Plan Your Week, Simplify Your Life: Tips for Stress-Free Meal and Schedule Prep

Sitting down and planning my week ahead has been such a gift to me for a long time now. Knowing the activities, practices, and appointments that are in the week ahead, plus knowing what we’re going to have for dinner based around those things mentioned above all bring me a sense of calm before the week even starts.  

We’ve all heard the famous quote by Benjamin Franklin, “by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”. A bit of some harsh reality but a great quote for what we’re talking about. If you don’t have a plan for the week ahead, then you don’t have control over how your week is going to go. If you’re feeling constantly behind, or like you’re always flying by the sear of your pants, then planning ahead is going to be your new best friend ☺️

I always start planning for the week ahead at the end of the week prior. I sit down with my planner and recipe binder and plan out our weeks’ worth of dinners based around what our schedule looks like. I get the grocery list ready based on that meal plan and have it ready to go to the store Saturday or Sunday depending on how busy the weekend is. Yes, I do go into the store. I have never done a pickup before and probably won’t…. unpopular opinion I know. I can see the value in it though. I probably would have loved to have this service when I had small children, but I don’t anymore (😓) and I do enjoy going in and seeing all the different options and choosing my own produce! Not to mention, my husband and I usually use grocery shopping as a date now that we have all older children!

From there, I usually sit down with my planner again on Monday morning. I would love for this to be a Sunday night thing but if I’m being honest, it usually doesn’t happen until Monday morning.

I sit down on Monday morning, and I already have our schedule and our meals written into the week, so now I plug in the chores that I will get done on each day. Most days are set with what I clean but Friday tends to be a day that I add things that just need to get done that I’ve seen throughout the week or it’s a catch-up day if I couldn’t get to something else during the week.

I also go to my kitchen and plug in all this information (except what my chores will be) onto our big weekly calendar that sticks to my kitchen wall. I LOVE this calendar! I have been using it for several years now and it has really been helpful in keeping my family and I organized throughout the week. I put up what everyone’s schedule is, which is color coded, and our meals for the week on each day. Having the meals visible helps me be even more prepared for dinner time by triggering my brain to take out any meat that needs to be thawed or maybe there is something that I could prep during the day if I have a free minute. This method has been very useful over the years.

If meal planning has never been your thing, or you just need a fresh idea on how to do it, then you need to check out my free e-book. I broke down the exact steps on how I do it. Plus, you get a week’s worth of meal ideas and a few of my favorite recipes that you can print and add to your family’s collection. I also made a meal planning sheet that you could print and start using right away. The e-book is packed with lots of information to help you get started with meal planning and be successful with it 🙂

Incorporating planning into your week can be a game-changer, bringing a sense of calm and control to even the busiest of schedules. Whether you're a seasoned planner or just starting out, taking the time to map out your week and meals in advance can help reduce stress and make your days more efficient. Remember, it’s not about perfection—sometimes things don’t go as planned, and that’s okay. The goal is to have a guide that supports you, freeing up mental space and making the week feel more manageable. Don’t forget to grab my free e-book if you need more help getting started with meal planning. A little preparation today can go a long way toward a smoother, more peaceful week ahead!

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