Sunday Reset Routines To Start Your Week Off Strong

Today I am going to be sharing some Sunday reset routines to start your week off strong.

There's a quote that I came across a while back that I often share on Instagram. It goes like this: 'Don't let the thoughts of Monday steal your Sundays.' Mondays can definitely do that to us.

Sundays are meant to be days to relax, rest, and prepare for the upcoming week. However, I sometimes find myself in a panic, thinking of all the things I must do on Sundays - from laundry, to meal prep, to planning something to do with my kids or running to activities or birthday parties. I end up feeling exhausted by Sunday night and that's definitely not the way I want to start a busy work and school week.

What if we changed the narrative a bit? What if we prioritized a few simple routines that are not meant to feel like 'must-dos' but instead feel like 'want-to-dos?' Things that when you do them on Sunday you go into Monday feeling rested, prepared, and ready to tackle the week ahead.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I am trying to reframe my thinking and plan my Sundays more intentionally. I want to go to bed on Sunday night feeling like I can take a breath and say, I feel good and I'm ready for the week. Today I am going to share what's been working for me, and maybe these ideas will work for you as well.

Here are some Sunday reset routines to start your week off strong.

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Seven Sunday Reset Routines

Add one (or more!) of these to your Sunday night routine, and start your week off feeling great.

Plan your weekend intentionally.

I have been getting in the habit of front-loading my weekend when I can. On Friday nights I'll often do a load of laundry and make my grocery list/meal plan for the week. I'll clean out the fridge and we'll eat what's leftover. It may sound like a boring Friday, but for me it's nice to knock a few things off my list. It also helps by giving me extra time on Sunday.

On Saturdays I get up early, always grocery shop, start some easy meal prep, and then spend the afternoon with my kids. Depending on the time of year, Saturday afternoons and evenings look different, and are usually busy. That's okay - I'd rather keep that Sunday time sacred! Intentionally front-loading my weekend makes for a more relaxed and open Sunday.

Wake up slowly.

First off, let me say I know this is not possible for everyone, especially moms of littles. But in my house, I get up with the early birds on Saturday mornings (we're talking 5:30-ish - it's early) and my husband gets up with the kids on Sunday mornings. This is deliberate. I need to wake up slowly and think about my day. I don't sleep late, because I find that for me getting up at a fairly consistent time gives me the most energy. I just need to wake up without a four-year-old jumping on me.

I wake up around 7ish. I do a brain-dump of what I'd like to do that day. I scroll Instagram for a few minutes or even read a few pages of my book. I get ready for the day in peace. When I get downstairs I'm ready to hit the ground running.

Meal prep.

On Saturday I prioritize meal prep - you can read more about how I do it in my post about meal prep for busy moms. When I make Saturday morning pancakes for my kids, I make enough to keep in the fridge during the week. While I'm making them I'll also do something like making hard boiled eggs in my instant pot. After grocery shopping, I'll wash and cut fruits and veggies. I'll shred a rotisserie chicken. All of these help me to fill the fridge.

On Sunday, my fridge will be stocked and I can focus more on cooking meals. I try to make a meal for Sunday night (which hopefully has leftovers!) and a meal to have another night during the week. Mondays are busy for us, so having leftovers and/or a dinner ready to go has been a game-changer. The kitchen is already a mess, why not just make two meals?

Get ready for school.

I have a preschooler and two elementary-age kids so I always devote some time to school prep on Sundays. I pull out the backpacks, pack their snacks, and put water bottles and lunch boxes on the counters. Sometimes I'll prep some of the lunch for the next day.

Make time for you.

Saturdays are devoted to my family for the most part, so I try to dedicate time for myself on Sunday. As I write this it's Sunday morning and I'm at my favorite coffee shop. I look forward to it every week. When I get home my husband will head out to grab a cup of coffee or spend some time getting himself ready for the week. Put this time on your calendar! Get your nails done, read a book, go for a walk, do something for you!

Take an 'everything shower.'

This might be most enticing for the beauty-lovers out there, but there is nothing like an everything shower on a Sunday night. If you're not familiar, it just means a shower where you do all the things. Dry brush, wash your hair, use your favorite body scrub, put on a face mask or hair mask - anything you want. When you're done, put on your favorite pjs and feel blissed out.

Text or call a friend.

One of my goals for this year is to make more time to connect with girlfriends. Make it a priority to send a quick hello text or call a friend. A little connection goes a long way. Added bonus if you make plans to get together!

Start your week off on the right foot.

Those are my favorite Sunday reset routines to help you start your week off strong. What would you add? For more on routines, check out this post on how to create a healthy nighttime routine.

Let's make 2024 the year of intentionality, the year of making time for the things that are important to us.

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