5 Simple Weekend Reset Ideas for a Peaceful & Productive Week Ahead

I try not to be the “workin’ for the weekend” type (because that’s a majority of the week wished away, friend!), but mmmmmmmm…even as a toddler mom, Friday nights just hit different, ya know?! I love what I do as a pelvic rehab therapist, but as a full-time working mama, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love my time at home with my family even more. So the activities that get selected and squeezed into every Saturday and Sunday feel pretty dang special, and there’s a sense of pressure not to waste a single moment.

I’ve always believed the weekend should be three days long – one day for rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation, another for fun, adventure, and play, and the last for chores, projects, and productivity (in no particular order). Buttttttttt…the American workweek doesn’t quite cater to this ideal, leaving many of us choosing between all of the above or hustling to fit everything into those precious 48 hours.

You’ll typically find me hustlin’ away, inevitably regretting it Sunday night, then feeling the effects of it come Monday morning and beyond. But since I’ve stumbled upon the idea of a “weekend reset” – adding intentional (yet simple) wellness practices into my Saturday and Sunday to recover from the week before and prepare for the week ahead – I now have a whole new outlook towards how I spend my weekend days.

The benefits of a weekend reset

Before I share what my weekend reset looks like, let me tell ya why this practice is now a non-negotiable in my life. I’m always looking for ways to up-level my days and get the most out of my time, and adding a few holistic habits to my already busy calendar is proving to be well worth the effort.

Less overwhelm. I can’t be the only one who enters the weekend excited but overwhelmed by everything I want to accomplish before my head hits the pillow Sunday night…right?! With a specific weekend reset routine, I ~know~ what NEEDS to get done to consider the weekend a useful and soul-filling success, and can plan my days accordingly. There’s still time for fun, room for spontaneity, and even space for a good ol’ Netflix binging sesh. But adding a bit of structure is the best way to reduce stress and promote clarity and peace of mind.

No more guilt. Unfinished to-do lists, over-packed calendars, and unrealistic expectations can leave the best of us feeling guilty for how we choose to pass our time on the weekend. Now that I have a weekend reset ritual, as long as I get [those] things done, I can be proud of a weekend well spent. It’s not about perfection. And it doesn’t always pan out perfectly. But acknowledging my personal values and setting my priorities caters itself to confidence in my Saturday and Sunday.

Prioritize self-care. As women, we tend to regularly put other’s needs before our own, and it can feel selfish or even scary to invest time and energy into ourselves, our happiness, and our health. (Isn’t that sad?!) My weekend reset puts ME back in my schedule, prioritizes my needs as a person beyond my title of wife and mother, and leaves my cup feeling full from the simplest forms of self-care.

A better week ahead. My weekend reset practices not only benefit my Saturday and Sunday, but they also make the weekdays feel less stressful and more enjoyable. I used to dread Mondays and definitely experience “Sunday scaries”, but now I’m able to go into my workweek prepared, refreshed, and nourished so I can show up as the best version of me, even come Thursday afternoon.

If you’re convinced or at least curious about setting up a weekend reset practice of your own, then keep reading! I’ve got a few busy-girl and working-mom approved, no-BS weekend reset ideas comin’ atcha that will change how your weekends feel and make the week after it even better.

Realistic weekend reset ideas

I’m personally intrigued by what other women consider important wellness practices, and get super inspired when watching another gal (who’s wearing just as many hats) prioritize her physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. We’re all busy. We all have the same 24-hour days. But how we use that time (especially on our oh-so precious weekends) can change EV-ERY-THING – our mood, health, relationships, energy – for all seven days of each and every week.

So without further ado, here’s my super simple, nothing special but oh-so successful weekend reset rituals that are proving to be just what I need for a full week of peace and productivity.

*And the (imaginary) crowd goes wild!*

ALARM-FREE MORNINGS

Research shows it’s best to wakeup within the same hour every morning to maintain a consistent circadian rhythm for hormone health and energy levels. So while I don’t necessarily sleep in for hours on the weekend, I do turn my alarm off and allow myself to wake up naturally instead. Because I continue the same nightly routine and bedtime, even on the weekends, I typically wake up around the same time, but let’s be honest…it’s 100000000 times better to wake up without an alarm.

Because work, school, schedules, and appointments dictate weekday life for most, alarms can be necessary to meet Monday morning’s requirements. But ditching the alarm on the weekend allows the nervous system to slow down, encourages the body to turn inward for its needs, and gives those “always on the go”, “don’t stop” feelings a much-needed break.

24 HOURS NO SOCIAL MEDIA

This year I started taking one whole day off social media each week, and while I thought it would be hard, it turns out I actually CRAVE those “no-scroll” 24 hours each time they roll around. My mind feels clearer, I’m less worried about things going on in the world, am more present in my life, magically have more time, and also find myself thinking more creatively.

(I’ve tried to go completely screen free one day a weekend, but that’s a bit difficult when I want to take 2938473406 pictures of my girl, hop on my favorite meditation app a little more regularly, and pull up alllllllllll the Pinterest recipes.)

By the end of every 24 hours sans social media, I seriously contemplate getting rid of it altogether, and am amazed by how much more open my days feel without scrolling for minutes on end. Adding this weekend reset ritual actually creates freedom and allows me to be even more intentional with where to put my extra energy on these precious days.

