The Sunday Scaries hit so much harder when you’re surrounded by entryway clutter and an empty pantry. We promise, there’s a better way. Use Sunday to your advantage with a little bit of prep for the week ahead and some guidance from NEAT owners. 

What Is a Sunday Reset?

We love a daily reset, but a Sunday reset goes beyond a quick tidy at the end of the day. It involves taking time to plan your week instead of improvising through it. Think meal planning, tidying drop zones, syncing calendars, and restocking essentials. So, when Monday morning rolls around, you’re not scrambling to get it together but empowered to embrace it.

The Six Pillars That Actually Work

1. Declutter Your Drop Zone

Your drop zone tells the story of your week, so make it a good one. Relocate the shoes, bags, jackets, and hats that have staged a takeover. Set limits for what each family member can keep there. Boundaries are lifestyle choices, not restrictions. Toss the junk mail and sort any paperwork before it becomes an avalanche.

“Our family’s "drop zone" is the gateway between our house and our car as we are always on the go. Placing a trash can in our garage, makes it easy to both clean out the car and toss the junk mail before it has a chance to enter the house.” – Holly Trepka, NEAT Method Nashville

Favorite Product: Closets & Mudroom Label Set

2. Meal Prep Like You Mean It

If you're already meal planning, bravo. If you're not, you should know that dinner chaos is optional. Planning is power. Map out simple meals for each day of the week and create a shopping list for any ingredients you need. 

"Repeating family meals is one of my favorite sanity-saving strategies. Take the guesswork out of dinner by always having a few easy go-to meals stocked and ready. Predictability in the kitchen makes busy weeks more manageable.”  – Tara Burdette, NEAT Method Tulsa

Favorite Product: Canisters

3. Restock Essentials

Curate your week's essentials with a grocery run or delivery order. Stock up on the non-negotiables: milk, bread, coffee, detergents, toilet paper, pet food. Add your meal prep needs to this list. Don't forget to restock the car snack stash because mid-week meltdowns are preventable.

"Sunday afternoons are my go-to time to restock our pantry and fridge. I take a quick inventory, wipe down shelves, and refill canisters with snacks and dry goods. It only takes 20 minutes, but it makes weekday meal prep so much smoother—and my kids know exactly where to find everything." – Marissa Hagmeyer, Co-Founder and COO

Favorite Product: Perforated Basket

4. Refresh Linens

Sunday is your reminder to refresh everything, linens included. Toss daily-use towels, hand towels, tablecloths, bath mats, bed sheets, and throw blankets in the wash. Clean linens aren't just about hygiene. They're about renewal.

“To keep laundry manageable and your linen closet from overflowing, I recommend keeping just two sheet sets per bed—one in use, and one neatly folded and stored by size in a NEAT Method Oxford bin. On Sunday reset day, it’s as easy as swap, wash, repeat: fresh sheets on the bed, dirty ones in the wash, and a beautifully organized, clutter-free linen closet.” – Nicole Longo, NEAT Method Los Angeles - South Bay

Favorite Product: Oxford Bin

5. Sync and Set Intentions

Knowing what's coming removes decision fatigue. Start by checking your calendar and making sure all upcoming events and appointments are locked in. Note anything important or unique. Set phone alerts as your personal assistant. 

"One of the most powerful things you can do on a Sunday is take 10 quiet minutes to review your calendar and mentally walk through your week. Even better—review it with family members to make sure everyone’s on the same page. At NEAT New Orleans, we help clients build this into their routine so they’re not waking up Monday in reaction mode. A little planning on the front end brings a lot of peace on the back end."  – Felicia Schimpf, NEAT Method New Orleans

Favorite Product: Label Holder Set

6. Fill Your Tank

A mental reset at the beginning of the week is just as important, if not more important, than a declutter. This prepares you to tackle daily stressors with a little more ease and grace. Set aside time on Sunday to recharge with a good book, long shower, dig in the garden, or whatever that looks like for you. 

"Sundays are all about filling my tank; physically, emotionally, and in my space. I take time to reset my home so that I can step into the week feeling calm and in control. A quick sweep through each room is a necessity, and I always make sure that things are put away in my favorite NEAT products. One of my favorite habits is gathering all of my desk and office supplies and placing them in my bone canisters. A little time spent organizing on the weekend gives me the best platform to start off on a strong foot." – Haley Bossart, NEAT Method Loudoun

Favorite Product: The NEAT Method Organizing Recipe Book

Life is unpredictable. Your week doesn't have to be. A Sunday reset isn't about becoming someone else. It's about making space for who you already are. Start with two or three elements. Build the habit gradually. Eventually, you’ll finally put an end to the weekday struggle. 

 

THE SOLUTIONS

xx,

The NEAT team