Sunday-Funday: Resetting your Mind and Body

I love Mondays. Annoying, right? It’s almost as annoying as when someone says they "love" running or they "love" waking up at 5 in the morning. But hold on a second, put down your pitchforks and torches, and let me explain.

I love Mondays (not only because I don't have work Mondays - yet) because they're a great start to the week. There are new goals and intentions that come into mind for the rest of the week, and because of the accomplishments that I have in mind, I'm ready to kick ass. But I can't accomplish whatever I have on my mind or maintain a somewhat positive mindset without a little bit of self-care and reset before the (hellish?) week starts. And because of that, I encourage everyone to try resetting on Sunday so that everything in your life can fall into place and start fresh on Monday.

Reset your hair.

Hair is probably everyone's worse enemy, regardless of whether it's on your head or on. your body. Whether you haven't touched your hair since last week or you tortured your arm muscles trying to fry your hair with a curling wand, it all needs a little more tender care. My recommendation: on Sunday morning, try a coconut oil hair mask. It doesn't necessarily have to be coconut oil; it could be Rosehip and almond oil (to do double duty), it could be Castor oil or Argan oil. But regardless of the type of hair mask you prefer, start by massaging one-third cup (for medium-length hair, but remember to adjust accordingly!) of the oil into your scalp (always scalp first!), then run your fingers through your hair to give the rest of your strands some tender love. If you're going to be home the rest of the day, leave it down. If you're going to be out and about, pull your hair into a high bun (and hope it doesn't fall off) and then go about your Sunday routine. At the end of the day, wash out the oil in the shower. Be sure to scrub well, and you can even shampoo twice to make sure it's all out! Your hair will dry soft, healthy-looking, and full of bounce for an automatic "my-hair-looks-good" Monday. What better way to start the week than by loving the hair that's on your head?

Reset your gut.

This is a big one (for me at least, because I have stomach issues). After a weekend (or week) of possibly overindulging yourself, you're probably experiencing some bloatedness and indigestion. For those who have stomach issues, this may start earlier in the week than on the last day of the week, but this remedy is for everyone. Try this: mix a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar, a tablespoon of water, half a tablespoon of lemon juice, and a teaspoon of honey together - then down it like a shot (I know everyone misses that the way I do). It will help you digest what's sticking around in your stomach and detox your body. For the rest of the day, sip on green tea, mint tea, or take a probiotic capsule with a meal (if you're not keen on taking capsules, Greek yogurt an hour or two after a meal will do the trick just as well!)

Reset your stuff.

A definitive way Monday stresses all of us out is by having, or even just seeing, a cluttered laptop and work bag. To combat this Marie-Kondo-style, close out all tabs and notifications on your computer/laptop. Unsubscribe from annoying promo emails you don't even look at, delete unnecessary items from your downloads folder, and clear out your trash bin if you haven't already. Next, wipe down your screen and keyboard. Then, I challenge you to shut down your computer and have a computer-free rest of the day - your emails can wait until tomorrow.

To reset your bag, dump the contents out into a pile on a clean area of your floor. First, throw away all trash and scraps of paper (I keep a bunch of receipts from weeks ago, but that's just me). Then, take out anything that belongs in your house (water bottles, Tupperware, that sweater from last week), and put it where it goes. Then, gather up the rest of your stuff and ends like hair ties, earbuds, paper clips, lip glosses, lip balms, and pare them down (you most likely don't need three different hand lotions and sanitizers because they look pretty). Place the necessary items into a Ziploc storage bag for safekeeping. Then, put everything back into your bag and put it away until tomorrow.

Reset your skin.

Your skin deserves to be deep-cleaned to start the week. To start this off, massage your face with an oil-based cleanser. If you don’t have one, you can use high-quality coconut or avocado oil. Once your face has a light coating of oil, run warm-to-hot water over a washcloth and wring it out. Lay the cloth over your face and let it sit until it cools. Then, use the cloth to wipe off all oil. This gives your face a clean slate to work effectively with your cleanser and absorb any products you put on it. After the oil cleanse, wash your face with your typical cleanser. Post-wash, use an exfoliator. I love this one, but you can use any exfoliator you have, including a chemical exfoliator.

If you find yourself exfoliator-less, use some apple cider vinegar on a cotton pad. For a more natural exfoliator, you can use aloe vera too. After the exfoliator, apply a DIY spot treatment to breakouts made of equal parts turmeric and honey. If you’d like, you can apply your favorite face mask on top of the spot treatment! Rinse off your mask, apply toner and moisturizer, and let your skin glow.

Reset your muscles.

After clenching your shoulders when typing and getting your butt and legs dying while running around, your muscles need to relax. When you don’t have the time (or money) for a full-body massage, take an Epsom salt bath. To make the bath, add two cups of Epsom salt (available at most grocery and drug stores) to your bathtub before filling with water so it can dissolve. For a bit of aromatherapy, you can add a few drops of lavender or eucalyptus essential oil to the tub. The magnesium content of Epsom salt can be absorbed through the skin, which helps get rid of lactic acid and improve flexibility. The bath will draw out toxins while reducing stress (and it’s also great for period pain). You can even do this while your facial dries from the step above.

Reset your teeth.

If the weekend’s red wine and coffee runs have left your teeth far from pearly, try oil pulling to reset. The action of oil pulling, along with coconut oil’s antibacterial properties, helps to draw out toxins and whiten teeth. Plus, people swear by it for hangovers. To oil pull, swish half a tablespoon of melted coconut oil in your mouth for 10-20 minutes. Being very careful not to swallow the oil, spit it into your trash can, rinse with warm water, then brush your teeth. You’ll have fresh breath and toothpaste-commercial-worthy teeth.

What do you do to start your week on the right foot? Do you have any Sunday rituals?