November 16, 2025

The Ultimate Sunday Reset Itinerary (With Time Stamps You Can Actually Follow)

There’s something quietly powerful about a well-spent Sunday. When you use the day to reset your home, your headspace, and your plans, Monday stops feeling like an ambush and starts feeling like a fresh page. It’s the heartbeat of what I write about in our Designing Happiness series – the idea that a home isn’t just somewhere you live, it’s something you live with.

This Sunday reset itinerary is designed as a gentle, realistic guide: part cleaning plan, part life admin, part self-care ritual. It’s structured with time stamps so you can simply follow along, or use it as a template and shift the times to suit your own rhythm.

Think of it less as a rigid schedule and more as a flow: a series of anchors that carry you from sleepy morning to calm, early night, with your week already quietly organised in the background.

How to Use This Sunday Reset

Treat it as a menu, not a mandate. If you only have half a day, keep the morning and evening bookends and trim the middle.

Shift the start time. If you’re up at 6am or 10am, slide everything forward or back. The order matters more than the exact hour.

Choose one “hero task” per block. On low-energy weeks, do the first task in each section and call it enough.

If you’d like more context on designing your days with intention, you might like to read How to Use Design Theory to Create a More Intentional Life alongside this reset.

Now, let’s walk through a full Sunday reset, hour by hour.

Morning: Slow Start & Home Foundations

8:00 – 10:15 AM

8:00 – 8:30 AM: Wake Up Gently

Start the day without a jarring alarm if you can. Let yourself wake slowly, stretch under the covers, and arrive in the day without rushing.

  • Open the windows and let fresh air in.

  • Pour a glass of water and make your tea or coffee.

  • Light a candle or incense for a tiny sensory ritual – even one of our scented soy candles on a bedside tray can signal to your brain that the day is beginning softly, not in a rush.

  • Spend five minutes journalling or thinking about one intention for the day:
    “Today I’m resetting my space and my mind.”

If you’re curious about why these small rituals matter so much for your mood, Designing for ‘DOSE’: How Your Home Can Boost Your Happy Hormones goes deeper into the science.

8:30 – 9:00 AM: Get Ready, Comfortably

This isn’t a full-glam moment; it’s about becoming your most comfortable, functional self.

  • Take a shower and do a simple skincare routine.

  • Put on cosy-but-put-together clothes you can clean, shop, and relax in.

  • Put on a calm playlist or podcast to keep you company.

If you love a little hotel-at-home feeling, this is a beautiful moment to spritz the bathroom or bedroom with one of our linen and room sprays – lavender and clary sage is especially lovely for a slow Sunday start.

9:00 – 9:30 AM: Laundry & Bedroom Reset

Start your reset where you start and end every day: the bedroom.

  • Strip the bed and start the first load of washing with your sheets – this is the perfect time to pour in something from our Ecoya Laundry range so your bedding comes out smelling like a boutique hotel, not a laundromat.

  • Gather any towels and tea towels ready for the next load.

  • Do a quick tidy of bedroom surfaces: bedside table, dresser, rogue cups, clothes piles.

When your sheets are dry, you can layer even more softness into the ritual – a few drops of fragrance on dryer balls, or a light spritz from our Ecoya Laundry or linen spray as you make the bed, turns something mundane into a tiny luxury.

This is also a good moment to look at how your bed is layered. A simple neutral duvet, like those in our Bengali bedding range, paired with a textured throw from our throws collection, can make your Sunday night climb-into-bed moment feel like a mini retreat.

If you want more ideas on where to layer texture and comfort, What to Add (and Where) for Maximum Cozy Impact is a great next read.

Future-you will thank you when you climb into fresh sheets tonight.

9:30 – 10:15 AM: Kitchen Reset & Nourishing Breakfast

Move into the kitchen and give it a gentle reset while you make breakfast.

  • Empty the dishwasher or clear the sink.

  • Put away anything sitting on the benches that doesn’t belong there.

  • Wipe down benches, stove, and table.

  • Do a quick scan of the fridge and toss anything old or questionable.

  • Make a simple, nourishing breakfast and actually sit down to eat it.

A small styling tweak here – like grouping your mug, spoon and candle on one of our round decor trays – helps your bench feel curated rather than cluttered, even on busy mornings.

Use this time to glance over your loose plan for the day and adjust anything that already feels too heavy.

Late Morning: Deep Clean & 10-Minute Wins

10:30 – 12:00 PM

10:30 – 11:30 AM: Focus Room Deep Clean (Bathroom)

Choose one “focus room” for a proper clean. The bathroom is a great weekly anchor.

  • Scrub the shower or bath.

