The Sunday Reset Routine: How to Get Ready for the Week Ahead
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Time to read 8 min
There's something about Sunday evening that can go one of two ways. Either you feel calm, organised and reasonably ready for Monday, or suddenly it's 9pm and you're wondering where the weekend went.
That's where a Sunday reset routine can help.
Despite what perfectly organised social media videos might suggest, a Sunday reset doesn't need to involve deep-cleaning your entire home, preparing seven days of meals and completing a 15-step skincare routine.
It's simply about doing a few things today that will make tomorrow – and hopefully the rest of the week – feel a little easier.
Think less "perfect productive Sunday" and more fresh sheets, washed hair, a packed bag and enough time left over to actually enjoy your evening.
Getting Back Into a Routine After Summer
September has a way of feeling like a second New Year.
The holidays are winding down, schools are going back and work diaries start filling up again. After weeks of later nights, weekends away and routines being a little more relaxed, suddenly getting out of the door on a Monday morning can feel like a military operation.
You don't need to overhaul everything at once.
A simple Sunday reset can help you find your rhythm again, whether you're getting ready for the school run, heading back into the office, returning to university or simply craving a little more structure after summer.
Start small and concentrate on the things that will genuinely make your week easier.
1. Start With a Quick Tidy – Not a Full House Clean
There's a big difference between resetting your space and spending your entire Sunday cleaning it.
Give yourself 20 or 30 minutes and concentrate on the areas you'll actually notice on Monday morning.
That might mean:
Putting away the clothes that have accumulated on the chair
Clearing your bedside table
Emptying your work or everyday bag
Changing your bedding
Putting clean towels out
Clearing the bathroom counter
Getting the washing out of the way
Set a timer if you need to. Once it's done, stop.
The aim is to make your surroundings feel calmer, not lose half your weekend to housework.
And few things make Sunday night feel quite as satisfying as getting into fresh bedding.
2. Make Sunday Your Everything Shower Night
If there's one part of a Sunday reset worth taking your time over, it's the shower.
Sunday evening is perfect for all the little jobs you might rush through during the week: washing your hair, exfoliating, shaving, doing a hair treatment or simply enjoying a longer shower without watching the clock.
It's essentially your own version of the Everything Shower.
Adding a Shower Steamer is an easy way to make the whole thing feel a little less functional. Place one near the flow of water, let the steam release the fragrance and give yourself ten minutes to properly switch off.
Our SMUG Shower Steamers were recently featured on ITV's This Morning during a feature on the viral Everything Shower trend, so if you're wondering what an Everything Shower actually involves, you can read our full guide there.
3. Give Your Hair a Little Extra Attention
If Sunday is already your hair-wash day, use the opportunity to make Monday morning easier too.
Rather than roughly rubbing wet hair with a towel, gently squeeze out excess water and use a Microfibre Hair Towel Cap while you get on with the rest of your routine.
Once your hair is dry and you're ready for bed, a Satin Sleep Turban can help reduce friction while you sleep and keep longer hair contained overnight.
It's a small bit of preparation, but waking up with hair that's easier to manage can save valuable time the next morning.
If you're trying to improve your haircare routine, we've also looked at Why You Should Stop Rubbing Your Hair Dry With a Towel and Why Does My Hair Get Greasy So Quickly?, including some of the everyday habits that might be affecting your hair without you realising.
4. Do the Jobs Monday-Morning You Will Thank You For
Now for the practical part.
Think about what normally makes your weekday mornings feel rushed and do whatever you can reasonably do in advance.
You could:
Decide what you're wearing
Pack your work, university or school bag
Find your keys
Charge your phone and headphones
Check your diary
Prep breakfast or lunch
Fill your water bottle
Check the weather
Put anything you need to remember next to the front door
None of these jobs takes particularly long. It's having to do all of them at 7.30am that causes the problem.
Five or ten minutes of preparation on Sunday evening can buy you a much calmer Monday morning.
5. Reset Your Beauty Routine
Sunday is also a good opportunity to clean the beauty products and tools that are very easy to forget about during the week.
Wash your reusable cleanse pads, clean your makeup brushes and give your makeup sponge a proper wash before leaving everything to dry.
If your sponge has been living at the bottom of your makeup bag for longer than you'd care to admit, our guide on How to Clean Your Makeup Sponge (And When to Replace It) explains exactly how to clean it properly and the signs that it's time for a new one.
