Sunday Reset Routine

Reset routines are usually done during the times that we observe a seasonal change or mark the end of a certain period such as the start of a new month, quarter, or season. That’s why Sundays are the perfect day of the week to do a weekly reset.

To do a Sunday or weekly reset simply means setting your goals for the week ahead and taking action to plan and prep everything you’ll need to meet them. It’s a way to be more intentional with your time to prevent overwhelm and burnout, and even fatigue as the week goes on.

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Benefits of Starting A Sunday Reset Routine

If you’re interested in the concept but wondering if it’s really worth it, consider some of the benefits listed below that explain how being more organized at the start of the week can help you confidently ease into all your weekly responsibilities in a way that feels more manageable.

Quells the Sunday Scaries

Having a detailed overview of the week ahead and making all the necessary preparations to be successful will give you the confidence to shut down the Sunday scaries and enter a fresh start with a positive mindset.

Turns Overwhelm into Calm

Moving forward with confidence also makes it easier to stress less, preventing overwhelm and burnout when unexpected events occur. This in turn makes space for you to use your downtime to actually recharge instead of participating in mind-numbing activities like doom-scrolling.

Helps You Get Motivated

Being more organized will help you get a clear sense of direction and purpose, motivating you to follow through with your plans.

Provides an Opportunity to Pause & Reflect

Regularly reviewing what you did throughout the previous week makes a way for you to observe if you’ve been working towards your personal goals or if you’ve just been running on autopilot.

8 Sunday Habits for a Productive Week

Here are a few ways to get organized on Sunday in preparation for a new week. If you want to stay on top of things, avoid stress, and plan your weeks more intentionally, try adding some of these habits to your routine so the upcoming week feels like a breeze.

01 Plan Your Week

Start by writing down all the appointments and tasks with hard deadlines. Then create a list of your top priorities and goals for what you want to get done that week. If you still have more left on your plate then do a brain dump of all the things weighing heavily on your mind.

Just take out a blank notepad or piece of paper and write down whatever you can think of that needs to be done or that you’d like to start working on. Refer back to this list when you have time throughout the week to see there’s any tasks you can get done and review the tasks that have already been completed.

02 Plan Your Meals

Write down what you’ll eat that week or some ideas for your daily meals and snacks, use that plan to make a grocery list and go shopping.

Before you leave, empty out any old or expired food from your fridge and pantry to make space for your new groceries

If you don’t have time to cook then plan for low prep meals or simplify it even more by only committing to making one meal for the week until you discover a routine that works best for you to make more meals at home.

03 Get Motivated

Put in the effort to get yourself into a positive head space. Write down three things you’re grateful for from the previous week and three things you’re most excited about for the upcoming week.

Then set your weekly intention such as “This week I’ll prioritize self-care” or “I will no longer let stress about things that are out of my control take over”. Re-enforce your mindset by reading or listen to something uplifting and encouraging.

04 Plan for Adequate Rest

Although it’s nice to be fully prepared down to a detailed hourly schedule of each day, sometimes it’s just not realistic.

Try to be mindful of placing the most effort into things that will provide you with the best payoff such as meal prepping and organizing important tasks instead of extraneous things like detailed cleaning and planning for events that are further into the future.

This will allow you necessary time to rest and recharge instead of starting the week stressed from trying to recover from everything you did on Sunday.

05 Declutter

It’s easy for junk and clutter to pile up during the week. From busy schedules to the messiness of daily life, your environment can get out of control before you know it.

This is a good time to put everything back in it’s place, throw away any garbage you missed during the week and break down boxes from packaging to be recycled.

06 Clean Up

A quick refresh can be done by wiping the most touched surfaces (countertops, tables, sinks, etc.), running one or two loads of laundry and doing a sweep or vacuum of the areas that accumulate the most dirt and dust.

07 Set Everything Out

Set out the outfit you will wear for Monday morning in your closet or on your bed. Have more outfits ready to go hanging in your closet for the rest of the days. Pack your work, school, or gym bag with your essentials so you don’t forget anything.

Charge all your devices (but don’t leave them plugged in overnight).

Meal prep your Monday morning breakfast such as overnight oats or freezer breakfast sandwiches so you have a grab and go breakfast on hand. Set out your lunch or any snacks you eat daily as well.

08 Final Touches

Need more stuff to do? Direct your attention to all the high-traffic spaces where you’ll notice the biggest difference such as wiping down the microwave, cleaning bathrooms, and washing bed sheets. This will instantly refresh your space and set you up for a clean start.

How to Start Over Fresh Every Week

Use these habits as ideas to start every week with a fresh slate. Relish in the hope that comes from new possibilities as you put the previous week in the past and plan for what you want to accomplish in the brand new week.