  • Clean the sink, taps, and vanity.

  • Wipe the mirrors.

  • Clean the toilet.

  • Replace towels, empty the bin, and restock toilet paper and basics.

Once the practical work is done, bring the spa energy back in: a tray with skincare, a candle from our Ecoya collection, or a favourite room spray instantly shifts the space from “just cleaned” to “intentionally styled”.

This one hour gives you a big visual and emotional payoff: a genuinely clean space you’ll use every day.

11:30 – 12:00 PM: Quick 10-Minute Tasks

Next, stack a few fast wins. Set a timer and choose two or three:

  • Throw in another load of washing.

  • Empty rubbish and recycling throughout the house.

  • Delete 100 emails or clear notifications.

  • Wipe light switches, handles, or high-touch spots.

  • Gather 3–5 items to donate.

You’ve now done the heavy lifting for the day and cleared a surprising amount of mental clutter. If you’re interested in how these tiny resets support your nervous system over time, The Gentle Science of Dopamine: How Small Joys Build Big Happiness is a beautiful deep dive.

Midday: Refuel, Reflect & Plan

12:00 – 2:15 PM

12:00 – 1:00 PM: Lunch & Light Reflection

Pause for lunch and a mental reset.

  • Make an easy lunch: leftovers, toasties, wraps, or a simple salad.

  • Sit down to eat properly, ideally without your phone.

  • Spend five minutes with a journal or notebook and answer:

    • What was one win from last week?

    • What was one hard moment?

    • What am I genuinely looking forward to this week?

If you love to keep your reflections somewhere beautiful, our Write To Me journals are designed to become keepsakes you’ll actually want to pull out again and again. And if you’re in a season of motherhood, The 30-Day Connection Challenge: Cultivating Calm, Compassion, and Joy in Motherhood pairs beautifully with this part of the routine.

This short reflection prevents the weeks from blurring into each other and helps you course-correct gently.

1:00 – 1:45 PM: Planning & Admin Power Hour

This is where you shift from reacting to your week to designing it.

  • Do a brain dump of everything on your mind: errands, emails, worries, ideas.

  • Review your calendar for the week ahead.

  • Set three main goals for the week – no more.

  • Turn your brain dump into a simple list and highlight what actually needs to happen this week.

  • Do a quick financial check-in: glance at your accounts, upcoming bills, and budget.

Finish by writing a short Monday to-do list so tomorrow morning is already decided for you. If planning feels more grounded with pen and paper, our planners and journals collection is curated specifically for this kind of gentle structure.

1:45 – 2:15 PM: Move Your Body & Change the Scene

Step away from your house and your screens.

  • Take a walk around the block, along the beach, or through a nearby park.

  • Listen to a podcast or leave your ears quiet.

  • Pay attention to your breath and what you can see, hear, and smell.

It doesn’t have to be long or intense; the point is to reset your nervous system between “doing” blocks. These small, sensory moments are exactly the kind of “happy hormone glimmers” I talk about in Designing for ‘DOSE’: How Your Home Can Boost Your Happy Hormones – tiny habits that, over time, change how your days feel.

Afternoon: Food Prep & House Tidy

2:15 – 5:00 PM

2:15 – 3:00 PM: Meals & Groceries

Use this time to make the whole week easier.

  • Plan dinners for the next three to five nights.

  • Check cupboards, fridge, and freezer to see what you already have.

  • Write a grocery list or place an online order.

If you love keeping your favourite recipes somewhere special, this is the perfect moment to update an heirloom-style recipe book like our Linen Recipe Journal or Recipes Passed Down Journal. I share more about why I adore these sorts of keepsakes in Because These Moments Matter: The Beauty of Write To Me Keepsake Journals.

The goal isn’t perfection; it’s simply avoiding the 5pm “what on earth is for dinner?” panic.

3:00 – 4:00 PM: Meal Prep & Laundry Loop

Now put your plan into action.

  • Prep one “anchor” meal: a big pot of soup, a tray bake, cooked grains, or a versatile sauce.

  • Chop veggies or portion snacks so weeknights feel lighter.

  • Move laundry through its cycle: wash → dry → fold at least one full load.

You’re building future ease with every little action here.

4:00 – 4:30 PM: House Sweep

Do a light reset of your main living areas.

  • Spend five to ten minutes each in the entry, living room, and hallway.

  • Put things back where they belong, fluff cushions, straighten throws.

  • Water any thirsty plants.

If your sofa is craving a little refresh, this can be as simple as layering two or three pieces from our cushions collection – mix one textured neutral with a subtle pattern for that soft, lived-in Scandinavian feel.

