Ah, Sundays. The perfect day for a reset.
Sunday reset routines have risen in popularity, thanks in a large part to Tiktok and Instagram. People are posting slick Sunday reset routine videos that show them resetting their mind and space ready for the week ahead.
While these videos are fun and inspiring, they’re often not super realistic for most of us. I’m here to show you that you can create a Sunday reset routine that is realistic and does fit your lifestyle. This is your guide to creating a Sunday reset routine that works for you.
What is a Sunday reset?
A Sunday reset is where you spend some of your time or the whole day on Sunday getting things ready for the week ahead. It’s a chance to get a head start before a busy work week ahead, and to create a positive habit around relaxation and self care on Sundays. It’s a routine that you can build into every weekend, without doing something as in-depth as a self care weekend or self care Sunday.
Many people do practical tasks as part of their Sunday reset, like making a meal plan or doing laundry. You can also weave in self care ideas from your own self care menu, like enjoying a good meal, journaling, or relaxing in front of the TV.
Sunday is a great day of the week to try this if you work a traditional career and have a busy week ahead. If you don’t, use whichever day is your “Sunday” as part of your weekly schedule instead. Embrace the approach on whichever day works best for you to get your life back on track and feel prepared for the next day and the week ahead.
Why Sunday resets can be so helpful
Starting your own Sunday reset routine gives you a chance to rest, reflect, prepare, and feel ready for the weekdays. It’s a great self care habit to form and one that you can tailor to suit your schedule.
Here are some of my favorite benefits of getting into that Sunday reset habit:
- Space to get organized for the week ahead
- Time to focus on your mental health, self love, wellbeing, or self improvement goals
- Time to reflect and plan
- Rest and detox from a busy week
- Work on your healthy habits
- Get peace of mind during a busy period
- Support your morning routine and night routine
- Less of the “Sunday scaries” and a more relaxing Sunday evening vibe
- Tackle some of those household chores you’ve been putting off
- Time to get into the right headspace for a productive week
You might find these benefits, or you might see different ones. For example, you might find that having everything organized makes you feel more inspired to chase your goals. Maybe you feel more motivated to head to the gym first thing in the morning. The goal is to create a Sunday routine that works for you, so you can get the kind of benefits you want to see.
14 of the best Sunday reset routine ideas and hacks
Now that we’re on board with what a Sunday reset routine involves and why they’re great, let’s try to plan our own. Here are some of my favorite self care ideas and productivity tips to build into your next Sunday reset day.
1. Wake up slowly
Ease yourself into your Sunday morning with a slow wake-up. This isn’t a day for feeling rushed as soon as you wake up. Instead, think of a goal time to wake up and try to achieve it. That might be 10am, or it might be 7am. Wake slowly, relax, and begin your day with a positive mindset. Try my slow morning routine, if that sparks interest.
2. Stretch your body
Often our Sundays are about getting organized or simply getting some rest. Add some stretching and fitness into your day to achieve a good sense of balance. This might look like a short at-home yoga routine, a walk around the block, or heading to the gym for a class. In my life, it’s running around after the kids!
3. Plan your day
Sunday is a day that we can quickly lose track of if we go with the flow and don’t make any plans. Avoid overplanning, but start your day with a brain dump or a list of things you want to achieve for the rest of the day. Use this as a rough guide to help you make progress and feel good about the day ahead.
4. Enjoy good food
Give your heart the food it wants today with some delicious meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Meal plan and grocery shop for restocking on your favorite foods, or set aside some budget to order take-out instead. Choose healthy dishes or indulge in your favorites — it’s totally up to you.
5. Stay hydrated
It’s so important to make sure you’re drinking enough fluids throughout the day. Many people like to follow the 8×8 rule, but simply have some water nearby in a bottle or flask that you can sip on whenever you need it.
6. Tidy your space
Having a clean and tidy home can help lift your spirits, especially if you’re anything like me. Dedicate some time within your Sunday reset routine to tidy up a small area of your home or to do some decluttering. I like to tidy up my workspace so it’s fresh for the new week. Listen to your favorite playlist or a podcast episode as you go.
7. Take care of the laundry
There seems to be a never ending supply of laundry to be done in our home. If yours is the same, Sunday is a great day of the week to reset your habits or create new ones when it comes to your laundry. Make time to put a wash on, hang clothes out to dry, or fold and put clothes away.
8. Meal plan or prep
Get ahead of yourself for the week by making sure you have something practical and delicious to enjoy. Create a meal planning or meal prep habit and stick to it. Write out a grocery list and take it with you when you go grocery shopping, or book a delivery for when it fits with your schedule.
9. Take care of life admin
Whether we’re doing things solo or running a busy household, there’s always life admin on the to-do list. Set aside some time on a Sunday to take care of the bills, reply to emails, plan your week, and handle all those little tasks that you don’t have the time or energy for during the week.
10. Plan the week ahead
One of the most useful things to add to your Sunday reset routine is a block of time to plan for the next week. Grab a weekly planner or update your digital calendar with everything you need to do for Monday morning and the rest of the week ahead. I love calendar blocking and find this approach super useful if you want to set designated zones for when you work best, then slot in tasks each week.
11. Get outside
If you’re anything like me, you spend a lot of time indoors. Create space in your Sunday reset routine to head outdoors and enjoy the fresh air — even if it’s only for a few minutes, and even if it’s raining. Step outside for a walk around the block, walk your dog, go for a hike, or get outside in whichever way makes you feel happy.
12. Write in your journal
At the end of your Sunday reset routine, make room to reflect on the past week. Sit down and journal for a few minutes about how your week has been, what you achieved, and what your hopes are for the week ahead. If you don’t want to write something too long, a short and sweet gratitude list is a great option.
13. Rest and relax
Make sure there’s enough space for rest and relaxation on Sundays. For you this might be putting on a face mask and soaking in the tub, or it could be a Sunday night Netflix marathon of your favorite TV show. Whatever it is, dedicate enough time to a relaxing hobby, and make it a priority.
14. Wind down before bed
Before you head to bed, close out your Sunday reset routine by unwinding. Take a break from your social media scrolling, follow your skincare routine, take your supplements, and introduce a slower pace. If you don’t have an evening routine already, think about what you’d benefit from the most and create one.
Create your own Sunday reset checklist
Knowing what to on a Sunday reset day is great, but having a checklist is even better! Not only does a checklist help you remember what you’re doing, it’s a great way to help you form habits and make the whole process feel more smooth.
For example, here’s what’s on my Sunday reset checklist from the ideas above:
- Wake up slowly and naturally
- Move my body
- Say a positive affirmation
- Plan my day based on to-do’s and like-to-do’s
- Enjoy a good breakfast and lunch
- Drink enough water
- Tidy up and declutter
- Put some laundry on
- Meal plan for the week ahead
- Handle some life admin
- Plan for the next week
- Get outside and enjoy the fresh air
- Journal
- Take time to rest and relax
- Unwind before bed
Build your own routine and checklist over time, and use this one to help you get started with the habit!
Feel rested and prepared with your own Sunday reset routine
Sundays are a time for rest, but they’re also a great opportunity to get prepared for the upcoming week. A new week is a new chance to work on your habits and goals and to create the kind of life you love. Give your future self a wonderful head start with your own weekly reset day on Sundays.
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