By: Rachael Doyle
After a fun and eventful weekend, you may find yourself waking up on Sunday morning feeling terrible- not to mention the hit of overwhelming anxiety that comes when anticipating the upcoming week. Trust me, for me this is a weekly occurrence. You probably wake up and sit in your bed weighing your options…
On one hand you could stay in bed all day watching TV and eating snacks with a bottle of Advil by your side, trying your best to ignore the Sunday Scaries creeping up on you all day. In theory, this is not a terrible idea.
On the other hand, you could suck it up and head to the library (or whatever study location works for you) and stressfully grind out all of the assignments you avoided all weekend that are now all suddenly due at 11:59. This is also, in theory, not a terrible idea (but it’s just not ideal).
In reality, the perfect Sunday routine combines both rest and relaxation with productivity. You need to acknowledge the recovery that your mind and body need from a long week completed, while also preparing yourself for the week ahead. This is usually where the problem arises. How do you balance taking care of yourself while getting what you need to do… done? Where do you even start?
To be transparent, there is no perfect answer. However, I’ve given a little insight into my Sunday reset routine to show you what works best for me. I hope to give you a little inspiration on ways you can try to improve your wellbeing before your week begins, when you may need it the most.
Take Care of Yourself
After waking up and scrolling on TikTok for 20 minutes, I usually (eventually) get up and kick off my Sunday reset by taking care of myself. I’ll hop in the shower, do my morning skincare routine, and put on a nice comfy outfit. Taking the time to care for myself just helps me refresh my mind and body and set me up for a hopeful productive day!
Reset Your Room
Once I’m ready, the first thing I do is clean my room. The saying that a cluttered space leads to a cluttered mind is so accurate, and often I find myself feeling so much more overwhelmed with work when I’m surrounded by laundry and loose papers. Even small tasks like rearranging my desk and wiping countertops makes such a huge difference, especially since the dorm rooms are so small. Once my room is clean and organized, I feel so much better and ready to tackle the rest of my day.
Run Those Errands!
Not only is Sunday usually the busiest day for homework and assignments, but it is also when most people are due to go grocery shopping and complete those other small necessary tasks that come to mind. Personally, I love running errands, so once my room is clean, I will sit down at my (now freshly cleaned) desk and make a list of everything that I know I’ll need for the upcoming week. Whether it’s groceries, household items, or even just little things I’ve been wanting. It all gets written down. Then, I am off to Target! Going on a Target run is honestly the highlight of any day, and I genuinely look forward to this end of the weekend/beginning of the week trip! Finding joy in little things like a Target run makes Sunday reset that much more enjoyable. Not only is it fun to browse around, but it is such a productive part of my week. I also always make sure to stop at Starbucks on my way out for the perfect Sunday reset coffee!
Start the Grind
Once my errands are done and I’m back on campus it’s usually the early afternoon and the perfect time to start my work! I’ll almost always head to Isenberg and start the grind. Isenberg is especially nice to work from on Sundays, as it’s nice and quiet with light shining down from the panels in the Hub creating the perfect ambiance. I'll pull out my planner and write out my weekly schedule, noting any assignments I need to work on for that week. Using a planner is especially helpful to see everything I have coming up but also helps me prioritize and plan the week ahead. Then, I’ll get started!
Make sure to fill your Sunday reset routine with activities that allow you to set your mind and body up for success. Maybe for you that could be going for a walk, getting in a nice workout, or making sure you have time to read. Whatever sets you up for success- do it! As someone who used to really struggle with procrastination, using a Sunday reset routine before starting my work has been such a huge help in clearing my mind and putting me in a productive headspace to get work done. It helps me compartmentalize the seemingly endless list of things I need to get done. It puts me at ease to know I am heading into a new week with my best foot forward!