Every Sunday evening, I notice the same thing. Around dinner time, my mind starts drifting toward Monday’s tasks, upcoming meetings, and everything waiting for me next week.
Some people call it the “Sunday Scaries.” Whatever the name, it’s that familiar feeling of not wanting the weekend to end.
On social media, I kept noticing women talking about their own Sunday reset routines, and eventually I became curious enough to try one myself.
From anxious Monday to taking control of Monday
The anxiety on Sunday night was actually a feeling of being out of control about the unknown week ahead. Most of the time, I find myself repeatedly thinking: Am I prepared for next week’s meeting? Are there any tasks I haven’t completed? This anxiety severely impacts my sleep quality and even weakens my work performance on Monday mornings.
On Sunday evening, I took out my notebook and spent about 10 minutes writing down the three things I most wanted to accomplish next week. To improve my overall well-being, I also decided to let go of some unnecessary burdens. For example, declining a pointless dinner party or delegating household chores to family members.
After a few weeks, I noticed I wasn’t lying awake thinking about Monday as much as before. More importantly, I also tried something new—a rose toy—for physical relaxation.
Reset culture on social media
Now open Instagram or TikTok, and under the hashtag “Sunday Reset,” you’ll find tons of creative videos. Some people show how they tidy up their messy bedroom in 30 minutes, others share their weekly healthy meal preparation process, and still others record their morning jogs or evening journals.
After watching the video, I also tidied my room, smoothing the sheets, wiping the table, and sorting various small items. Although it was a lot of tedious work, strangely enough, looking at the tidy room made me feel much more at ease.
My cooking skills are really terrible, so food preparation is not an option for me. I chose exercise instead. On Sunday evenings, I do yoga or some strength training until I’m covered in sweat, which relieves most of my anxiety.
As for my evening journal, I picked up my pen again after many years of not writing in it. I record my daily feelings and the things that happen to me.
Physical condition affects weekly efficiency
I’ve noticed that when I start Monday feeling tired, it often takes me longer to get focused. A good night’s sleep on Sunday often makes Monday feel much less chaotic.
For me, physical recovery is now a key part of my Sunday routine.
I first check my sleeping environment, such as the height of my pillow and the overall temperature of the bedroom. Now I turn on the air conditioner every night to keep the bedroom temperature around 20 degrees Celsius. I’ve found that this is the best sleeping temperature for me.
When I spend 20 minutes doing yoga on Sunday afternoons, my shoulders no longer shrug and my breathing becomes deeper when I sit in front of the computer on Monday.
One habit I didn’t expect to become part of my routine was using a rose toy before bed. Sometimes I use it simply because it helps me slow down and stop thinking about work for a while.
I’ve learned to treat this as a bedtime ritual: lighting aromatherapy candles, dimming the lights. Over time, I started seeing it as another form of self-care, similar to reading, stretching, or taking a warm bath.
Create a Small Window for Yourself
During a busy week, women’s time is often fragmented by work, family, and social activities.
Sunday evening might be one of the few moments during the week when nobody is asking anything from you.
Reading is the most common choice: pick a novel or collection of essays unrelated to work, curl up in a corner of the sofa and read for 45 minutes. For a little while, you stop thinking about emails, deadlines, and everything waiting for you on Monday.
A warm bath is another habit that helps me slow down. Add Epsom salt or essential oils (lavender for sleep, orange blossom for anxiety), keep the water temperature around 40 degrees Celsius, and soak for 20 minutes to slow your heart rate and lower cortisol.
You can also incorporate relaxing activities, such as puzzles, watercolor painting, or listening to vinyl records.
The best rose toys can be used after a bath or before bed.
Another Layer of Self-Care
For me, self-care eventually started including intimate wellness too.
In my own Sunday reset routine, I place rose toy as the last step of my personal relaxation ritual. Why? Many women report feeling more relaxed and sleeping better after moments of physical pleasure and emotional release. Giving myself something to look forward to makes me feel more positive going into the week.
One thing I do pay attention to is cleaning and storage. Use medical-grade silicone, the kind that’s easy to clean, and thoroughly clean it before and after use. How do I schedule it? I usually take a bath, change the sheets, light a sleep-inducing candle, and then spend 15 minutes doing body meditation—taking out the rose toy, without any specific goal, simply exploring my body’s immediate reactions. Afterward, I usually feel calmer and ready to sleep.
In that state, when I heard my alarm clock on Monday morning, I would just stretch and think, “Hmm, a new week has begun.”
Conclusion: Your Sunday determines your week
Spend some time on Sunday preparing for the week ahead, making Monday mornings much easier than before.
It might be simply tidying up the clutter around your bed, taking an undisturbed bath, or simply spend a little time quietly using the rose toy.
You don’t need a perfect routine. Even one or two small habits on Sunday evening can make Monday feel a little easier.
