I LOVE MONDAYS and I'm not afraid to admit it!
Welcome back! If you're new here- I’m Nikki, and welcome to AXN Atelier. Atelier is a fancy French word for studio; welcome to my metaphorical atelier, where I'll share some behind the scenes, travel recommendations, collaborations, gift guides, and more. This week's blog is a little unconventional.. a hot take!
I LOVE MONDAYS and I'm not afraid to admit it!
My husband always jokes that I have a lot of wild takes on life. While this isn't my wildest, it's definitely not a commonly shared favorite day of the week. I know most people loathe Mondays, but they are my absolute favorite.
I love a fresh start- and the beginning of the week is just that. Looking ahead of the week on Monday morning, I have FIVE entire days to get work done before the weekend. It's the start of five days of productivity and projects (but who are we kidding we run a retail business, I rarely actually get weekends off). Mondays are a day to swing back into routine after the laxity of the weekend. They are predictable. They can be super productive. Or, they can be slow as you ease back into reality- because if you take today easy, you still have four more days ahead of you of the work week to get everything done.
I love to plan my week ahead out on Monday mornings, make to-do lists, and play with the stationery I collect to help organize my life. Last week's un-finished to-do list? Rip it up! It's a new week! But make sure you move the unfinished but necessary items to your fresh to-do; somehow on a new list they're more approachable and easier to get done.
Mondays at AXN
The reality of my Monday is typically a lot of admin work and catching up on weekend emails/orders- not so much painting and creating. Sometimes Sunday-Nikki is nice to Monday-Nikki and answers the weekend emails and preps client projects so I can jump into Monday as smoothly as possible. Which is what I did this weekend! I'm taking a slow morning (with yes, a second cup of coffee) and after I post this blog I will get right to the six client projects on the docket. The reference photos have been saved, the paper has been cut, and I have no excuse to procrastinate.
Monday Rituals
My Monday mornings are filled with little rituals that fuel my weekly productivity:
read the Creative Act by Rick Rubin to inspire a creative mood.
Clear off my desk and refill paint trays to make space for new art. My favorite places to buy funky watercolor paints are CFM, Choosing Keeping, Dick Blick's Maimeri Blu Paints.
Spend some time on Pinterest to find visual inspiration. Here's my Pinterest page to browse!
Atelier Picks: Monday Must-Haves
To celebrate Mondays, here are a few shoppable picks from my atelier:
Good Morning! Coaster Set of 4- $7.50 - Coasters perfect for your bedside table and a cup of coffee to wake up and catch up on emails.
Coffee Chart Print - $18-$38 - Perfect paired with a Monday morning coffee!
Cheers to Mondays!
Shop my new collection Café All Day
Follow on Instagram: @artxnikki