Weekly Reset for Real Life: My Routine for Starting Fresh Every Week

Every Friday afternoon, I now look forward to my weekly reset.

For so long, I didn’t have one — and everything felt just a little bit messy. Rushed. Disjointed. Like I was constantly reacting instead of living with any real sense of rhythm or purpose.

It wasn’t until I started building a simple weekly reset ritual that things began to shift.

Not a deep clean. Not a big planning session. Just a gentle clearing of the clutter that builds up throughout the week — digital, mental, emotional, and even the kind hiding at the bottom of my purse.

This little routine has become one of the most important anchors in my week. It helps me start fresh with more clarity, calm, and control — even when life is full and unpredictable.

In this post, I’m sharing exactly what my Weekly Reset looks like and how you can create your own version to support your life, your energy, and your sanity.

1- Clear my computer’s folders

The first thing I do that makes me feel instantly refreshed is clearing out the folders on my computer.

I know — it’s not exactly a bubble bath — but something about it just feels like self-care.

This is especially true if you work from home, but even if you don’t, random files always seem to find their way into the Downloads folder, scattered across the desktop, or hiding in your Documents.

And if you let them pile up, it inevitably gets to a point where you just keep procrastinating — I know that feeling too well.

Most of the time, the reason we put this off is because we don’t have a solid system in place. We don’t really know where things should go, so we just keep saving and stashing and telling ourselves we’ll sort it “later.”

2- Check and clear emails

I truly believe this is one of those small things that makes you sleep better at night.

I take a few minutes to double-check that I didn’t miss anything important, file what I want to keep, and delete the rest. This is also when I’ll respond to any non-urgent emails that still deserve a reply.

It’s not about hitting inbox zero — just creating some breathing room in my inbox and in my head.

3- Check bank accounts

You could make this part of a bigger financial review, but even a quick check-in once a week is so worth it. I check for any unusual activity and review recent transactions or spending.

It only takes a few minutes, and it gives me peace of mind heading into the weekend.

4- Organize notes from my quick capture system

Throughout the week, I use my phone to quickly capture any thoughts, ideas, tasks, or reminders that come up. On Fridays, I review everything I’ve saved and sort it into my Notion databases — so nothing gets lost, and I can actually act on what matters.

It’s a small step that makes a big difference in how clear and in control I feel.

5- Select the best photos from my phone

This one was honestly life-changing for me.

I made the decision to create one printed photo album per year — one of those digital books you can customize and get shipped. I managed to do it last year, but wow… it took forever. The task felt so overwhelming because I hadn’t organized a single photo in years.

So I asked myself: how could I make this easier? And the answer was simple — select the best photos weekly.

I don’t have a strict number, but I try not to go over 20. Not all of them will end up in the final album, but at least I’ve narrowed the pool, and I know the most meaningful moments are saved and backed up.

It gives me so much peace of mind — especially if anything were to happen to my phone (yes, I have cloud storage, but it never hurts to have a backup of your backup, right?).

And the bonus? I always have a selection of fresh, sweet photos ready to send to the grandparents.

6- Clear my purse and reset the diaper bag

You know how it is… things just accumulate. Once a week is the perfect rhythm to make sure it doesn’t get out of control.

I empty out my purse, toss what’s not needed, check my wallet for receipts, and keep only what’s essential. Then I reset the diaper bag — especially important before the weekend when we tend to be out and about more.

If you have older kids, this could also be a stock of things you keep in the car — snacks, wipes, activities — anything that needs regular refreshing.

7- Reflect on the passed week

This is the most grounding part of my reset. I take a few quiet moments to check in with myself: How did this week feel? What went well? What didn’t go as planned — and why?

This isn’t about being hard on myself. It’s about noticing patterns, honoring where I’m at, and setting more aligned expectations for the week ahead.

Even just five minutes of reflection can shift your whole mindset.

8- Do a brain dump (with help from prompts)

When I close down my work for the week, I like to do a brain dump of everything that’s still on my mind.
I try to capture as much as possible throughout the week using my information capture system — but there are always a few lingering thoughts that need a little extra digging.

(And if you’re not familiar with an Information Capture System yet, be sure to check out this article where I show you exactly how to set one up. It’s one of the most important systems I recommend having in place!)

Since I started using brain dump prompts, I honestly rarely forget anything anymore. I get everything out first, without sorting or filtering, and only afterward do I start moving tasks, appointments, ideas, and notes into their respective homes — so I can actually process them.

This isn’t meant to be a planning session — it’s simply about making sure your brain is as light and clear as it can be.

Final Thoughts – Create Your Own Reset Rhythm

I hope this gave you a little inspiration to create a weekly reset that fits your life.

It doesn’t need to be perfect, or long, or overly structured. In fact, the best resets are often the simplest ones — the little things that clear the mental clutter and help you step into the new week feeling like you’re not dragging last week along with you.

Whether your reset happens on Friday afternoon, Sunday evening, or Monday morning — the point is to pause, clear, and begin again.

Want to build your own Weekly Reset Routine?

I’ve put together a free Weekly Reset Starter Kit for you!

It includes a PDF with task ideas, brain dump prompts and weekly reflection questions that you can pick and choose from to create your own weekly reset – that makes sense to you.

And a customizable Notion template that’s ready to use, so you can jump right into your Weekly Reset without starting from scratch.

Grab your free Starter Kit and take the first step toward calmer, more organized weeks! (and yes, you’ll find a quick guide inside to walk you through it).

And if you already have a weekly reset, I’d love to hear what’s on your list — feel free to leave a comment. There’s something so encouraging about seeing how others reset, too. 💛