Happy Wednesday! It’s time for this month’s LET’S LOOK!
If you don’t know what this is, once a month, Erika and I do a little link up where we “look” at different aspects of our lives (and then if you blog, you share and link up too!). We have been doing this little linky party for years now, and it’s always one of my favorite posts each month because most of the topics are YOUR suggestions!
Just as a reminder, here’s what we’ve “looked at”so far this year…
In January, we looked at LOW LEVEL GOALS FOR 2025.
In February, we looked at HOW WE WORK ON OUR MARRIAGE.
This month, Erika and I are sharing a look at HOW WE RESET FOR THE WEEK ON SUNDAYS!
I really, really like this topic 🙂 .
You know I love any sort of routine, so as you might imagine, I love my Sunday routine A LOT!
Here’s what I do on Sundays to “reset” for the following work/school week, but of course, I hope you share your ideas in the comment section too!
Here we go, HOW I RESET ON SUNDAYS…
#1: PICK ANOTHER DAY IF SUNDAY ISN’T YOUR DAY
There were YEARS when my kids had sports on Sundays. At this phase in our life, other than a random rowing regatta or two, we do not have sports on Sundays any longer which makes it so much easier for me to prep on Sundays for the week. During those years of baseball and volleyball on Sundays, I would prep my week on Fridays so that I didn’t have to think about it over the weekend. I say all of this to say, if you’re doing sports on Sunday, my tip is to pick another day to “get ready for your week”. Is it the same? No. Is it better than scrambling at 11:00 PM after spending 12 hours at the ballpark? YES.
#2: START EARLY
I personally like to start my Sunday morning getting ready for the week instead of ending it that way. I know everyone is different, but I like to have as much of the emails/lists/meal planning/etc done with at the beginning of the day, so that I don’t have it hanging over my head all day. This pic is me from the gym on a Sunday. I like to get up, do my quiet time, get all of these details together, workout and head to church. After church, I have most of the work done and can then enjoy my Sunday afternoon.
#3: LOOK OVER YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK
I don’t just look at Monday, I look at the entire week. I feel like some weeks are “easy” and some weeks are “hard” and my Sunday prepping is different depending on which it is. If I only prep for Monday, I might miss that Tuesday and Wednesday are super full. I no longer use an actual planner, but I will open up our Cozi app and look at the entire week PLUS my Cozi membership emails me the entire week on Sunday mornings, so I go over that and get a good game plan.
#4: GET YOUR “DRIVERS” LINED UP
We have six people and three drivers in our house which means, I have to get everyone organized on who is driving whom/what carpools we’re participating in this week/do I need to find a ride for anyone/etc. Before I can make my plans for the week, I need to make sure everyone has transportation everywhere. Thankfully, we’ve always been able to carpool with friends which has helped tremendously! I can make “all the plans” for “all the things” but if there is no ride, it doesn’t matter.
#5: MEAL PLAN
Yeah baby, you know I love a meal plan! You can read my 13 KEYS TO MEAL PLANNING for more info, but some nights, I need dinner in the slow cooker if we have a lot going on and/or are eating in shifts. Other nights, I might want to have us grill out if the weather is going to be nice. I learned a long, long, long time ago that the easiest way to make sure you have dinner on the table every night is to make sure you have a meal plan. After I meal plan, I…
#6: ORDER MY GROCERIES
Order my staple groceries with my Walmart+ app. I mean, I LOVE THIS APP SO MUCH. I promise you, I use it at least 4 times a week. It is a busy lady’s best friend. You can read all about why I love it ON THIS POST. On Sundays, I always order my staple groceries before church and have them delivered that afternoon. Best part about a Sunday afternoon delivery? There are five other Shulls at home to help me carry them inside and put them away 🙂 . Andrew and I will hit our local grocery store and Trader Joe’s for fresh ingredients during the week, but allllllllll of those pantry items that we need every week are always delivered.
