Sunday Reset: How I’m Prepping for a Week of Impact (Without the Burnout)

Feb 1

We’ve all felt it. That creeping “Sunday Scary” feeling that starts around 4:00 PM. Whether you’re a classroom teacher staring down a week of lesson plans or an administrator balancing a calendar full of observations and meetings, the weight of a new week can feel heavy.

For a long time, I thought "Sunday Prep" meant working for five hours to get ahead. But over time, I’ve realized that the most effective leaders and educators don't start the workweek on Sunday—they use it to protect their peace.

If you want to show up authentically for your students and your staff, you have to show up for yourself first. Here is my go-to Sunday Reset routine to ensure I head into Monday feeling proactive, not reactive.

1. The "Brain Dump" List

Before I look at my digital calendar, I grab a notebook and a cup of coffee. I write down everything swirling in my head: the emails I forgot to send, the students I am worried about, the data reports that are due, and even the laundry I need to fold.

Getting it out of my head and onto paper immediately lowers my cortisol. Once it’s all out, I circle the Top 3 things that actually move the needle. Everything else? It can wait until Tuesday.

2. High-Value Habit: The "Launch Pad"

As educators, we make thousands of decisions a day. Decision fatigue is real! To save my mental energy for the big stuff, I automate my Monday morning.

The Outfit: I pick it out (down to the jewelry) so I don’t have to think at 6:00 AM.
The Bag: Keys, badge, and charger are already by the door.
The Fuel: I prep a high-protein breakfast and pack a lunch I actually look forward to eating. (No sad deskside salads allowed!)

3. Setting an Intention (Not Just a Goal)

In administration and teaching, things will go wrong. A sub won’t show up, or a technology glitch will ruin a lesson. Instead of a goal like "I will finish all my grading," I set an intention for how I want to feel.

Lately, my intention has been: “I will choose connection over perfection.” When I lead with that mindset, the small hiccups don’t feel like failures—they feel like opportunities to support my community.

4. Reclaiming the Evening

The most important part of my Sunday prep? The Hard Stop. At 7:00 PM, the laptop goes away. No scrolling through educational Twitter, no checking the inbox "one last time."

Whether it’s a long walk, a favorite show, or reading a book that has nothing to do with pedagogy, this is the time I remind myself that I am more than my job title.