Now that I’m an empty nester, my Sunday reset is so different than it used to be. Gone are the “Sunday Scaries” of trying to ensure that kids’ homework and projects are done. (I can’t begin to express how much I don’t miss school projects!) I’m not scrambling to make sure school and sports uniforms are clean. I’m not nagging anyone to finish studying. I’m not racing to a soccer game or a tennis match or a service project or a team dinner . . .
Here’s the thing: we parented HARD. I was the girl scout leader and the room mom. Gareth was the soccer coach and did all the camping trips and soap box derbies. We did ALL THE THINGS! And we absolutely loved them! It was awesome, and we don’t regret any of it for a second. But dang, we were tired! My Sundays have gone from being really super busy to just . . . calm. So to those of you who are still in the thick of it with kids at home . . . first of all soak it up . . . and then, take solice . . . you will eventually reclaim your Sundays.
When I was working in the hospital, depending on my schedule, my “Sunday” may have fallen on a Tuesday. I was busy. I was tired. I probably spent too much time in “survival mode”. If I had clean scrubs and meals planned and prepped for the week, I considered it a HUGE win!
Now that I’m working from home, I’ve hit the sweet spot with my Sunday Reset. It’s no longer a big scramble to be ready for the week ahead. It’s more of an intentional routine to set myself up for the best possible week.
My perfect Sunday consists of a little “Me” time, a little “We” time, and some Nutrition Prep.
Sunday “Me” Time
Yoga
I love a good morning yoga session. Doing yoga first thing in the morning works out all the kinks and creaks in my body and gets all my joints feeling loosey-goosey. Most importantly, it helps me feel grounded and focused to take on the day. On most days, I keep them pretty brief, only about 20 minutes. But on a Sunday morning, I love to make the time to do a longer class, 45 minutes to an hour.
Planning Time
After yoga, you can find me getting cozy on the couch with my coffee, a notepad, my journal, and my laptop. I get absurdly excited about my planning time.
- I usually start with work stuff – taking a quick look at my week, month, and quarter. I like to jot down ideas and just get the lay of the land.
- Next I plan my personal stuff. I make sure I’m up to speed on upcoming appointments and commitments. Then, I like to take a few minutes to read about happenings in our community. Anything from a local class or lecture to meet-ups for skiing or hiking. We live in an area with few year-round residents, and it can be hard to meet people. This has been a great way to feel more connected.
- Finally . . . my favorite part . . . I gather ideas for planning big trips, day trips, outings, and little adventures. I love to have fun things on the calendar! Taking a few minutes to learn about a new destination, a cool hotel, a new place to hike, or a new restaurant is really entertaining for me.
Sunday “We” Time
Weekly Marriage Meeting
After we’re each finished with our own version of morning “me” time, Gareth and I like to take a few minutes for a Marriage Meeting. We use this time to sync up our calendars, talk about our week ahead, and make sure we’re on the same page. We discuss ideas for date nights, adventures, and even shows we want to watch together. Sometimes, we get pretty structured with this meeting time and talk about specific goals and areas where we need each other’s support. It’s become an important part of our routine, and helps us set the tone for our week.
Some Sort of Outdoor Adventure Together
We moved to the mountains to lean into the outdoor lifestyle we both love. Using our time together on Sundays to get outside and have a little adventure is super important to us. In the winter, we’ll take a little snowy woods walk or get out on snowshoes or cross-country skis. In the summer we’ll take a long bike ride and stop for breakfast, kayak on the lake with a picnic, or take a long hike.
Bottom line: Having a little adventure together is a priority. We’re typically home by early afternoon. Gareth may go to his man cave and watch golf (snore), and I like to turn on a fun movie and play in the kitchen!
Nutrition Prep
First, I make sure my Supplements are prepped. I have two little pill sorters that allow me to have 2 weeks’ worth of supplements ready to go. Huge time saver!
Next, I prep my Smoothie Packs. I cram a lot of goodness into my smoothies, and taking a few minutes to prepare two weeks’ worth of packets is another key time-saver. I combine all of my powders and seeds for a single smoothie into little baggies (which I use over and over again). Not only does this make my weekday morning smoothie prep much more effecient, it also makes me more likely to make a smoothie if everything is ready to go.
I make a big batch of sweet high protein breakfast treats. Somedays I want sweet, others I want savory, and most days I want a combo of both. So having a big batch in the freezer, ready to heat and serve, makes a healthy breakfast of whatever I’m craving super doable.
Here are some favorites:
I also make a big batch of savory breakfast treats to pop in the freezer.
The last, but probably most important 😉, things that I make are some Healthy Snacks! I can’t stress how important this is for me. If I get hungry in the afternoon, having a delicious nutrient-dense snack on hand makes all the difference. These fill me up with good protein and keep my blood sugar stable. They are the secret to preventing mindless snacking, and keeping my day on track.
- Ambitious Kitchen’s No-Bake Peanut Butter Protein Bars
- Minimalist Baker’s Gluten-Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Elevated Nesting’s Dark Chocolate Black Bean & Avocado Brownies
- Elevated Nesting’s Gut-Healthy, High-Protein Cookie Dough
- Elevated Nesting’s Roasted Carrot, Red Pepper, and Garlic Hummus
If you Fail to Plan,
Credit probably goes to someone else,
You Plan to Fail
but I always hear this from Gareth
Thank you for joining me for my Sunday Reset! Now for the fun part . . . let me know how you Reset to set yourself up for a great week! I can’t wait to hear everyone’s tricks!
I’ll see you back here tomorrow, Friends!
I’m so Excited to be Linking Up with:
Thank you, Steph! I appreciate that so much! Have a wonderful week!