekend, plan a fun activity after work ahead of time. This could mean going to an improv lesson or setting time with a friend to talk about that book you’ve both been reading.

“Our relationships and our social connections are the most important thing to well-being, and I think a lot of us lose ourselves in work,” Suzann Pileggi Pawelski, a wellbeing writer and positive psychology expert, tells CNN. “Just think of something that brings you joy. There’s no right or wrong… Plan that activity — ideally, you know, doing something with other people — and put it in your calendar to do it regularly,” she adds.

With the average person spending a third of their life at work, it’s crucial to enjoy that time. If someone doesn’t like what they do while working, it can be “a huge problem,” Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, a researcher on happiness and a distinguished professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, says.

However, if you’re not able to change your job to one you’re interested in right away, there are solutions. Lyubomirsky suggests seeing if there is something you can find that you like during your work routine, for example, an aspect that can make a person’s life easier or that improves it.

Dr. Emiliana Simon-Thomas, science director of the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, emphasizes the importance of thinking about how small tasks can connect to your core values and goals.

She advises telling yourself something like, “I’m answering those emails so that I can accomplish this particular task, which will enable us to commence this project. And this project is in the service of this bigger aim or vision or goal that’s so valuable to me.”

Lyubomirsky also suggests fostering relationships at the workplace, enjoying a treat, or taking a walk during your break to boost your mood. Through simple efforts, whether at work, planning a fun activity ahead of time during the week, or prioritizing our health and self-care, we can all experience a joyful week. 

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