The busy mum’s guide to a weekly reset
If you find yourself waking up on a Monday morning feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and worried that you’re going to forget something important, then a weekly reset will help you start the week on a more positive note.
Think of a weekly reset as a fresh start every week, where you leave the chaos of the previous week behind, and instead feel organised to tackle the week ahead.
In this article we’ll cover what a weekly reset routine is, the benefits, reset timings, activities you can add to your family’s reset routine, and some tips on how to stick to it.
If you’re ready to get started, here’s everything you need to know.
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What is a weekly reset?
A weekly reset is a set of tasks that you follow to help you get organised for the week ahead.
The number of tasks in your family’s weekly reset will be determined by your family’s needs, and the amount of time you have.
You might have a lot of tasks in your reset routine, or you may have only a few, whatever the amount, the aim of a reset routine is to reset your home and mind, and make you feel less stressed and overwhelmed about the week ahead.
It’s also worthwhile to note that there will be weeks where you won’t be able to do all the tasks in your routine, or you may not be able to do your routine at all, and that’s totally fine.
What are the benefits?
Here are a few benefits of having a reset routine:
- Reduces stress
- Allows you to focus on what’s important
- Builds consistency, as everyone knows what to expect
- Reduces decision fatigue
- Helps you become more organised and productive
- Makes your week run more smoothly
When should you do a reset?
The best time to do a reset is on the weekend, as a weekend reset enables you wake up on a Monday morning ready to tackle the week ahead.
However, a weekend reset isn’t always possible, so choose a time to do your reset that works for you.
This could mean doing your reset when your kids are at school, or when they’re in bed. You may even decide to split your reset routine over a couple of days.
The most important thing when it comes to resetting your week is to be consistent. Block out the same time every week to do your reset – treat it like an appointment you can’t cancel.
Tasks to include in a reset
Here are some tasks you can add to your reset, choose those that allow you to start the week organised, clear headed, and productive.
A brain dump
A brain dump is where you write down everything that’s in your brain, which is one of the best ways to clear your mind of clutter, and help you determine what to prioritise.
You can do a brain dump by getting a sheet of paper, or a brain dump notepad, and writing down everything that’s on your mind, from tasks you need to do, appointments to schedule, chores, everything!
Once you’ve listed everything down, prioritise what to tackle for the following week, and schedule it into your planner.
Here’s an article on how to do a brain dump, that also details how to prioritise tasks.
Plan your week
Planning your week is one of my favourite reset tasks, it makes me feel confident that I’ve started the week with an understanding of what needs to happen.
Planning your week means taking time to plan out what your following week looks like, which you can do on a weekly planner notepad, or in a planner notebook.
When planning your week, write down any meetings, appointments, school events, extra-curricular activities, or anything date and time specific that’s happening the following week.
Once done, add any priority brain dump items to your week, then if there’s time left over on any days, add anything else you want to get done.
If you have family members that need to be aware of any scheduled items, keep them in a location where they can see them, or on a shared Google Calendar.
Home reset
Starting the week with a tidy home is another activity to add to your reset.
You don’t have to spend hours tidying your home, quick tasks like cleaning the kitchen can make you feel instantly better.
Here are some quick tidying activities that you can do in your living areas, to make your home feel instantly tidier.
- Fluff cushions
- Put items where they belong
- Remove rubbish
- Wipe or dust surfaces
Tackle laundry piles
Tackling laundry is a task you can do each week, and if all finished at the end of the weeks avoids you having to frantically search for a missing clothing items on Monday mornings.
Some ways to tackle laundry at the end of the week include:
- Putting dirty clothes in one location
- Running two loads of laundry
- Setting a delayed start on your washing machine for additional loads
- Folding and putting laundry away as soon as it’s ready
Here are some laundry hacks that save heaps of time when it comes to managing your family’s laundry.
Meal planning
Writing a weekly meal plan is an integral part of my family’s weekly routine, because without one, I spend too much time thinking about what to cook each night.
If you’d like to start meal planning, write down the meals you’ll eat during the following week, make a grocery list of what you need (which is super simple with this grocery list pad), and book to have your groceries delivered.
Another way to save time when it comes to feeding your family, is to dedicate some time during your reset routine to prep any meal items in advance, such as cutting up fruit and vegetables.
Clean out your fridge and pantry
Cleaning out your fridge and pantry takes very little time, and provides space to store groceries you’ve ordered for your weekly meal plan.
It also means you can see what ingredients you need to eat before they expire, allowing you to plan future meals with them.
Prepare for school
Some things you can do during your weekly routine to help prepare for the school week are:
- Laying out school uniforms every night
- Checking school backpacks for homework, forms, or library books, and actioning what’s needed
- Getting lunches ready
- Replacing damaged lunchboxes and water bottles
Here are some more articles that help you with back to school prep.
Tackle digital clutter
Doing a digital declutter as part of resetting your week helps you to remove digital distractions, helping you to stay focussed on what you need to do the following week.
Some things you can digitally declutter are:
- Deleting photos and apps
- Getting to inbox zero
- Tidying your computer desktop
- Unsubscribing from sales emails
Schedule self-care
A weekly reset isn’t just about getting your home and family organised, it’s also about doing things that help you reset your mind, and enter the week relaxed.
One way to do this is to add activities to your week that you enjoy, and that make you feel good.
This may include:
- Enjoying a hot beverage
- Exercising
- Listening to podcasts
- Making healthy meals
- Reading
- Walking
Here are some quick self-care ideas that you can incorporate into your weekly schedule.
Tips for implementation
Here are some tips that will help you stick to your reset routine, so it becomes consistent and achievable:
- Keep it simple
- Choose tasks that make a difference to your family and home life
- Get your family involved, delegate tasks where you can, and give your kid’s tasks they’re capable of doing
- Pair tasks you don’t enjoy with tasks you do, like listening to a podcast while cleaning
- Write your reset down so you don’t have to think about it
Weekly reset routines – a recap
Resets provide the routine busy mums need to clear their mental and physical clutter, and sets them up for a successful week ahead.
One of the best things about a reset routine is that it’s adaptable, sometimes you’ll be able to do everything in your reset, and sometimes you won’t, and that’s ok.
No matter how many tasks you include, your reset will only work if you’re consistent with it. Treat it like a non-negotiable appointment, seek help from family members, and make it simple to undertake.
Overtime the whole family will appreciate the smoother, calmer weeks that the reset provides.
What weekly reset task would make you feel organised for the week ahead?
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