10 Things To Do Every Monday
September 30, 2014

10 Things To Do Every Monday

by Brian de Haaff

I have always been focused on achievement. I’m a “goals first” guy and I generate lists that help me do my best. A to-do list gives me a sense of control and makes me feel productive when I get work done. Every time I get to cross off a to-do, a little shot of adrenaline is mine. It keeps me motivated and focused on the next job to be done.


We had a dinner party at our house and one of the guests asked me how I could run Aha! and my wife could be a VP of Marketing, have active kids, and still host an event during the week for 40 people. She wondered if we ever slept. I said that we were just like everyone else, except that we were ultra productive. We really are not special — just focused.

I love my job, but you do not need to wait until you are in a dream role to have aspirations and daily to-do lists. You have a plan, knock out the work, cross off the tasks, and repeat in order to get the dream job.

I have never shared my approach to being productive until now. And it all starts on Monday, which if you squint your eyes and block out your frustrations, is the most important day of the week. It is the day of renewal.

Here are the 10 things that I try to do every Monday. Some Mondays I do not get through all of them, but this approach has proven to be very effective for me.

  1. Go to bed early Sunday night and get at least eight hours of sleep

  2. Don’t exercise but take a short walk (I work out almost every other day, so this is my day off)

  3. Say to myself “Here we go” Monday a.m. to symbolize I am jumping into another busy week

  4. Review the company growth goals for the week

  5. Review my list of goals for the week

  6. Review each team member’s goals for the week

  7. Check in with team members to see how their weekend was

  8. Identify which customers need my attention

  9. Plan one fun thing to do the upcoming weekend

  10. Take a moment to remind myself how fortunate I am to be starting another week

The list could be much longer because I do other things like email and meetings, but these are the go-to tasks that have helped me accelerate my own career and the businesses that I have helped build.

Even when I am distracted or overwhelmed with what is going on, these 10 actions keep me grounded in what matters most. They set the stage for a productive and happy week.

Do you have any tricks for Mondays?

Brian de Haaff

Brian de Haaff

Brian seeks business and wilderness adventure. He is the co-founder and CEO of Aha! — the world’s #1 product development software — and the author of the bestseller Lovability and The Startup Adventure newsletter. Brian writes and speaks about product and company growth and the journey of pursuing a meaningful life.

Follow Aha!

Follow Brian

Related articles

The Best Cover Letters That CEOs Love to Read
April 13, 2017
The Best Cover Letters That CEOs Love to Read

A well-crafted cover letter is a great way to get noticed. Find out what to include in your cover letter to catch the attention of a CEO.

New Marketing Managers — Do These 8 Things in the First 30 Days
January 28, 2019
New Marketing Managers — Do These 8 Things in the First 30 Days

Are you a new marketing manager? Check out these suggestions from eight marketing experts on how to show your true value in your first 30 days.

The tragedy of 'good enough'
June 4, 2024
The tragedy of 'good enough'

Leaders create an environment that fosters continual improvement when they: 1. Hire for achievement. 2. Invest in training. 3. Keep raising the standard.

6 Characteristics of the Best Bootstrapped Businesses
July 19, 2022
6 Characteristics of the Best Bootstrapped Businesses

Founding and running a startup takes courage and conviction. Bootstrapping is a mindset that can also serve as an operating model for sustainable growth. These are the…