Sunday Reset

By Marissa Burr

One of my favorite types of videos to watch on Tiktok are Sunday reset videos. For those who don’t have those on their for you page or don’t have the app downloaded at all, I’ll elaborate on their content; Sunday reset videos follow someone around for the day and highlight the things they do in their home, with their schedule, and all throughout their lives to get ready for the week ahead. Some of these focus on cleaning or restocking items that were used up throughout the week. Others involve grocery shopping. Self care and personal beautification are also common themes. The point of these clip compilations is to be both aesthetically pleasing and inspiring, and I’ve become obsessed with them.

As I was watching them this past week in the midst of my own lifestyle makeover, I thought about how it could be helpful for others to see what these resets were all about–or rather, read about them. Now each video’s content differs because of the different routines of their creators, but they all often focus on what that person deems as an important step to starting the week off right. The following are some common activities I’ve seen that I know make a difference in the start of my week.

• Laundry

As I’ve mentioned in other articles, having all of your laundry done at the beginning of the week can be a major stress-reliever. No more searching through hampers for your uniform and having to do the sniff-test to make sure it doesn’t smell like you haven’t washed it in awhile. If you have a minimalist mentality, this usually means you don’t have a ton of pieces of clothing in general, so if your three pairs of jeans are dirty, you’re out of pants for work. So making sure at least the outfits you’ll need for the next week are washed, dried, folded, and put away in the correct spot is essential.

Beyond clothes though, towels and sheets should be included in your Sunday laundry. There’s nothing better than a freshly dried, fluffy towel that you can grab off the shelf when hopping out of the shower. Plus, there’s nothing more satisfying than having all of your towels and washcloths folded and ready to go in your bathroom–or maybe that’s just me. Now, sheets and bedding are probably the most frustrating items to get done. It’s a lot of work to strip the bed, wash and dry it all, and then remake the bed whether it’s with the same sheets once they're clean or new ones you’ve kept in your linen closet. I am definitely guilty of ignoring the sheets for months, but it always feels so nice once they’re done. So I would highly suggest making it part of your weekly routine, that way you can go to bed on fresh sheets and get a good night's sleep. I suggest starting your morning with it, that way you don’t have to worry about them still being wet when you settle in for the night; when you get out of bed, take them with you.

• Dishes

Whether you cook every meal at home, just have a cup of coffee in the morning, or anything in between, having all of your dishes done provides the same stress relief as having a full wardrobe ready to go. Starting dishes mid afternoon allows for the most amount of dishes to be washed without the risk of being too tired to finish them. It’s also a great excuse for getting takeout to make life a little easier. You’re more likely to cook your meals during the week if there’s no worries about having to wash pots and pans in order to start.

• Plan Out Your Week

I’m a big proponent of calendars and lists, and Sunday naturally seems like the best day to fill these out. Make sure every meeting, appointment, and big event is marked in your planner as to not add any unwanted surprises mid-week. I like to have a monthly calendar to reference at large, a weekly breakdown, and a daily to-do list. For a more comprehensive breakdown of these lists, view this article. Even if work shifts and course exams are all that make it onto the list, that’s better than going into your week blind. An organized life is a calmer life.

This is also a great time to meal-prep. I suggest getting either a dry-erase board or a stationary pad that has each day marked out and then write down what the dinner plan is each day. This takes away the unknowns every day and makes it less likely you’ll resort to takeout when you have enough food at home. I’ll start with looking at what I have in my kitchen already and making meals around that. To the side, I’ll include a list with all the items I don’t have that are necessary for the planned meals. Then I can take that to the grocery store and have my home fully stocked for the coming week. This meal-prep sheet also helps you remember to take something out of the freezer the night before if it needs to thaw or throw ingredients in a marinade. It’s ok to plan on having a day for takeout in your week, or include a family dinner or work meeting at a restaurant. Meal prepping just helps all of us stick to our plan and stay in the budget we’ve set for the week.

• Take a Shower or Bath

As I said earlier, there’s nothing better than wrapping up in a clean towel after a shower, but in order to get that sensation, taking a shower or bath is necessary. On Sundays, I like to take the longest shower of the week, and I like to do so at night. If you prefer morning showers, that might be better saved for Monday morning.

If you do choose to take a shower, give yourself ample time and draw it out. Use a shower steamer to make it seem more like a spa– these are some of my favorites. Wash your hair, exfoliate, use conditioner, and use every product you have in your shower. After you step out, keep the relaxation going by brushing your hair, applying lotion, and putting on comfy pajamas. This will help you transition to the final part of the most effective Sunday rest.

• Unwind

However you may do this, it isn’t something that should be skipped. Turn off screens to let your brain know that you’re getting ready for bed. Picking up a book, writing in a journal, or coloring are all ways that I like to decompress before bed. Making a cup of tea or hot water and honey can help too. Making a slow transition from your busy day into a restful night's sleep is so important if you’re trying to wake up refreshed and ready to go. It’s all in your control, you just have to prioritize yourself enough to understand that the little things you do for yourself ahead of time can allow for a productive week ahead.