Think of it as “restoring order”, not deep cleaning.

4:30 – 5:00 PM: Guilt-Free You Time

Before the evening begins, give yourself half an hour that isn’t productive on paper but deeply productive for your spirit.

  • Read a chapter of a book.

  • Do something creative (drawing, knitting, Lego, journalling).

  • Lie on the couch and listen to music.

You’re allowed to rest before the day is “finished”. If you need a reminder of why this matters, Designing a Life You Don’t Need to Escape From: 12 Lessons from Brianna Wiest is a beautiful companion read.

Evening: Connection, Comfort & Kitchen Close-Down

5:00 – 7:00 PM

5:00 – 6:00 PM: Comfort Dinner

Make Sunday dinner something easy and soothing.

  • Cook a simple favourite or pull from what you prepped earlier.

  • Set the table nicely: candle, flowers, cloth napkin if you have them.

  • Take your time eating, chatting, and actually tasting your food.

One or two pieces – a sculptural candle from our candles and candle holders collection or a simple ceramic vase – can make an ordinary meal feel like a little ceremony.

6:00 – 6:30 PM: Kitchen Reset for Monday

Before you drift away from the kitchen, do a final reset.

  • Pack leftovers into containers for lunches.

  • Load and run the dishwasher or wash dishes by hand.

  • Wipe benches and table.

  • Do a quick sweep of the floor.

Your Monday self will walk into a calm, clean kitchen – and that alone can change the tone of the whole day.

6:30 – 7:00 PM: Connection Time

Use this window for low-pressure connection.

  • Play a board game, cards, or Lego.

  • Watch a show together.

  • Call a friend or family member if you live alone.

It doesn’t have to be elaborate; it just needs to feel like you were present. If you’re in a season of parenting, pairing this with one small prompt from our motherhood connection challenge can be a lovely way to layer meaning into an otherwise ordinary evening.

Night: Self-Care Rituals & Soft Landing

7:00 – 9:30 PM

7:00 – 7:45 PM: At-Home Spa Moment

Shift the energy from “doing” to “unwinding”.

  • Run a bath or take a long, warm shower.

  • Use a hair mask, body scrub, or face mask if you have them.

  • Moisturise, slip into fresh pyjamas, and make your bed with the clean sheets you washed earlier.

You can turn this into a full sensory ritual with a soft candle from our Ecoya range and a spritz of our linen spray across your pillow before bed. If scent rituals are your love language, The Power of Scent: Designing Atmosphere Room by Room is full of ideas.

This is your signal to your body that the week is winding down.

7:45 – 8:15 PM: Reflect & Set Intentions

Return to your journal or notebook for one last check-in.

  • What made you happiest this week?

  • What drained your energy that you can reduce?

  • What one thing will support your wellbeing most this week?

  • What is one fun thing you want to look forward to?

Write three gentle goals for the week and one simple affirmation, such as:
“I can handle whatever this week brings, one step at a time.”

If you’d like a dedicated place for these reflections, one of our linen-covered Write To Me journals or guided keepsake books is perfect for capturing the story of your days over time.

8:15 – 9:00 PM: Screen-Free Wind-Down

Do your best to keep this last stretch quiet and low-stimulation.

  • Put your phone on Do Not Disturb and avoid scrolling.

  • Read, journal, stretch lightly, or talk with your partner.

  • Keep lights soft and cosy.

A good book from our books collection and a lamp on low is more than enough.

9:00 – 9:15 PM: Final Reset Touches

Future-proof your Monday.

  • Lay out clothes for tomorrow (and kids’ outfits if needed).

  • Pack bags, keys, and anything that needs to leave the house by the door.

  • Do a very quick bathroom tidy and blow out any candles.

9:15 – 9:30 PM: Early Night

Slide into bed a little earlier than usual.

  • Read a couple of pages or simply breathe.

  • Remind yourself: “I’ve done enough. I am allowed to rest.”

  • Lights out.

A Sunday That Serves You

A Sunday reset isn’t about perfection or squeezing productivity into every minute. It’s about creating just enough order, clarity, and softness that you step into Monday feeling grounded instead of frazzled.

Use this itinerary as a starting point and shape it around your own life. Some weeks you’ll complete the full flow; other weeks you might only manage the morning reset and an early night. Either way, you’re building a rhythm that quietly supports you – week after week.

If you’d like to keep exploring, Designing Happiness: What It Really Means in a Home and Designing Happiness: Lessons from the Scandinavian Way of Living dive deeper into the philosophy behind days – and homes – that feel genuinely good to live in.

Written by Emma Walsh

Leave a comment

All comments are moderated before being published

Blog posts

View all articles