One-Day Sunday Reset Routine for a Productive Week

Developing the perfect Sunday reset routine is the key to starting you week off on the right foot. Here’s a full one-day reset routine for the perfect Sunday reset.

Ahh… Sundays.

They have rapidly become one of my favorite days of the week.

I love the opportunity to take some extra time to care for myself and focus on my goals on Sundays.

That said, I used to get a bad case of the “Sunday Scaries“.

I’d be stressed about Monday, dreading the week ahead, and miserable as I wallowed in a pile of self-pity. Ugh! That’s NO fun!

It’s only since I’ve developed a great Sunday reset routine that I have started to accept (and actually enjoy!) Sundays.

Now, they just might be my very favorite day of the week. As someone who loves a mix of relaxation, self-care, productivity, and goal-setting, Sundays are the perfect day for me!

It is my hope for you that you can develop this same love for Sundays… it truly all starts with adopting the perfect Sunday reset routine!

The Ultimate Sunday Reset Routine

Sunday Morning Reset

I’m going to have to agree with Lionel Richie on this one: Sunday mornings are meant to be “EASY”.

Sunday mornings are when I love to spend some extra time resting, relaxing, and enjoying myself.

Here’s how I do it:

Silence the Alarms

Yup, you heard me. Shut off those alarms. You have ALL week to wake up early and be productive. You deserve this one day of sleeping in.

To be honest, this extra sleep might actually make you MORE productive. It’s crazy how much a lack of sleep can drag us down.

Just in case you ever feel guilty for snoozing that alarm and sleeping in, know that sometimes sleep is the most productive thing for you.

Wake Up Slowly

Take your time waking up before your feet actually hit the floor and you start your day. This has been a crucial part of my Sunday reset routine. I love waking up naturally (no alarm) and then listening to my body and taking it slow.

Some of my favorite ways to wake up slowly on Sundays are:

• cuddling my puppy
• stretching in bed
• laying still and looking out my window for a bit
• taking deep breaths
• setting some intentions for the day

Hold the Phone

Not literally… drop the phone actually.

What I am trying to say is to AVOID going on your phone first thing in the morning. This has been a game-changer and PERHAPS is the most valuable step on my Sunday reset list.

I was noticing the mood drop when I would reach for my phone first thing in the morning.

I’d see work emails, social media drama, and negative news stories… UGH! What a dreadful way to start your beautiful Sunday routine.

To be fair, I try to hold off on scrolling every morning (not just Sunday mornings), but I am extra mindful about this on Sundays.

Make Your Bed

This may not feel like a “slow” start to the morning, but it is a critical step in my Sunday reset routine. After reading “Make Your Bed” (an amazing book, I might add), I try to do this every morning.

I love to have a neat and tidy space. It puts me in a better mood.

Not to mention, making your bed first thing when you get up in the morning is a great way to feel like you’ve already accomplished something for the day.

Hydrate

While you’re having a slow Sunday morning routine, take this time to really practice the good habit of hydrating first thing in the morning. WATER is CRUCIAL for health, clarity, and overall wellness. Drink up, buttercup! 😉

Sip Slowly

Another one of my favorite things on my Sunday reset checklist is taking some extra time to have and enjoy my morning coffee.

I like to have “coffee time” where I sit, sip, savor, and smile. (Someone put that on a coffee mug… maybe I should make coffee-mug merch. 😉 )

In all seriousness, this does wonderful things for my mental health and mood. Taking this time to just be present and enjoy something so simple is the perfect way to adopt a great attitude and mood for the rest of your Sunday.

RELATED POST: How to Make Better-Than-Starbucks Coffee at Home

Journal It Out

Sundays are my check-in day. I like to sit with myself, my pen, my journal, and my coffee and have some time to reflect.

• How’s your mental health?
• What are your goals for this next week?
• How do you feel physically?
• What do you need from yourself this next week? More water? Self-care? Movement? A better plan?
• What is on your mind that you need to release? How will you release them?
• What are you grateful for?

These are just a few of the questions I ponder when I journal on Sunday mornings.

RELATED POST: 80 Journal Prompts for Self-Discovery

Journaling is such an intimate form of self-care and self-connection.

Everyone should make journaling a part of their Sunday reset routine (or daily routine… it’s that good!).

Get In Touch with Yourself

This goes hand-and-hand with the journaling step in this Sunday Reset list. I love to stretch, meditate, or do some light yoga after journaling on Sunday mornings. During this time, it is good to practice some positive affirmations.

