By Josephine Agbonkhese

There is something about Sunday evening that can make you feel two things at once: grateful for the weekend and slightly anxious about the week ahead. Thoughts of unfinished tasks, early morning alarms, school runs, office deadlines and meals begin to compete for space in your head.

But what if Monday did not have to feel like a race against time? A few small things done on Sunday could make the beginning of the week less stressful and more manageable.

That is the idea behind the Sunday reset. It is not about spending the entire day cleaning or planning every minute. It is about preparing yourself, your home and your mind for the days ahead. Sometimes, the smallest adjustments make the biggest difference.

Plan Your Outfits Ahead

One easy way to make Monday morning less chaotic is to decide what to wear before going to bed on Sunday. Take a few minutes to select your outfit, including shoes, accessories and other essentials. Parents can also help their children arrange their school uniforms, socks, shoes and bags. It may seem minor, but removing one decision from an already busy morning can make a real difference. You get to start the day calmly instead of frantically searching for a missing belt or ironing a shirt at the last minute.

Make a Simple Meal Plan

Food can turn an ordinary Monday into a stressful one. Deciding what to cook, checking kitchen supplies and rushing to buy missing ingredients can take up valuable time. Use part of Sunday to plan meals for the next few days. You could cook a meal ahead or portion snacks for the children. If you take lunch to work, prepare what you can in advance. The goal is not to have every meal perfectly organised. It is to reduce the number of things you must figure out when the week is already in motion.

Tidy Your Space

You do not need to deep-clean the entire house every Sunday. Sometimes, a 15-minute tidy-up is enough to make your environment feel more welcoming. Clear the dining table, arrange the sitting room, wash the dishes and put away scattered items. Pay attention to the areas you are most likely to use on Monday morning.

Waking up to a reasonably tidy space gives you one less thing to worry about. Remember, the aim is not perfection but making your home easier to live in during a busy week.

Check Your Calendar

Before Monday arrives, look at your calendar. What appointments, deadlines, meetings or school activities do you have coming up? Write down important tasks and identify your top three priorities for Monday. A simple to-do list on your phone or in a notebook can help you distinguish between what needs immediate attention and what can wait. You do not have to plan every hour of the week. Leave room for unexpected situations. A flexible plan is often more useful than a rigid schedule that becomes frustrating when something changes.

Refill Your Essentials

These little tasks often go unnoticed until something runs out at the worst possible time. Check your handbag, work bag or children’s school bags. Charge your devices, refill your water bottle and ensure your keys, identification cards and other essentials are where they should be.

You might also check household supplies and make a shopping list for anything running low. These small steps can prevent unnecessary delays and last-minute trips during the week.

Give Yourself Time to Rest

Perhaps the most important part of the Sunday reset is remembering that Sunday is still part of your weekend. It is tempting to spend the day preparing for everyone else while leaving yourself exhausted. Resist the urge to turn every free moment into another task.

More importantly, wind down early enough to get adequate rest. Staying up late trying to get everything ready for Monday can defeat the purpose of the entire exercise.