You know that feeling when life has just… piled on? When your child’s been sick again, the fridge is somehow empty despite multiple shops, your to-do list is buried under a pile of unfolded laundry, and your energy—let’s be honest—is somewhere between survival mode and “please don’t talk to me until I’ve had a hot tea”? That’s when I knew I needed a change—and it came in the form of a weekly reset routine without Sunday prep. It wasn’t just one bad day—it was week after week of back-to-back illness, broken sleep, missed work, and what felt like a never-ending loop of “catch-up.” I shared parts of this in my posts on dropping the ball and becoming her again, but this time, something deeper stirred.
I found myself thinking…
Writing.
Reflecting.
And that reflection? It became the wake-up call I didn’t know I needed.
The Wake-Up Call I Wasn’t Expecting
As an early childhood educator, I often talk to families about creating rhythms, calm transitions, and emotional safety for their children. But in my own home? I was spiralling. I’d lost my drive. The smallest things felt massive. I saw only what I wasn’t doing well—and none of the good. And once my toddler finally went down for sleep (after a “bedtime negotiation” that felt longer than a Netflix mini-series), I just… sat there. Numb. Tea in hand. Thinking: How did I get here again? So I did something unusual.
I took a day off work. Not to catch up on chores—but to reset my mind and my heart. To breathe, feel, and build something I now call my gentle reset plan. You don’t need to take a day off to do this, I promise. That was an emergency move. What came from that pause, though, is something that’s changed my rhythm in a way that feels doable, even during chaos. It’s what I now call my weekly reset routine without Sunday prep.
Why Sunday Prep Doesn’t Work For Me Anymore
Once upon a time (read: pre-toddler), Sundays were my power prep days.
Think:
- All bags packed and ready
- Meals planned and prepped
- Laundry folded, house reset, fridge stocked
- Calendar checked so I could walk into the week knowing what was ahead
That version of Sunday prep? It gave me control. A feeling of readiness. But now? With a toddler who doesn’t nap, overstimulation waiting for me at daycare pick-up, and the kind of exhaustion that coffee can’t cure… I just don’t have the capacity. And I don’t think we’re meant to spend our only “day off” prepping like it’s a second job. For mamas juggling unpredictability, this kind of reset needs to be flexible and forgiving—like the routines we design for children in early learning. That’s what makes daily routines that actually work for busy mamas so powerful. They’re realistic, not rigid.
So I Rewrote the Script | My Weekly Reset Without Sunday Prep
I wanted something simple. Effective. Gentle—but powerful. Something that would give me breathing room during the week, without relying on a perfect day. These are the five small shifts that helped me rebuild a weekly reset routine without Sunday prep, no pressure, no perfect planner required.
1. Let Go of the “Sunday” Pressure
Resetting doesn’t need a Sunday. It doesn’t even need a full day. I now begin my reset on Thursday, when I’m home with my toddler. If I get a window on Friday afternoon or even during a work night—I’ll use it. The reset begins when I say it does. Not when the calendar tells me. Try this: Pick one low-energy task—like wiping down the fridge shelves or deleting five emails—on a non-Sunday. Notice the shift. This is something I started doing after writing my own checklist to strengthen productivity—not because I had to tick every box, but because small, early steps reduce that feeling of pressure come Monday.
2. Start with One Clear Space
One corner. One table. One bench. That’s all I tackle at first. I light a candle (even if it’s next to a pile of Duplo), put on soft music, and clear just one space. That clarity—it trickles into my mindset. In early childhood settings, we create “defined learning spaces” to help children know what to expect. One area for building, another for calm play. This reduces overstimulation and creates emotional safety. At home, I do the same. One tidy space = one less thing for my brain to process. It’s also tied to the idea of accepting your energy. I’ve learned that on the weeks I feel low, tidying just one area is enough to move forward. Not everything needs to be reset for a reset to be real.
3. Write What’s Bugging You (Not a Full To-Do List)
This isn’t about writing everything down. It’s about identifying what’s weighing on you emotionally. What’s giving you the icky, anxious feeling in your chest? For me, it was:
- The overflowing hallway basket
- Unread soccer and swimming emails
- The guilt of feeding chicken nuggets (again)
I circled one of those and made it my anchor task for the next day. Not because it was the most urgent—but because it gave me back peace. You might also like this post on how to succeed at self-motivation, especially if you’ve felt like every task just feels too hard right now.
4. Reclaim a Ritual That Grounds You
This one surprised me. Skincare. Before dinner. Not because I had time—but because it reminded me I’m human before the post-daycare chaos kicks off. Maybe your ritual is tea after bedtime. Journaling for 3 minutes. Sitting in the sun while your toddler explores dirt. It doesn’t have to be beautiful—it just has to be yours.
Need quick ideas? Try these 5 ways to stay on track with your intention—perfect if your week tends to unravel by Tuesday (like mine sometimes does).
5. Set Up the Week with Your Current Capacity in Mind
Instead of the “ideal week” planner, I now ask: What can I realistically handle this week? Work days are for showing up at work, then co-regulating my overstimulated toddler. So I try not to overload myself with housework or expectations. I prep enough food, clean what matters, and use my Thursday reset to stock the fridge with fresh fruit and veggies—even if it’s just carrots and apples. In early learning, we adapt environments based on children’s current needs, not what’s on the program. We can do the same for ourselves. We also consider sensory needs when planning learning environments. It’s why your child might need a dim room after daycare or why music before bedtime might backfire. That awareness? Bring it into your own reset. Choose lighting, smells, and textures that you find calming. My Montessori training reminds me that independence and order are vital—but so is freedom within limits. It’s okay if you don’t reset everything. The fact that you’re resetting something means you’re honouring your limits while still moving forward.
This Week’s Reset Looked Like:
- Clearing the dining table of toys and putting out a fresh candle—new smell, new start
- Setting out two easy outfits for my toddler so mornings are smoother
- Making a simple meal plan with 3 dinners (not 7!)
- Finishing one load of laundry—folded and away
- Writing a few thoughts down while my tea was still hot
And just like that, I felt the impact of a weekly reset routine without Sunday prep—small actions, big mental shift. I didn’t overhaul my life—I just gave myself permission to do what I could, and that was enough. This rhythm is gentle, flexible, and finally feels like something I can stick with, even in the chaos.
Was it perfect? Nope.
Was it enough? Absolutely.
You Don’t Need the Full Sunday. You Just Need a Start.
If you’re deep in the mess—emotionally, physically, or both—this is your permission to pause.
You can reset today.
Right now.
In one small way.
Because you don’t need the Pinterest-perfect plan. You don’t need a full fridge and folded linen cupboard. You just need to feel like you’ve got this—even if it’s only for a moment. Sometimes we wait for the “ideal” time to reset. But if you’re anything like me, life won’t give it to you. So instead of waiting, choose a flow that supports you—not just your kids.
Let’s Reset Together
If this post made you exhale, nod along, or feel a little less alone, you’re exactly where you need to be. Drop a comment below and tell me how you’re resetting this week—or sign up for the newsletter to keep these honest chats coming straight to your inbox.
🫖 Because mama, your reset matters—and you don’t have to do it alone.
A reset doesn’t require perfection—just the courage to begin again, gently and on your own terms.
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