Some great affirmations to add to your Sunday morning routine are:

“I am…

• strong
• worthy
• powerful
• valued
• loved
• successful
• enough”

Speaking these affirmations out loud, while it may feel silly at first, can change the way you view and think of yourself. This is a MUST in your Sunday reset routine… it helps get your mind right for the rest of the day and the coming week!

Sunday Afternoon Reset

I like to get moving with the “productive” part of my Sunday reset routine around noon.

At this point, I have had time to sit, be still, and relax… now let’s pound out some productivity.

Make a Plan

Jumpstart your productivity with a solid plan. To do this, I recommend keeping a planner. I absolutely LIVE by my planner… like, seriously. My entire life is in there.

(I have TONS of planning posts if you are looking for some extra help choosing, organizing, and using your planner!)

When I enter the “productivity phase” of my Sunday reset routine, I always start with a planner check-in.

I reference things I have planned already and I add new things that I need to remember.

The secret to keeping a successful planner is using it often and updating it constantly!

Take some time in the early afternoon of your Sunday to sit down and make a plan.

Loads of Laundry

Laundry Sunday.

I know you dread it; I do too. But you are going to thank yourself when your underwear drawer is still plentiful on Friday. (Just being real here, LOL!)

Swap Your Sheets

Again, I know you dread it… same! Changing your sheets is a whole cardio workout. You can’t even tell me otherwise. 😉

But, starting a fresh week with some fresh sheets is worth breaking a sweat for. LOL!

In all seriousness, I used to be so guilty of pushing off changing my sheets until I read how nasty it really is… now I change them every other Sunday.

Making that part of my Sunday reset routine has made it so much easier to stay on top of it!

Meal Plan and Prep

I’m combining meal plans and meal prep because it all falls in the same category. Taking some time to plan out and prepare your meals for the week is an ideal thing to add to your Sunday reset list.

This takes the stress out of mid-week meal ideas and helps to keep you healthy and well-nourished!

I find when I have healthy food prepped in the fridge, I made healthier snacking choices.

Also, when I have dinners planned out, I avoid that dreaded “what’s for dinner?” struggle.

I have a FREE weekly and monthly meal planner printable you can use for this. (It’s what I use!!)

Grab yours HERE:

RELATED POST: 180+ Dinner Ideas (+ FREE Printable Booklet)

Outfit Plan

Take a few minutes in your Sunday reset routine to plan a couple of outfits for the week.

That way, if you are either running late or having one of those “Shoot! What the heck do I wear?!” kind of days, you have some backup outfits to utilize!

Get Moving

This doubles as “productive” and self-care. Go for a walk. Breathe the fresh air. Be present in nature.

This does wonders for your outlook and your productivity. Just do it. Trust me.

Plan Your Weekly Budget

If you are budgeting, keeping track of your finances, or trying to save money, planning this all out on Sunday can save you from the continuous stress of it during the week.

Get your plan set on Sunday so you don’t have to worry about it for the rest of the week… you can just follow the plan!

RELATED POST: 12 Easy Swaps to Save Money

Sunday Night Reset

Ahh!! It’s finally time to wind down and have some self-care Sunday time!

Enjoy a Delicious Dessert

Yum! We all need that little Sunday treat!

I am a HUGE dessert gal. Like we’re talking ice cream every single night.

(My newest obsession has been vanilla bean ice cream, warm cinnamon apples, and THIS apple granola. OMG! *chefs kiss*)

TV Time

Get caught up on your favorite shows! Recently, my Sunday reset night routine has been consisting of American Idol followed by Good Girls.

What’s your favorite show?

Read and Wind Down

To wrap up my Sunday reset list, I love to climb into bed with a good book (no phones!) and read until my eyes get heavy. This is the best way to wind down your brain and get yourself ready to sleep.

SHOP MY FAVORITE BOOKS OF ALL TIME HERE

Find a good book and make a habit of Sunday night reading!

Sleep Sounds and Zzz’s

To close out my Sunday night, I turn on sleep sounds on my Hatch alarm clock and let myself dose off.

My favorite sounds are rain sounds (Washington girl for life, hahaha!) but you can pick whatever is most relaxing to you. Waves, wind, jazz music, etc.; the option is all yours!

There you have the ultimate Sunday reset routine and ideas!

More Posts I Think You’ll LOVE:

100 Simple Daily Habits to Improve Your Life

The Ultimate Self-Care Sunday Routine

89 Lazy Sunday Activities

Follow this Sunday reset checklist and your Sundays will go from dreadful to delightful in no time!

Like I said, Sunday Scaries used to get me every week.

Now, I LOOK FORWARD to Sunday… all because of these Sunday reset ideas!

Happy Sunday!