You could also use this time for the bits of skincare you don't always get around to on busy mornings. Pop on a pair of Bright Eyes Revive Patches, moisturise and give yourself a few minutes where you aren't trying to multitask.
Your Sunday reset doesn't have to be entirely about getting jobs done.
6. Don't Turn Your Sunday Reset Into a Sunday Night Rush
This is the part that's easy to get wrong.
Once you start getting organised, there's always one more thing you could do.
One more cupboard to sort. One more load of washing. One more email to answer.
At some point, your reset needs to end.
Pick a time when you're officially done with getting ready for the week. Anything non-essential can wait.
The whole point is to make Monday feel less stressful, not move Monday's stress into Sunday evening.
Make a drink, put something easy on television, read, have a shower or do whatever normally helps you switch off.
7. Wind Down Properly Before Bed
After a productive Sunday, give yourself time to actually relax before going to sleep.
Dim the lights, put your phone down and try not to spend the final half-hour of your weekend scrolling through emails or thinking about your Monday to-do list.
If fragrance is part of your bedtime routine, a spritz of Lavender Pillow Mist can help create a calm, familiar atmosphere. A comfortable Sleep Mask can also help block out unwanted light once you're ready to sleep.
Your routine doesn't need to be elaborate. In fact, the easier it is, the more likely you are to repeat it.
If Sunday-night switching off is something you struggle with, our guide on How to Wind Down Properly Before Bed has more realistic ideas for creating an evening routine that doesn't simply involve being told to "scroll less".
8. Make Monday Morning Easier Before You Go to Sleep
Before getting into bed, take one final minute to look around.
Is your outfit ready? Is your bag packed? Do you know what time you need to leave?
If the answer is yes, you're done.
There's no need to plan every hour of the week ahead. You've simply removed some of the little decisions that can make Monday mornings feel unnecessarily chaotic.
And when your alarm does go off, try not to immediately launch into everything you need to achieve that week. Get up, open the curtains, drink some water and give yourself a little time to wake up properly.
If mornings are usually the hardest part of your day, read How to Start Your Day When You're Tired and Unmotivated for more simple ways to make them feel manageable.
What Should Be on a Sunday Reset Checklist?
There's no single Sunday reset routine that works for everyone, but a simple checklist might look like this:
Quick bedroom and bathroom tidy
Change bedding
Finish essential washing
Everything Shower
Wash and dry hair
Clean makeup tools
Do a little skincare
Choose Monday's outfit
Pack your bag
Check your diary
Prepare anything needed for breakfast or lunch
Charge devices
Wind down
Get to bed at a sensible time
You certainly don't need to do everything on this list every Sunday.
Pick the jobs that solve your biggest Monday-morning problems and leave the rest.
Final Thoughts
A good Sunday reset routine shouldn't feel like another list of chores you have to complete before you're allowed to relax.
It's simply a chance to make life a little easier for your future self.
Maybe that's changing the bedding and washing your hair. Maybe it's packing tomorrow's bag and getting an early night. Or perhaps all you need is an Everything Shower and half an hour without your phone.
The best routine is the one you can realistically repeat.
Do a few useful things, make a little time for yourself and then enjoy what's left of your Sunday.
Monday will arrive either way. You might as well meet it feeling ready.
FAQ
What is a Sunday reset routine?
A Sunday reset routine is a collection of simple tasks and self-care habits that help you prepare for the week ahead. It might include tidying, changing bedding, washing your hair, preparing clothes, checking your diary and making time to relax before Monday.
What should I do on a Sunday to prepare for the week?
Focus on whatever normally makes your weekday mornings stressful. Preparing your outfit, packing your bag, checking your schedule, doing essential washing and getting to bed at a reasonable time can all make Monday feel easier.
How long should a Sunday reset take?
There's no set time. Your Sunday reset could take 30 minutes or a couple of hours depending on what you want to do. It shouldn't take over your entire day – the aim is to feel more prepared, not exhausted.
What is an Everything Shower?
Yes. Sleeping with damp hair, using rough pillowcases or constantly moving your hair while you sleep can all affect how your hair looks and feels the next morning.
How do I get back into a routine after summer?
Start by reintroducing a few familiar habits rather than changing everything at once. A regular bedtime, preparing for the next morning and setting aside time on Sunday to organise the week can make the transition back into a routine feel more manageable.
Your Sunday Reset Essentials
A few feel-good favourites for washing your hair, taking care of your skin, switching off and getting ready for the week ahead.
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