The Sunday Reset: A Simple Weekly Ritual to Keep Clutter in Check

Let’s be real—clutter doesn’t happen all at once. It sneaks in, little by little. A couple of dishes in the sink. A pile of mail you swear you’ll go through later. A chair that mysteriously transforms into a clothing rack. Suddenly, the house feels chaotic, and you have no idea how it happened.

This is why the Sunday Reset is a game-changer. It’s not about deep cleaning or spending hours organizing. It’s a short, intentional routine that resets your home for the week ahead—so you don’t wake up Monday morning wondering if your living room was hit by a small tornado.

I’ve noticed that when I don’t do some version of a Sunday Reset, my week feels a little off. By Wednesday, I’m scrambling to find clean socks, and by Friday, my space is in full-blown survival mode. But when I take even 30 minutes to reset my space? Everything flows more smoothly.

The Mindset Shift: It's Not About Perfection

A Sunday Reset isn’t a rigid, all-or-nothing event. It’s more of a flexible system—something you can scale up or down depending on how much time (or energy) you have.

Some weeks, you might do the full reset: laundry, meal prep, a quick declutter, and a clean sweep of the house. Other times, it might just be tidying up the kitchen and resetting the main living area. Both count. Both make a difference.

Here’s what the Sunday Reset is not:

A marathon cleaning session that eats up your entire weekend.
A perfectionist’s checklist where every sock must be folded just so.
A rigid, guilt-inducing obligation that makes you dread Sundays.

Instead, it’s a reset button—a way to clear the slate so you start the week feeling refreshed instead of overwhelmed.

The Core Elements of a Sunday Reset

If the idea of a weekly reset sounds overwhelming, don’t worry—I’ve broken it down into simple, manageable parts.

Tidy Up High-Impact Areas

Not every room needs attention. Focus on the spaces you use daily—like the kitchen, bathroom, and living area. These are the spots that can either set the tone for a calm week or make you feel like you’re drowning in clutter.

Try this:

Clear surfaces first—kitchen counters, coffee table, nightstands.
Do a “five-minute room reset”—set a timer and tidy as much as possible in that time.
Put stray items back in their home—this prevents clutter from snowballing.

Handle the “Clutter Magnet” Zones

Every home has them—those spots where random things pile up, seemingly overnight. Maybe it’s the entryway table, a chair in the bedroom, or that one corner of the counter where mail and mystery objects collect.

Addressing these areas once a week keeps them from getting out of control. A quick reset now saves you from spending hours sorting through a mountain of stuff later.

Refresh the Bedroom for a Good Start to the Week

I’ve found that when my bedroom is in chaos, my sleep (and overall mood) suffers. The simple act of making the bed, clearing off nightstands, and tossing laundry in the hamper makes the whole space feel more restful.

Simple bedroom reset ideas:

Make the bed—takes two minutes, instantly makes the room feel put together.
Put away clean clothes instead of leaving them in the “clothes purgatory” chair.
Declutter nightstands—because who really needs five empty water glasses there?

Reset the Kitchen for a Smooth Week Ahead

Nothing feels better than waking up to a clean kitchen on Monday morning. Nothing feels worse than waking up to a sink full of dishes and an overflowing trash can.

A quick Sunday kitchen reset can make weekday mornings so much easier:

Unload/load the dishwasher—no dishes left behind.
Wipe down counters and stovetop—a little effort now prevents stuck-on messes later.
Take out the trash—it’s a small task that makes a huge difference in how the kitchen feels.

Tackle Laundry—The Minimal Effort Version

Laundry is one of those things that can spiral out of control fast. One minute, you’re on top of it. The next, you’re pulling questionable outfits together because nothing is clean.

I used to think laundry had to be an all-day event, but I’ve realized that a “just enough” approach works just fine. Doing one or two loads on Sunday (or even just folding what’s already clean) prevents it from becoming an overwhelming task.

Small laundry hacks that help:

Do a “last load” on Sunday evening so you start the week fresh.
Keep a laundry basket near high-traffic areas so clothes don’t pile up randomly.
If folding laundry feels like a chore, do it while watching a show or listening to a podcast.

Prepare for Monday (Without Overcomplicating It)

Monday mornings can be rough, but a little prep the night before makes them so much easier.

