A Sunday reset can help you make the most of the weekend downtime while getting ready for whatever Monday brings. Sundays get a bad rap for the “Sunday blues” that signal the end of a brief respite from the daily grind. Sunday is also a day to help prepare yourself for the week ahead by following a few simple reset practices.
8 Sunday reset tips & my personal best practices
1. Disconnect from work
Give yourself permission to rest.
I used to think I was “getting a head start on the week” by logging in on Sunday evening to send a few emails and check my calendar. What I was really doing was missing out on an opportunity to enjoy the last few restful hours of my weekend before I had to log back in. Monday will bring with it whatever comes no matter if you log in or not. And there’s really no such thing as getting caught up or ahead of work because the work never stops. Instead, allow yourself time to rest and recharge so that you can show up on Monday feeling energized.
2. Take an active rest break
Active rest is a period of low-intensity activity that’s performed between high-intensity exercise. Active rest isn’t complete rest but includes gentler activities such as walking, yoga, stretching, swimming or cycling. Active rest helps reduce muscle soreness and stiffness, enhance endurance during longer steady state cardio sessions and can help prevent a dip in performance compared to complete rest. Try active rest if you want to move but your body needs a gentler approach.
3. Meal prep
You don’t have to put your meals in matching containers, but having prepared food on hand is helpful during busy weeks. I suggest bulk cooking your staples: rice, potatoes, chicken breast, ground beef, beans, etc. and mixing and matching fresh veggies and fruits throughout the week. There’s nothing like driving home after a long day and remembering that dinner is already waiting for you!
4. Clear the clutter
Declutter anything collected during the week. Toss out old mail, make sure you’ve paid all of your outstanding bills and then toss them, too. Empty all trash and search every inch of your home for possible donation items. Start the week with a clutter-free environment.
5. Fold and put away your laundry
Emphasis on and put away. This simple practice has done wonders for my sanity compared to my old method of digging for clothes from the basket all week. It’s a way to sneak in some extra downtime, too, by lingering over mindfulness tasks to let your brain rest.
There’s nothing exciting about doing laundry but maybe that’s the point.
6. Phone a friend
Check in on anyone you’ve been playing phone-tag with all week. I love a long call with my bestie to decompress and compare notes from the week.
7. Shop the farmer’s market
Visit your local farmer’s market and stock up on fresh produce and sweet treats, too. The farmer’s market has become part of my Sunday mindfulness routine because of all the additional prep work involved in cleaning, washing and chopping the produce – compared to what I’d normally buy from the grocery store.
Interacting with local farmers also helps deepen your connection to your community. These conversations allow you to appreciate the hard work that goes into harvesting and preparing farm fresh foods. I have so much respect for our farmers after I got a serious arm workout prepping kale last weekend!
8. Write out your thoughts
I saved this for last as it’s usually the last thing I do before I go to bed on Sunday evening. Make a list of everything you need to get done during the week ahead. What appointments do you have this week? When is that assignment or proposal due? What home repairs do you need to follow up on? Don’t panic, write it all out so that you can settle into sleep and work through your list on Monday.
What’s your Sunday reset routine? What else should we add to this list?