What is the ultimate Sunday routine? Everybody’s different. Some people like to use Sunday to get organized for the week ahead, other’s like to spend the whole day buried in bed watching Netflix.
There’s no ‘one size fits all’ Sunday routine, so I decided to ask the experts what they would recommend as the ultimate Sunday routine. If anybody knows, they do.
MORNING: Decide what kind of day it’s going to be
Susan Hepburn is a hypnotherapist and psychotherapist with a Harley Street practice that has a whole host of A-list clients, including Adele. She has some great tips on how to build the best Sunday based on what you like to do.
“Take a moment to ask yourself how you feel and what you want to do today. It’s Sunday so you may want to catch up with friends, or you might decide to have a pamper day.” If you decide that rather than a day of rest, you want to make it a day of organization, Susan recommends treating it like the first day of the week.
“Think of Sunday as the chance to plan and prepare yourself for the week ahead, then there will be no more of that dreaded ‘Monday morning’ feeling and you will have already got yourself into a positive mindset.”
WHEN YOU GET UP: Hydrate and reset your body
Matt Lovell is the nutritionist to the World Cup Senior Female team, and the England Rugby team amongst other professional athletes. He recommends using Sunday to cleanse and reset, saying: “I love to hydrate, train, make a PACK’D Detox power smoothie– it’s part of a routine I love and one I always recommend to clients. If you’ve been out the night before you feel back on track straight away.”
MIDMORNING: Make use of your time
Susan has more advice for the rest of your day, if you’re in organization mode you should try to create that ultimate to do list.
“In order to have a more productive week, this ‘to do list’ can be your most effective way of making it happen. Having your tasks laid out before the week starts will allow you to start them with enthusiasm, early Monday morning.”
But if you’re having a rest, you should try and get out of bed, too. “Early Sunday morning is a fabulous way to start your day outside, it’s quiet, refreshing and no queues! So grab a coffee or go for a walk or a run. Sit outside at a pavement café and read a book. Being outside is one of the best ways to start your day.”
MIDDAY: Be smart about your lunch
Matt also recommends that you get smart about how you feed yourself on a Sunday, too. “Topping up your Sunday routine with a balanced lunch can help you later in the day too. I normally choose foods which help with inflammation, such as salmon, spices, garlic, lemon juice and ginger. Later in the day, hot yoga is another great option too. Monday mornings are much easier as a result. You just gotta remember to hydrate after that bad boy!”
AFTERNOON: Plan your meals
Sunday is a great day to shop and prepare your meals for the coming weeks, Susan recommends writing a meal plan up to avoid impulse buying because you’re hungry.
“Sundays are typically a grocery shopping day, so write a meal plan, then it’s easier to focus on the task in hand – to write your shopping list and not forget anything – or to not wander around the store aimlessly and buying stuff you don’t need!”
EVENING: Reduce your blue light intake
Colleen Carney is Kobo’s sleep expert and the Director of Sleep and Depression Laboratory at Ryerson University, the e-reading company has recently released the Kobo Aura One based on the research around blue-light, and Amazon has launched the Fire HD8 to reduce blue light, too.
“Getting the right amount of sleep is extremely important and is just as valuable to your health as a balanced diet and daily exercise routine. We’ve all heard that reading on an electronic device can hinder a restful night’s sleep due to the activating effects of blue spectrum light. We require red spectrum light to stimulate melatonin, a hormone that regulates our body clock.”
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