Planning
The Sunday reset: a weekly review in 15 minutes
6 min read · Updated
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- A Sunday reset is 15 minutes to look back at last week and set up the next one.
- Tracking progress helps people reach goals, most of all when it is written down (Harkin and colleagues).
- A new week works as a fresh start that makes it easier to begin (Dai, Milkman and Riis).
- Five steps: empty your head, look back, look ahead, pick the week focus, set up Monday.
Sunday evening. The week ahead is already sitting on your chest, and you haven't even started it.
That feeling usually isn't about the week itself. It's about not knowing what's in it.
Fifteen minutes on Sunday can save you a week of "what was I supposed to do?"
What is a Sunday reset?
A short, fixed moment to look back at last week and set up the next one. Fifteen minutes. A cup of tea. One board.
It's not a big planning session. It's a reset: clear what's loose, see what's coming, pick what matters.
Why does a weekly review help?
Two reasons, both backed by research.
Looking back keeps you going. A review by Benjamin Harkin and colleagues combined 138 experiments. Keeping track of progress helped people reach their goals, most of all when they wrote it down.
A new week is a fresh start. Hengchen Dai, Katherine Milkman and Jason Riis found that people are more likely to work on goals at "fresh starts", like a new year, a new month or a new week. Monday counts.
A Sunday reset uses both: you see your progress, and you start the week on purpose.
Everything in sight. On one board.
Tasks, notes, photos and plans as cards on one calm board. No charge today. Cancel anytime.
Start 7 days freeOr see all templates →How do I do a Sunday reset?
Five steps, about three minutes each.
1. Empty your head (3 min) Write down everything that's floating around: tasks, ideas, worries, things you promised. Don't sort yet.
2. Look back (3 min) What got done last week? Tick it off and let it stay visible for a moment. What didn't get done, and does it still matter?
3. Look ahead (3 min) Open the week. Appointments, deadlines, birthdays, late evenings. Which days are full? Which are free?
4. Pick the week's focus (3 min) Three things that would make this week a good week. Put them on top.
5. Set up Monday (3 min) Choose Monday's Big 3, so tomorrow you start instead of deciding. Here's how the Big 3 works.
What if I miss a Sunday?
Do it on Monday morning. Or Tuesday. A fresh start doesn't need a perfect date.
What do I need for it?
One place where the whole week is visible. Not five apps and a notebook.
- This week: each day, with what's fixed
- Week focus: the three things that matter most
- Waiting on: what depends on someone else
- Later: everything you parked, still in sight
How do I keep the week from overflowing?
Leave room. Most weeks get more requests than you planned for.
- Don't fill every day to the edge
- Keep one block a week free for what comes up
- If something new arrives, ask: does it replace something, or wait until next week?
Can we do it together?
Yes, and it helps a lot at home. Ten minutes with your partner on Sunday evening: who has what, which evenings are busy, what's for dinner.
It's the same routine as in stop being the family's calendar, just for the whole household.
The full week board
Your 15-minute Sunday reset
Screenshot this:
- Empty your head
- Tick off last week
- Look at the week ahead
- Pick three things for the week
- Choose Monday's Big 3
This Sunday, set a 15-minute timer and try it once. See how Monday morning feels.
Questions
What is a Sunday reset?
A short weekly moment, about 15 minutes, to look back at last week, clear your head and plan the week ahead.
How do I do a weekly review?
Empty your head, tick off what got done, look at the week ahead, pick three things for the week and choose Monday's Big 3.
Why does a weekly review help?
Research shows that tracking progress helps people reach goals, and a new week works as a fresh start that makes it easier to begin.
What if I miss my Sunday review?
Do it on Monday or Tuesday. A fresh start does not need a perfect date.
Can couples do a weekly review together?
Yes. Ten minutes on Sunday evening to go through who has what, busy evenings and dinners keeps the household week clear.
Sources
- Harkin, B., Webb, T. L., Chang, B. P. I., et al. (2016). Does monitoring goal progress promote goal attainment? A meta-analysis of the experimental evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 142(2), 198–229.
- Dai, H., Milkman, K. L., & Riis, J. (2014). The fresh start effect: Temporal landmarks motivate aspirational behavior. Management Science, 60(10), 2563–2582.
Try it on your own board.
No charge today. Cancel anytime.
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