As the winter months set in and the cold creeps up on us, we’re all feeling the effects of the drop in vitamin D and the winter blues. So when we come to the end of the workweek it’s hard to relax and recover by the time Monday rolls back around. Most of us spend our Sundays stress-pacing about our abodes, in a haze of anxiety, fighting our to-do lists, then Monday happens and we feel like we haven’t relaxed at all. We spend so much time trying to be productive that we regularly fail to produce time to relax.

So take the time to carve out a Sunday self care routine that’s restorative and fulfilling, helping you to recover from your busy week and prepare for the week ahead. Here’s your sign to give yourself permission to put you first.

Morning: Stretch, Hydrate, and Reflect

Start your Sunday morning with some gentle movement, like yoga or gentle stretching. The idea is to release physical tension and focus the mind, and start the day away from any screens or any chores. This may be a That Girl thing to do but make yourself a glass of lemon water to drink, even if you don’t believe in the benefits or like it, you can at least tick it off your list of achievements for the day. An easy win.

While we’re in a focused mindset, carve out a time for mindfulness, however that looks to you. Maybe it’s meditation, sitting watching the world go by or using meditation apps like Calm or Headspace, we want to reset out body back to a calmer state. When we calm the body, we calm all the hormones that would otherwise make us stressed, so even if you do have things to stress about, at least you can have a few moments to simply be present and reflect on what you want to release from your week before.

Before you start your lunch, prepare a slow cooker meal and set the timer. This will make your dinner time easier and you’ll have leftovers for during the week.

Afternoon: Creative Rest and Hygge Moments

After a healthy lunch, focus on activities that nourish your creative soul and bring you joy. Maybe that’s journaling or something more crafty. Allow yourself the time to do the things that are purely for you that you feel relax you and take you away from the pressure of work and chores. Try listening to audiobooks while crafting, it’s a great way to escape into a different world for a little while.

Use the afternoon to indulge in hygge-inspired moments – the Danish concept of coziness and comfort is a harmless hug of a self-care trend.

If you feel a bit co-oped up then take a walk in nature and practice “forest-bathing”, a Japanese-inspired mindfulness practice, or just take in some scenery.

Evening: Pamper and Plan

As you wind down for the day, shift your focus to relaxation and preparation. The obligatory (only kidding, it’s optional) skincare ritual is the cornerstone of the self-care ritual. Spend some time in the bath, put on a sheet mask and create your own spa and salon experience. If you’re not someone who goes to salons regularly, tidy up those nails and use a protective coat of varnish so they don’t split on you during the week. Intentionally doing all these small acts will make you feel much more confident to face the week ahead.

To end the day, grab a planner and jot down a few achievable goals for the week, some meal ideas and a loose schedule for the following day. You don’t have to follow any of it but you can always refer back to it if you’re feeling lost and overwhelmed.

Why Sundays Matter for Self-Care

By giving ourselves a Sunday reset we’re tricking our body into calming down, or maybe we’re actually just calming down, this is a question for philosophy. Intentional living is all about slowing down and enjoying the present and doing so helps us to recharge and it builds back our resilience for the week ahead.

There will always be things to do and chores to complete so take Sundays for yourself.