8 things I do to reset after a chaotic, indulgent weekend

Bank holiday wiped you out? Try these tricks...

If there’s ever a time to let loose and indulge, it’s a sunny bank holiday weekend at the very cusp of summertime. Last weekend, I spent such a holiday surrounded by friends, eating decadent food, drinking from about midday every day, and generally having a marvellous, debaucherous time. But by around 3 pm on Monday, as I ate yet another portion of cheesy chips washed down with a beer, I had begun to crave structure again. 

In my twenties, these kinds of weekends required no reset. I simply kicked on into a new week feeling jaded but essentially unflustered. In my thirties, however, I like to create more of a plan to get back to a place, both mentally and physically, where I feel like a healthy, happy human being again. If you’re the same way inclined, this week, I’m sharing the list of things I do to reset after a chaotic, heavy weekend. 

1. Do a big load of laundry 

There’s something symbolic about doing laundry, isn't there? It goes beyond simply getting things clean, and often feels more like a ceremony—an easy, evergreen way to begin getting one's shit together. A metaphor for starting fresh and scrubbing one’s mind clean, as well as one's bed sheets. In this way, a big old wash is one of the most obvious ways to reset after a big week. The starting line, if you will. 

2. Deep clean my space

While the sheets are off and the wash basket is empty, this is when I usually like to deep clean my space. I find that - more than my conscious mind - my subconscious notices when I’ve done that little bit more (hoovered down the edge of the bed, wiped behind the bookshelves etc), so it’s worth just sticking on an audiobook and spending an extra hour doing it right.   

3. Deep cleaning myself 

One of my fail-safe hangover cures is always to wash my hair. Even if I washed it for whatever occasion has made me feel like death, in the morning, we go again. It’s the same after an indulgent week. I like to do the absolute works on myself. Scalp scrub, exfoliating mitt, full body shave, shampoo, conditioner, hair mask, then coat myself in moisturiser as though it will save me from my sins. Starting a new week feeling squeaky clean makes all the difference. And, unlike hoovering or laundry, I actually find this part really enjoyable.

4. Complete the admin that’s hanging over my head

It never fails to amaze me how much better I feel when I make the (usually minimal) effort to complete any boring or stressful admin tasks. Doctors appointments. Amalgamating my pension pots. Sending that invoice. Messaging that person back. If piled-up admin tasks like these make you spiral with anxiety, try to picture the feeling of smugness that accompanies getting it all done.

5. Set myself some exercise targets 

I’m a planner by nature, so if I want to go for some long runs, a gym session, or a swim, I always feel more likely to do it if I’ve scheduled it in. Doing this also means I can plan (a little) around the weather forecast, so I don’t end up doing indoor swimming in a heatwave, or being forced to do 10k in the pouring rain. Of course, living in England, that doesn’t always work out.

While the gym still does wonders for your dopamine, I find that I feel even better if the exercise I’m doing takes place outdoors, surrounded by nature. Something about the fresh air and uneven ground brings me back to a state of peace and quiet.  

6. Plan some healthy, delicious meals

I’m a firm believer that healthy food can be truly delicious food. And we’re just entering the part of the year where things like fruits and vegetables start to taste a hundred times better as we access them more locally. After a week of dense carbohydrates washed down with alcohol, planning out some meal ideas for the next week genuinely gets me excited. Deconstructed burger bowls, chicken caesar salads, cowboy caviar, fish tacos—I always make sure the whole, fresh foods my body’s craving are cooked up into something tasty. Not an unseasoned chicken breast or steamed broccoli in sight. 

7. Be in bed by 9:30 pm 

Sleep is something I’m probably a little too precious about, in that I get quite anxious if I don’t get enough of it. I know it won’t kill me, but there’s something psychological about how I feel about getting eight hours every night. That said, going to sleep at 9:30 pm is a bit of a stretch for most people, myself included. But, particularly after a heavy week, I do like to be under the covers by this time, so that I can drink a tea and decompress for a while before switching off the lights. In a dream world, I’d be reading a book during this time. Sometimes, though, I’m scrolling Pinterest, which is also fine. 

8. Write things down

Conveniently, this newsletter is achieving this part of the plan for me this week! But, usually, I like to organise a reset by writing down how I’m going to go about it, whether long-form (like this post) or just as a bullet point list. It’s helpful to have something to come back to when the week starts to peel away and that initial determination to keep to a good, healthy, productive routine fades. And, look, if you end up having another chaotic week, it really isn’t the end of the world! The great thing about writing things down is that they’re there for the next time you need them. 

What about you? Do you have any rituals or things you do after a heavy week to reset or find structure again? I’d love to know what they are, so please pop them in the comments!  

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