Sunday habits used to be something I treated like a lost day. Half-recovery from the week that just happened, half dreading the upcoming week. I would either try to cram every chore I avoided during the week or zone out completely, only to feel off balance by Monday. Neither approach really helped.

Somewhere along the way—might even after too many chaotic Monday mornings, I started experimenting with simple Sunday habits that made the week ahead feel less overwhelming. Nothing intense, nothing that required 5.am wake-up call or elaborate routine. Just little things that make me feel more grounded and less like I’m being thrown into the deep end when Monday shows up.

Here are 6 easy things I do most Sundays to set the tone for the week:

1. A Gentle Tidy (Emphasis on Gentle)

I’m not trying to deep-clean my apartment. I just do the basics—dishes out of the sink, sorting out the laundry, random mugs back in the kitchen. Waking up on Monday without being visually reminded of last week’s chaos makes a big difference. And honestly I kind of enjoy cleaning. There is something satisfying about wiping down a dusty floor or seeing freshly washed dishes neatly stacked. When my living space feels lighter, my head does too.

2. A Real Meal at Home (Is a Must in My Sunday Habits)

I try to cook at least one proper meal on Sunday if not both days on the weekend. Nothing fancy—just something warm that didn’t come from a delivery bag.  It’s less about health and more about comfort, though I like to somewhat make a healthy meal that is still tasteful. Sitting down to a home-cooked meal on a Sunday makes the week ahead feels more intentional—like I’m choosing how to begin, instead of just bracing it.

3. Loose Planning (But No Pressure)

I used to avoid looking at my calendar on Sundays because I didn’t want to think about work. Some weeks, I didn’t even want to acknowledge that it was Sunday at all. Now, I try to do a quick check-in. What’s coming up? Any errands I need to remember. Do I have time carved out for writing, creating—or simply existing like a human being? It’s not a strict to-do-list—just a soft outline to hold the week.

Another small thing that helps is prepping my work outfits for the entire week. I’ve been doing it for as long as I can remember, and it honestly sets the tone for my mornings. Knowing what I’m wearing each day takes one more decision off my plate—and helps me avoid the rushed, chaotic energy I used to start my weekdays with.

4. Make Space for Stillness (and the Occasional Nap)

Sundays are when I crave a bit of stillness. I try to spend at least part of the day without background noise—no TV playing in the background, no endless multitasking. Sometime’s I’ll ready (even just a few short pages), sometimes I’ll just sit with a cup of warm drink and let my mind wander. And yes, sometimes I take a nap. Not because I’m worn out, but because slowing down feels good. Giving myself that space—whether it’s quiet time or a little rest—makes the week ahead feel less rushed before it even begins. And to be honest, a nap is a joy to have when building healthy Sunday habits.

5. A Simple Self Check-in

I don’t always write it down, but I like to pause and ask:

How did this week feel?
What do I need more of next week?
What do I want less of?
What can I do better—and how?

Some weeks the answers are vague—not all weeks are the same. Other times they are surprisingly specific. Maybe I realise I need more rest, or that I’ve been saying yes to too much. Maybe I notice I haven’t made time for anything creative—or that I’ve spent too many evenings scrolling when I meant to wind down.

It’s easy to roll into a new week without processing the last one.  I’ve done that plenty of times, and I usually end up feeling like I’m chasing time instead of living in it. This little habits helps me slow down and take stock. It brings me back to myself, just enough to move forward with more awareness.

It’s not about fixing everything. It’s just a quiet check-in—a reminder that I can choose how I want to feel going into the new week.

6. Something Just For Me

This might be the most important one. I do one thing just because I want to. Not because it’s productive. Not because it checks a box. Just because it brings me comfort—or joy, or calm, or maybe just a sense of “me” time.

It might be rewatching a comfort show I know by heart. Or writing a blog post no one asked for, simply because the words feel good to get out. Sometimes it’s rearranging my space in a way that feels fresh. Other times it’s just me, lying on the couch, doing absolutely nothing—and letting that be enough.

I’ve learned that giving myself permission to enjoy something for no reason at all is surprisingly powerful. In a world that constantly rewards productivity and hustle, choosing rest or creativity or play—just for the sake of it–feels like a quiet kind of rebellion. And it reminds me that I’m a person first, not just a to-do list with legs.

Final thought

I’ve found that how I spend my Sunday doesn’t need to be perfect or productive—it just needs to feel intentional. I am not chasing some ideal routine or trying to check off a bunch of self-improvement boxes. It is more about asking: what do I need today so I don’t feel like I’m tumbling into Monday?

These little habits—some structure, a bit of stillness, something just for me—help me ease into the week with a sense of calm instead of chaos. And when things don’t go as planned (because life is life), I try not to spiral. Some Sundays are slower than others. Some are messier. But when I don’t get everything done. I’ve learned that a fresh set of sheets and a warm dinner can carry you further than you would think.

It’s not about having it all figured out—it’s about creating a little space to begin again, however imperfectly.