Quick resets that set the tone for a smoother Monday:

Lay out an outfit (or at least decide what you’ll wear).
Pack your bag/work essentials.
Do a quick mental rundown of the week ahead.

None of this has to take more than 10-15 minutes, but it helps so much in avoiding the Monday morning scramble.

Declutter as You Go—No Deep Cleaning Required

One of the biggest mistakes I used to make was thinking I had to dedicate an entire day to decluttering. Spoiler: I never had an entire day to spare, so it just didn’t happen. But when I started decluttering as I went—tossing junk mail while sorting the mail, putting away random items while moving through the house—it became effortless.

Easy decluttering habits to weave into your Sunday Reset:

One-minute rule: If it takes less than a minute to put something away, do it now.
The “use it or lose it” check: If you keep moving the same item around but never use it, maybe it’s time to let it go.
Quick bin method: Grab a basket, do a five-minute sweep, and collect anything that’s out of place. Redistribute items where they belong or decide if they’re worth keeping.

I’ve noticed that small, frequent decluttering moments are far more effective than waiting for that mythical “perfect time” to do a deep clean. It’s like brushing your teeth—doing it consistently means you don’t need major intervention later.

Check the Calendar—Avoid the Midweek “Oh No” Moments

Ever had that sinking feeling when you suddenly remember an appointment five minutes before you’re supposed to be there? Or realized, too late, that you were supposed to pick up a birthday gift for a party happening… tomorrow?

A quick glance at your upcoming week can prevent these “how did I forget this?” moments.

Try this:

Scan your schedule for the week—work meetings, appointments, events.
Check for errands or prep tasks—like grocery shopping for a dinner you’re hosting or grabbing supplies for a school project.
Set reminders for anything that requires action—because relying on memory alone is a gamble.

This takes maybe five minutes but saves so much last-minute stress.

Digital Reset—Clear the Clutter You Can’t See

Clutter isn’t just physical—it’s digital too. And somehow, a cluttered phone or inbox can feel just as overwhelming as a messy kitchen counter.

If you have an extra 10-15 minutes, a mini digital reset can make your devices feel a little less chaotic:

Clear out your email inbox—delete junk, unsubscribe from newsletters you never read.
Organize your phone’s home screen—move frequently used apps to the front, delete the ones you never open.
Empty the downloads folder—because let’s be honest, it’s full of random PDFs and screenshots you don’t need.

I’ve found that a little digital decluttering on Sundays makes my devices feel lighter—like I’m starting the week with a clean slate, not a backlog of ignored notifications.

A Quick Self-Care Reset (Because You’re Part of This Too)

A Sunday Reset isn’t just about tidying your home—it’s also about resetting you. After all, what’s the point of having an organized space if you’re running on empty?

Here are a few simple ways to reset yourself before the week begins:

Hydrate: Drink a big glass of water. Simple, but effective.
Move a little: Stretch, take a short walk, or do something to shake off that sluggish Sunday feeling.
Set a small intention for the week: Nothing major—just one thing you want to focus on, like “drink more water” or “take five-minute breaks between tasks.”

I used to think “self-care” had to be elaborate—like a spa day or a fancy routine. But honestly, just sitting down for five minutes without a to-do list in my head feels like the best reset of all.

Give Yourself Permission to Be “Done”

There will always be more you could do. More cleaning. More organizing. More little things you could tweak. But at some point, you have to decide that enough is enough.

A Sunday Reset isn’t about perfection—it’s about setting yourself up for a smoother, less stressful week. And that’s going to look different every time. Some weeks, you’ll have the energy to do everything on this list. Other times, just making the bed and washing a few dishes is the best you can do. Both are valid.

I’ve learned that the real secret to an effective reset isn’t doing everything—it’s doing something and then letting yourself be done.

And honestly? That’s what makes the biggest difference.

Ready to Make Decluttering Even Easier?

A Sunday Reset is just the beginning. When your home feels lighter, everything feels easier—less stress, fewer distractions, and more space for what actually matters. If you’re ready to take decluttering beyond a weekly reset, start small. Pick one area that bugs you the most, tackle it in 15-minute chunks, and let go of the guilt around “someday” items. Decluttering isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. Want more tips to make your home work for you (without the all-or-nothing overwhelm)? Stick around—I’ve got plenty of realistic, judgment-free advice to help you along the way.