The Sunday Reset: How I Plan My Week for Maximum Focus

Raise your hand if your Sunday night routine is just sitting on the couch, halfway through a pint of ice cream, panic-Googling “how to get my life together before Monday.”Same. Been there. More than once.

But a couple years ago, I got tired of rolling into Monday like a raccoon that barely escaped a garbage fire. So, I started what I now call my Sunday Reset. It's not a spa day. It's not some 15-step influencer routine involving eucalyptus towels and moon water. It’s just a simple, 60-minute process that helps me hit Monday with clarity, not chaos.

Today, I’m gonna walk you through it, from the hilarious failures to the life-changing wins. Because this thing actually works, even if you're a chronic overthinker, occasional procrastinator, or full-time nap enthusiast.

Clean the Battlefield

First things first: I clean my physical space. Not like, “rearrange my furniture while listening to a productivity podcast” clean. Just reset the battlefield.

I set a 15-minute timer—just 15!—and I race around my house putting things back where they belong. Laundry mountain goes to the basket. Dishes return to the kitchen. Sticky notes stuck to my fridge get a final read-through before being yeeted into the trash.

It’s not about deep cleaning. It’s about removing visual clutter so my brain can breathe.Because listen: if my space is chaos, my brain will absolutely match the vibe.

Mental Dump Truck

Next: I do what I call a brain dump. Which is a nice way of saying: I panic-write everything swirling in my head onto paper. Groceries. Deadlines. That awkward email I still haven’t replied to. The socks I need to return to Target. Everything.

No editing. No categories. Just dump.

And let me tell you, this step is wild. You start with "buy shampoo" and end up realizing you’ve emotionally suppressed a dentist appointment from last February.

Getting it all out makes room for clarity. Because as long as it’s in your head, your brain is trying to juggle it. And mine? Drops the ball... a lot.

Top 3 Priorities

Then I look at the mess I just dumped out and ask myself one powerful question:“If I only did 3 things this week, what would make me feel like I won?”

This is the magic. I don't list 37 things. I pick 3. Some weeks it’s work-related. Some weeks it's “don’t burn out and remember to eat a vegetable.”

I’ve had weeks where my 3 priorities were:

• Finish client presentation

• Meal prep at least 2 lunches

• Take my vitamins like a functioning adult

I write those three down on a sticky note and stick it to my monitor. That’s my lighthouse. Everything else is optional gravy.

Calendar Reality Check

Now for the most humbling part of the Sunday Reset: I open my calendar and face the truth.And every week, without fail, I realize—oh. I don’t actually have 40 free hours to chase 40 goals.

Between work, commutes, meetings that could’ve been emails, and pretending to be social, I have, like, 7 usable hours.

So I take my brain dump and my Big 3, and I plug things into actual time blocks.This forces me to ask: “Do I have time for this? Or am I just being optimistic and unhinged again?”

Spoiler: It’s usually the latter. But now I know before the week starts. That’s power.

The Joy Factor

This one changed the game for me. Before I finish, I schedule one thing that’s just for joy. Not productivity. Not obligation. Just something fun or fulfilling.

Sometimes it’s a solo coffee date with my journal.Sometimes it’s a night off for trash TV and knitting. Once, it was “bake cookies while pretending I’m on the Great British Bake Off.” No regrets.

Here’s the thing, if your week only consists of things you have to do, it’s not a week. It’s a prison sentence. Joy is not a reward; it’s fuel. And the Sunday Reset makes sure I don’t run out.

Now, do I do this every Sunday? No. I am not a productivity robot. I’ve skipped it, I’ve half-assed it, I’ve done it at 11PM with Cheeto dust on my fingers.

But when I do it, my week feels lighter. I’m not scrambling. I’m not overwhelmed. I’m not waking up on Monday thinking “what fresh hell awaits?” I’m walking in like I own the place.

The Sunday Reset isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being intentional.You can’t control everything that happens in your week, but you can control how you show up for it.

So this Sunday, grab a timer, grab your planner, maybe a cookie, and give it a try. Future you will thank you.