Social media trends tend to come and go, but sometimes a new phenomenon pops up that actually seems to stick. Enter the Sunday reset.

Let’s face it, the weekend never feels long enough. If you’ve ever felt like Saturday and Sunday go by in the blink of an eye leaving you flustered on a Monday morning by all the life admin you didn’t get round to, you’re not alone. 

Over the past few years, the Sunday reset has gained immense traction online with over a billion views on TikTok. This wellness concept is all about prioritising those tasks we often put off, by making them part of your weekly Sunday routine so you can start a new week feeling organised, refreshed and rested.

The #sundayreset, which has almost 300,000 videos (and climbing) on TikTok, sees people share how they get ready for a new week, usually by ticking off life admin such as cleaning, tidying and tackling that neglected heap of washing in the corner. So that you can wake up on Monday morning in a clean, organised space. Tidy home, tidy mind, right?

But what is the benefit of a regular Sunday reset routine? Does it actually help set you up for the week ahead? Or is it just another aestheticised social media trend that adds more pressure to be productive? 

Over on social media, you’ll come across numerous examples of Sunday reset videos. Most of them feature people reorganising their home and doing acts of self-care and wellness such as changing the bed sheets, cleaning, doing laundry, lighting candles, doing a hair mask, running a bath or reading a book. 

The basic idea is that a Sunday reset routine should be all about slowing down and clearing out both your physical and mental space so that you can physically ‘reset’, before a new week rolls around with it’s new tasks and challenges. It’s about being conscious of each passing week and dedicating some time to getting your life in order to help you feel calmer and more productive.

A lot of these TikTok videos also feature ASMR, rather than music, which is also known to boost wellbeing and encourage relaxation. 

The trend is all about creating a weekly self-care habit in between the busy-ness of our social weekends. It seems to suggest that by creating a tranquil, organised space, you can create some peace of mind, too. 

There is some evidence to suggest that the Sunday reset could be an excellent new initiative to weave into your routine, as it has a positive impact on your wellbeing.

The Harvard Business Review found that our physical environments impact our emotions and behaviour, and an untidy space can reduce our focus and increase our levels of stress and anxiety. Having a clean space has also been linked to reducing cortisol, the stress hormone, and decreased feelings of depression and overwhelm.

Meanwhile, The National Sleep Foundation found that people who made their bed every day, slept better at night and reported several mental health benefits.

It also gives a sense of satisfaction to have a tidy and clean space at the end of the week, and that might look different for every individual based on what they view as organised. Sometimes everything has a place, but not always. It doesn’t have to be aesthetically pleasing or colour-coordinated in order to be tidy.

That’s why shows such as BBC’s Sort Your Life Out and Netflix’s The Home Edit are so popular – people love to discover new ways to streamline their lives and surroundings.

Wellness expert and yoga teacher, Jodie Melissa explains: “I think for many of us it can feel like getting on top of things, and clearing the way for a new week. Usually the Sunday reset contains a lot of typical self-care activities such as meal prepping, watering plants, taking a bath or long shower. All of these things boost our sense of wellbeing, and often leave our space feeling tidier, helping to aid relaxation.”

As the Sunday scaries loom and Monday morning is on the horizon, why has the final day of the week been chosen for getting the remaining tasks of the week done. Will we ever rest?

Melissa explains that Sunday is usually nominated as this ‘reset’ day as it fits with people’s common working week for a typical 9-to-5 job, as it grounds them ahead of the new work week.

“When we look at the word “reset” it means to adjust, to set something again,” Melissa says, “Sunday’s give us the opportunity to start fresh. Also as routine videos have become more popular, there’s the sense of resetting as a collective.”

However, she doesn’t think this has to be exclusively reserved for Sundays. Melissa continued: “I’ve seen some people have a “Me-Day Monday” and I loved that idea of dedicating a day, or chunk of time whatever day of the week to check-in and see what you can do in the form of a reset that will support your wellbeing.” 

There are many activities that you could include in your Sunday reset routine. Popular choices on TikTok include tackling those tasks you might sometimes put off for another time such as washing, changing your bed sheets, hoovering and doing the dishes. But it can also include the smaller acts of self-care such as writing a weekly goals list or your to-do list for the week, changing out old flowers for fresh ones or clearing our your fridge.

“I’d definitely suggest incorporating true rest time as part of a Sunday reset,” Melissa continues. “Practices such as Yoga Nidra, taking a nap, going for a walk or spending time in nature. I think the trick with a real reset is to find that balance between being productive and organising things, and allowing for moments to truly pause and feel a sense of ease.” 

With all social media trends, there’s some scepticism over whether they improve our day-to-day wellbeing or simply serve as aesthetic content for us to digest.

“So many of us have busy schedules with different demands throughout the week; the Sunday reset almost offers a sense of control over that,” Melissa adds. “Rather than going into the week feeling overwhelmed or unsure of your schedule, the reset can provide clarity.”

It allows you to go into the week feeling prepared, alongside having an environment that’s supportive for you throughout the week, too. When rest is incorporated and there’s real down-time involved, a Sunday reset can be the ideal way to soften anxieties about the week ahead. 

Begin by making a list of all those annoying tasks that you always seem to put off, such as hoovering or cleaning your windows and mirrors. Then, make a list of calming activities that you never seem to find the time for, such as reading or journaling. 

Perhaps start small and set yourself a timer for 15 minutes and pick one external task – cleaning, tidying, organising – and one self-care activity such as soaking in a hot bath.

Once your home feels fresh and decluttered, leave yourself some time to recuperate and relax and enjoy the work you’ve done. Hopefully, after your day of resetting, Monday will start to feel a little less daunting and perhaps The Sunday reset might just become your new favourite weekly ritual. 

Images: Getty