Introduction
Sunday evenings can feel like a crossroads. On one hand, there’s the quiet exhale after a weekend; on the other, the weight of a new week waiting to begin. For years, I would end Sundays with a vague sense of anxiety—too many loose ends, too many plans left unclarified. Then I started asking myself three simple questions.
This small ritual reshaped how I begin the week. It doesn’t take more than ten minutes, but it clears mental clutter and helps me step into Monday with purpose instead of dread. In this article, I’ll share those three questions and why they’ve become the backbone of my weekly reset.
Question 1: What Really Matters This Week?
It’s easy to start Monday buried under a flood of tasks. Emails, meetings, errands—all of them feel urgent, but not all of them actually matter. This question pulls me back to the essentials.
When I ask myself what really matters this week, I’m not just making a to-do list. I’m setting an intention. I jot down 1–3 priorities that would make the week feel meaningful if nothing else got done. Sometimes it’s finishing a project. Other times it’s calling a family member or prioritizing rest.
Key takeaway: Clarity beats quantity. A short, focused list creates far more progress than a scattered one.
How to Make It Practical
- Write down no more than 3 priorities.
- Ask: If I only accomplished these, would I feel satisfied on Friday?
- Use a simple planner or digital tool (I like Notion for this—it keeps everything in one place).
Question 2: What Needs to Be Cleared?
This is where I turn to the clutter—both mental and physical. By Sunday evening, unfinished tasks pile up like laundry: emails I skimmed but didn’t answer, notes I scribbled but never sorted, or a desk that looks like a small hurricane passed through.
Asking what needs to be cleared gives me permission to reset. I spend a few minutes:
- Emptying my inbox (or at least clearing the obvious junk).
- Tidying my desk so Monday morning feels open instead of overwhelming.
- Writing down nagging thoughts so they don’t swirl in my head.
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating space. A clear space equals a clear mind.
Key takeaway: When you start the week lighter, you create room for focus and flow.
Tools That Help
I personally use a simple “inbox zero” approach with Gmail and pair it with Todoist (affiliate link) for small lingering tasks. Automating just a few of these systems has been one of the most freeing upgrades to my weekly rhythm.
Question 3: How Do I Want to Feel by Friday?
This one surprised me. For years, my planning only revolved around doing. Then I realized that being mattered just as much.
By asking how do I want to feel by Friday, I bring intention into the week’s pace. Do I want to feel accomplished? Rested? Balanced? Energized? Once I choose, I adjust my plans. If I want to feel energized, I schedule midweek breaks or workouts. If I want to feel rested, I cut back on unnecessary commitments.
This reframes productivity from a numbers game into something more human. Because at the end of the week, we don’t remember how many emails we answered—we remember how we felt living it.
Key takeaway: Success isn’t just measured in tasks completed, but in the quality of energy we carry through them.
Putting It All Together
These three questions form a simple framework:
- What really matters this week? → Sets intention.
- What needs to be cleared? → Creates space.
- How do I want to feel by Friday? → Shapes energy.
Together, they form a reset ritual that’s both grounding and flexible. It’s not about designing the “perfect” week—it’s about aligning your focus, clearing your head, and remembering that your energy is just as important as your output.
Gentle Closing Reflection
Next Sunday night, try it. Pour yourself a cup of tea, grab a notebook, and ask these three questions. Notice how your mindset shifts when Monday morning arrives. The goal isn’t control—it’s clarity.
If you’d like a structured way to make this a habit, I recommend using a simple weekly reflection template. I created mine in Notion, and it’s been a quiet anchor for my routine.
Simplifying your reset isn’t about doing less—it’s about creating space for what matters most.