MEAL PREP

I really enjoy cooking and baking, but NOT when I’m rushed or at the end of a busy workday. I’ve started meal prepping on the weekend, even just a recipe or two, so my time in the kitchen is minimal during the week and I can be spend my evenings focusing on my family. Not only is this a huge time-saver in my book, but it also encourages me to eat the healthy food that’s already made rather that unnecessarily snack or grab takeout on the way home.

Here’s a few of my favorite recipes to easily meal prep on the weekends for pre-made, ready-to-go lunches and dinners all week long–

Paleo (& Whole 30 & Keto) Chili – I don’t know if anything beats a good chili recipe, and my favorite way to spice this one up is with chili dogs in the middle of the week. S’good!

Sausage & Ricotta Meatballs – I ~always~ double this recipe, use ground beef, ground sausage, and ground bacon, substitute cottage cheese for ricotta cheese, and blend leftover sourdough from the week before for homemade breadcrumbs. *Chef’s kiss!*

Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa – Talk about diversity…this recipe makes the perfect tasty base for tacos, salads, quesadillas, nachos, enchiladas…a different meals for each day of the week.

Roasted Butternut Squash & Bacon Soup – This recipe comes together ridiculously quickly (once you get the squash peeled) and is so easy to re-heat on a weeknight or pack up in a lunchbox on the go. Let’s just say I’ve deleted every other butternut squash recipe off my “soup” Pinterest board 😉

Greek Chicken & Rice Skillet – If you like olives & artichokes & lemon & feta goodness, you will LOVE this one-pan recipe that comes together quickly and quite possibly tastes even better when reheated as the week goes on.

In the wee Saturday morning hours before the weekend even starts, during one of Sloan’s naps, or on a Sunday afternoon as the weekend winds down, we all cram in the kitchen, play some music in the background, dirty one set of dishes (my favorite part), and make our whole week’s meals in one fell swoop. I love all my weekend reset rituals, but this one just may be my top pick.

PS- I don’t consider myself an amazing cook, but I do think I have a knack for finding good recipes. Follow me on Pinterest to see the latest recipes I’m saving (and books I’m reading, outfits I’m eyeing, and home décor I’m dreaming about).

SET MY “WEEKLY WELLNESS BIG 3”

Studies show (you know we love a good science-backed stat around here!) the average person can’t ~successfully~ focus on more than five to seven tasks at a time.

With this data in mind, I created what I’m now calling my “weekly wellness big three”. Every Sunday night I sit down with my planner and write out three specific activities I want to complete that week that will benefit my health.

Now…for me this goes beyond daily workouts, my goal of healthy eating 80% of the time, regular journaling, and the other wellness activities I already consider a habit. These are the extra, above and beyond, probably-wouldn’t-make-time-for-it-otherwise kinda endeavors I typically forget about or push aside when life gets busy or other priorities pop up – things like face masks, calling a friend, purging my closet, painting my nails, or buying new bras.

These activities might not seem “big” in the grand scheme of things (or necessarily what the average person would consider a part of “health”) but if it feels special and helps me think clearer, feel better, boost my confidence, fill my heart, and light up my soul, gosh dang it, it goes on the list. Never have I ever felt more vibrant, in tune with my wellbeing, or aligned with my wants & needs than I am now…and I owe it to ^^ this ^^ practice.

DETOX BATH

I’m not the kind of girl who looks for every opportunity to hop in the tub, but ooooooooh…when I learned about the benefits of a detox bath like flushing toxins, improving sleep, supporting digestion, better joint function, reducing stress, and increasing the body’s absorption of nutrients…I was sold. Read a few chapters of my book while simultaneously getting all those benefits in the process? Yes please!

Here’s the simple and effective detox bath recipe I use:

1 cup *fragrance-free* Epson salts
½ cup baking soda
½ cup bentonite clay
2-5 drops of lavender essential oils

Adding these ingredients to a warm bath and soaking for at least fifteen minutes is ~exactly~ what I need both after a busy weekend and to prepare for the week ahead. Sometimes I sneak Sloan in with me if I’m really pressed for time, others times I sneak it in during one of her naps. I’ve physically seen the improvements from regular detox baths, and it’s now a weekly non-negotiable I actually look forward to.

So…is a weekend reset in your future?

Even if the items on this list don’t specifically speak to you, I hope they inspire you to enter your weekends with a little more intention and look at them as an opportunity to positively impact your week ahead.

What does your ideal weekend include? Are you (yes…YOU) putting yourself in those plans with Thursday morning you in mind? Share your weekend reset ideas in the comments and commit to adding just one step when the next weekend rolls around.

I believe in my heart of hearts that less is more when it comes to health, and wellness doesn’t need to be complicated, time-consuming, or expensive, to “count”. We just have to identify what lights us up, commit to doing it, then watch as each “little” action adds up to peaceful minds, happy hearts, productive weeks, and healthy bodies.

– Amanda

Disclaimer: The content provided here does not constitute medical advice, nor is it a substitute for personalized healthcare. I’m a doctor, but I’m not your doctor. If you have concerns about a medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment, you should consult with a licensed healthcare professional.

Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. No pressure, but I have a feeling you’re gonna like what I’ve taken the time to put my recommendation behind.