(And how you can fake being a put-together mom too)
Let me just say this loud and clear: I am naturally organized, I have a love of throwing things away and so does my husband. We don’t keep clutter and I have to say that contributes a lot to not spiraling every week by Wednesday. On the other hand, I am a mom of four, chaos is my brand and messes are everywhere and inevitable, so this lightly caffeinated ritual I call the Sunday Reset is my secret weapon.
It’s not about perfection or aesthetics (unfortunately it can’t always be). It’s about sanity. It’s my way of clearing the clutter (mental and physical), getting ahead of the mess, and giving Future Me a fighting chance. My Sunday reset doesn’t always go perfectly. Sometimes I forget, sometimes it’s half-hearted, and sometimes we’re not even home! But every single time I do it, I feel more grounded and more present.
Give it a try! Your Monday self will want to hug you or at least high-five you over the lukewarm coffee.
1. Brain Dump
Before I touch a single cup or pick up one sock, I dump everything out of my brain and onto paper. Appointments, birthday parties, meetings and small work tasks, school spirit days, that Amazon return I keep forgetting… it all goes in one big, messy list. I even write down routine things like “pay mortgage” because otherwise? Not happening. This helps me stop feeling like I’m forgetting something (because I am always forgetting something).You can sort it all later. The goal today is to get it out of your head. Feel lighter already!
2. Digital Cleanout
3. Plan the Week (Including meals)
4. Tidy Up the House (Just Enough to Breathe)
This isn’t a deep clean. This is a “throw things in baskets and light a candle” type of tidy. Make sure the kitchen counters are clear, the entryway isn’t a disaster, and the living room isn’t giving “post-tornado.” Shipping boxes get broken down and put in the recycle bin and bathrooms get fresh towels. It’s amazing how much calmer I feel just having the main areas semi-presentable.
5. Restock & Refill (Snacks, Soap, Sanity)
