While I do dread the start of a new week that follows every Sunday, this day has become my favorite day of the week for one thing and one thing only: Sunday resets.
Every Sunday, I spend my day immersing myself in a step-by-step self-care routine, cleansing myself of all things from the prior week and resetting both physically and mentally. Although this routine may seem long and drawn out, I think I have perfected the “Sunday reset” day and made optimal use of it.
Step 1. Rot in bed
Although it may seem contradictory to the idea of a Sunday reset, the first and most important step of my day is to spend the first bit of it in bed. I have never been a morning person and am not a fan of jumping out of bed the second I wake up, so I find it best to spend the first part of my day scrolling through my phone.
Step 2. Starbucks or energy drink
While this step may differ depending on your personal preferences, I am a beverage person and find myself needing a special drink to go along with my Sunday routine. My go-tos have become a Strawberry Acai Refresher from Starbucks or a Tropical Vibe Celsius, and with this step being a smaller one compared to the others, I do find it to be more significant as it gives me something to sip on throughout my morning.
Step 3. Oil Hair
This part of the process is the “gets worse before it gets better.” For me, the feeling of my hair being drenched in oils is rather unpleasant, but as someone who has damaged their natural hair from dyes and heat, I take my hair care very seriously. This starts with a scalp massage and the application of products such as coconut and rosemary oil, but the oils that you use are dependent upon your hair type and the results you are hoping to achieve. I then clip my hair back in a claw clip and continue about my routine as the oil sets for anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour.
Once all is done, I open my windows—I can not stand when my room is hot so the cold air is a must for me—spray my room with a spray, light a candle, and put on my playlist.
Step 4: Clean room
I am someone who refuses to do anything if my room is even somewhat dirty, and the feeling of a freshly clean room is simply brightening. I start by stripping my bed of the layers upon it and running a load of laundry. While I wait for that, I put away and take care of any clean and/or dirty clothes that are lying around, organize any misplaced items around my room, and if I’m really feeling it, I might even rearrange a little. After everything is where it needs to be, I sweep and mop my bedroom floors and wipe down any surfaces and mirrors. Once all is done, I open my windows—I can not stand when my room is hot so the cold air is a must for me—spray my room with a spray, light a candle, and put on my playlist.
Step 5: Everything shower
This is probably my favorite part of the day (and my parents’ least) as I tend to spend at least half an hour in the shower, often more, but I blame that on the music I refuse to shower without. I start by exfoliating with a sugar scrub or an exfoliating loofah. I recommend any scrub from Tree Hut; they’re simple, smell good, and always make my skin feel very smooth. I then follow exfoliating by shaving and using multiple different body washes—I prefer to start with a simple unscented soap as a base layer followed by a vanilla-scented wash for more of a good smell. I then double-shampoo the roots of my hair, condition the ends as well as double-cleansing my face with an exfoliating face wash followed by a more cleansing product.
Step 6: Skincare and moisturize
I like to think that this step is what really locks in the clean feeling of a Sunday reset. I start with a simple unscented lotion by Cetaphil and follow that with a body butter of some sort—Trader Joe’s Vitamin C Firming Body Butter has been one of my most used—and these two alone have helped my skin stay moisturized no matter what time of year it is. For my face, my routine is rather simple compared to others. I first use a serum or two from The Ordinary to ensure that my skin is hydrated. I then apply my favorite eye cream from Good Molecules, a Vanicream moisturizer, and end by applying Aquaphor to my lashes, brows, and lips.
Step 7: Homework, eat, relax
Even though my mornings are spent pampering myself, my afternoons are spent catching up on homework. I grab a snack, fill my water, put on a movie or a show, and move back and forth between my desk, bedroom floor, and bed as I go from assignment to assignment, finishing any homework I have.
Achieving the perfect Sunday reset routine is dependent upon the person trying to achieve it. For me, these seven steps have become my favorite way for me to spend my Sundays and the perfect way to start a new week.