#7: GET ALL OF THE LAUNDRY PUT AWAY
We have a rule in our house that on Sunday nights, all of the laundry is put away so that we start the week off on the right foot. Some weeks, we’re all on our A-game and this is easy, other weeks, we’re all hustling around doing a bunch of laundry. We do laundry in this house EVERY.SINGLE.DAY, but I have four kids who don’t always put their laundry away just because they/we do it. On Sunday nights though, we want it all sorted and put away.
#8: BACKPACKS AND LUNCHES READY TO GO
We make sure all of the homework is finished, laptops are charging, lunches are in the fridge, athletic clothes are washed and put in bags…we get all of our “school” ducks in a row on Sunday evenings (typically while I’m making dinner). There is nothing worse than a chaotic Monday!
#9: I CHECK THE WEATHER
I always like to look ahead at the weather for the week. Does it look like some practices might be cancelled due to rain? Will we be able to walk to school? Do I need to insist on coats or is it shorts weather. I check on Sundays.
And finally…
#10: MAKE A SUNDAY SUPPER
About two years ago, we decided to make CHEESY RANCH TACOS every Sunday night for dinner. Every single Sunday night, this is what we have. Why? It’s easy (I don’t want complicated on a Sunday night!), it’s fast (even if we have a busy Sunday, I can whip it up quickly), everyone loves them (it’s a family fave!), and I don’t have to think about it. I have to think about allllllll the things as a part of my Sunday routine to reset for the upcoming week, the last thing I want to think about is what’s for dinner.
And that’s my Sunday routine for resetting for the upcoming week 🙂 .
Okay, next time on Let’s Look, we are going to look at…
…HOW WE MAINTAIN FRIENDSHIPS!
That’s it for today! I cannot wait to read your comments about how YOU reset for the new week!
If you linked up today with us, please make sure you add your link below.
Have the best Wednesday, friends! xx
Elspeth Mizner says
I love having a set Sunday supper! So smart!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Diane Moore says
I love the idea of the same meal each Sunday evening! To have one meal a week that you don’t have to think about would be so nice. I am older than you – I keep our youngest grandchildren two days a week and those are always leftover nights, so I do make sure to plan and cook extra the days ahead, but I never thought about one night being the same each week 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Dana P says
This topic made me smile! While I’m nowhere near as organized as you, I do love a good Sunday reset. I typically will do a deep cleansing hair shampoo Saturday night and any type of teeth whitening, dermaplaning, etc. Then on Sunday after lunch I try to make sure the house is reset for the week and write things out on my planner (from my phone calendar) to make sure I’m tracking with the coming week. I recently moved my physical planner to my bathroom counter where I see it every day and I love that! I go in and out with using it, but when I do consistently, I always love to be able to look back on it and the physical act of handwriting is cathartic for me. On a slower Sunday, I also love to turn on a movie and catch up on ironing my shirts. That’s the gift that keeps on giving-being able to grab a shirt that is ready to go is so helpful!
Mandy Stephenson says
I love to put a large meal in the slow-cooker Sunday morning, forget it all day, have supper prepared when it’s done and then we typically have leftovers of that on Monday night. Definite bonus if it is a manic Monday at work!
Heather says
I love this! I’m going to try this as Mondays can be crazy at times. Thanks for the idea.
Laci says
I wish I were more organized in meal planning! I struggle because I do not enjoy cooking!
MelanieL says
Yes! My kids are in college but living at home 🙂 I walk and workout, make sure my laundry is done and put away, “reset” the house, boil AND peel a big batch of eggs, prepare two meat proteins (usually 2-3 lbs seasoned ground beef and 4 lbs slow cooker shredded chicken (we all eat this for lunch on top of salads, rice or sweet potato and use in a couple meals later in the week). I also make a Sunday supper that we’ll eat that night, I really love this during soup season, I call it soup Sunday!
Mix and Match Mama says
I love this!! What a solid Sunday routine you have created!
KK says
Sunday reset is SO smart! Our 4 kids are in their 20’s/30’s now but they still talk about “family meetings” on Sundays which we mostly discussed how everyone was getting to the places they needed to be through the week! I loved having everyone on the same page. Great way to start the week!
