How to Start the Week Strong with Sunday Night Routines
The transition from a relaxing weekend to a busy week can be stressful. Labeled “Sunday scaries,” many families experience a sense of dread on Sunday evening. There are ways that organization can help! You can start the week off strong with a positive Sunday evening routine.
Begin with a Sunday start to the week mindset
As much as Sunday evening is the end of the weekend, it is also a fresh start to the week. Note your perspective that your week starts here rather than Monday morning. Embracing routines that reinforce this mindset helps you prepare for your week. A Sunday evening family dinner or family meeting set the stage for this transition as you meet together as a family and talk about the week ahead.
Create a Sunday evening routine
A Sunday evening routine helps you focus and prepare for the week ahead. Start in the late afternoon with your routine. Plan ahead for an early bedtime and prepare ahead of time for this for you and your family. Prepare your materials for work or school and prepare lunch for the next day. Review your calendar for Monday. Wind down by reading or journaling. Your Sunday night routine includes calming self-care. That self-care carries over to emotional regulation.
Host a Sunday night reset
Throughout the week and over the weekend, life is busy and stuff gets disorganized. Wrangle it all back to where it goes with a Sunday night reset. That is when you pick up, put away, and place everything back. The Sunday night reset helps you start the week freshly organized.
Plan self-care for the week ahead
Planning self-care for the week ahead makes your week easier. Of course, there will be much to do, however knowing when you will be going to an exercise class, taking a walk, or doing yoga or pilates, help you balance the stress of the week with relaxation. Look ahead to your schedule for the week and write in your self-care.
Write stuff down on a master list
Take a few minutes to capture all the thoughts, actions, projects, and any other tasks on a list. Clearing your head will lessen anxiety. Use this list during your weekly planning time and time block your tasks. Weekly planning time gives you a specific time to get organized, prioritize, and manage all your projects well.
Say no to distractions on Sunday evening
It is tempting to numb on Sunday evening with a late night of streaming services or looking at social media. Know the value of making a plan and sticking to that. Your work-life integration will be what benefits you most.
End your weekend with calm and start the week strong with a Sunday night routine.
This is such a vital perspective you offer. Making time on Sunday (end of the week) to reset and prep for the coming week is essential, and you suggested many ways. I love to get things back to square one and know I’m “ready” for what the week will bring. That includes putting things in their homes, reviewing my schedule, clearing my desk, and securing anything I might need for the week. That way, I can enjoy the rest of the weekend and feel relaxed and ready for Monday.
I love your suggestion of beginning with the end in mind. I like to take a “Sabbath rest” on weekends. I have realized that this works best for me when I take it from sundown on Saturday to sundown on Sunday (roughly).
I used to try and just take Sundays off, but come Sunday evening, i was always starting to think about the week ahead. With this approach, I don’t try to pretend I’m not feeling the need to do a big of planning and get things in order.
That’s a great plan! That way you have your rest and your planning too!