Beth Valenta says
Oh how I love a Sunday planning time. I have my coffee and walk and then plan. I always try a new recipe on Mondays when daughter comes for dinner so I PInterest. I plan out the week on a white board on the fridge. I always grab easy items from Trader Joes for quick dinners as well. (I would love a post about favorite Trader Joes meals)
Jen says
As a working outside the home parent, I have to have a Sunday reset, even on busy weekend. #1 rule is there has to be food for the week retrieved by Sunday (wether it be ordered groceries or by any other means lol). We also do our laundry escapade on most Sundays. I filter through all the clothes and move them to washer then to dryer and to bed and my husband will marathon fold Sunday evening/night. Meal plans, clean clothes, lunches made, backpacks ready. It’s a must and keeps us running smooth. I’ll also food prep some things and do a bigger meal Sunday if we are home since busy weeknight practices.
Mix and Match Mama says
I love this, Jen!!
Paula Hobbs says
I love all of these ideas so much! It makes my Type A mama heart so happy!! 🙂 Happy Hump Day, everyone!
Alyssa Norman says
We have Sunday dinner every Sunday afternoon/ evening with my in laws and it’s a tradition our family has come to love. We go to church in the morning, and then in the time between church and Sunday dinner ( usually while my littlest ones nap) I do a quick house clean/ laundry put away etc, so we can go to Sunday dinner and just relax together as a family! We also do baths/ most of our bedtime routine at “Grams and Gramps” house which is extra fun for the kids and then makes actual bedtime Sunday night a BREEZE. I’m SUCH a routine person and having a set routine on Sunday always helps us start off on the right foot and it’s honestly my very favorite day of the week! ❤️
Love your tip on meal prep- I may do that too especially as sports start up again I spring! I do all my meal plans and grocery ordering on Thursdays so we’re set for the weekend, but I could get better about actual meal prep to start the week!
Mix and Match Mama says
I love your Sunday routine too!!
Katie Compton says
I do a lot of the same things and switch off between Saturdays and Sundays depending on our weekend plans. Sometimes even Friday night! I also always check the weather to help with meal planning… are we grilling, do we need something cozy? I have to have my meals planned and groceries ordered before I start my week. I loathe having to go to the grocery store after a full day of teaching, ha!
Sarah Conner says
I love the “set” Sunday supper! Before kids, because we usually did a bigger lunch after church, we would always do cereal on Sunday nights and watch “beachfront bargain hunt” haha! May have to reinstate that with our boys now! 😉
Mix and Match Mama says
Awwwww! That is a very SWEET memory!
kristen says
LOVE the standard Sunday dinner! Definitely implementing that!
Alexis says
Oh girl. This makes my type A heart happy because I love me a routine and reset day over here! After church gets out around noon, I drive straight to the car wash and go through the wash and then vacuum and clean my car (I have to have a clean car!). From there I go to Trader Joe’s to get my groceries for the week and then swing by target drive up to get my order I placed earlier that morning. I make sure to get gas before heading home too bc nothing better than entering the week with a full tank! When I get home, I meal prep breakfast and dinner for the week and portion it all out into containers for each night (it’s just me at home so it’s easy to do this!), dust and vacuum my apartment, clean my kitchen and bathroom, do all laundry and make sure it’s put away, and double check my calendar to ensure all is planned out for the week workout and social life wise. 😂
I feel so much better mentally when I go into the week like this! Keeps me sane and not frazzled and does my heart good to have a reset day! I feel like you’d get me on this!
Mix and Match Mama says
This routine MAKES ME SO HAPPY! I love that you clean out your car on Sundays. I should incorporate that into one of my days too.
Robin says
I look forward to trying the cheesy taco recipe. I have also liked tacos, unfortunately there is something in taco seasoning that doesn’t agree with my stomach. Your recipe means I can avoid the tummy ache after dinner! My only regret is that I recently read that my favorite taco shells (La Taquita) are ceasing production.