Before the beginning of a new week, many students in Oxford practice weekly-reset routines to organize their living spaces, clear their minds and prepare for classes.
Students have their own routines and motivations, but all methods of resetting ultimately aim for the same goal of a clean slate for the upcoming week.
“I’ll usually focus on cleaning my room first,” Aneta Kukuckova, a sophomore biological science major, said. “And then I’ll move on to common spaces like the kitchen or living room. It is nice to walk into a clean space.”
Kukuckova lives at the Archive Oxford apartment complex. She said that living in a tidy environment allows her to feel organized and focused. Kukuckova’s weekly routine includes organizing school materials, doing laundry and treating herself to a spa day.
“If I’m in a clean space, I’m not so stressed and unorganized like I would be if there (were) trash and clothes lying around,” Kukuckova said.
Charlie Greaves, a freshman biological science major, said he does a weekly reset in his dorm every Sunday. Greaves’ typical reset routine involves attending church, taking a nap and cleaning his dorm room.
Greaves lives in Residential Hall Two. He said cleaning his room means less stress and more relaxation throughout the week.
“I feel like I can relax after I clean,” Greaves said. “I feel like I can’t start doing things until I’m in a clean environment.”
Greaves said his best tip for other students is to be consistent with cleaning.
“Clean your rooms once a week,” Greaves said. “They will get dirty very easily, and it will bother you when you’re stressed. It will just become one more thing to do on your list.”
Anna Claire Donham, a sophomore biological science major, said that cleaning her house is a calming experience. She typically resets on Sunday, and her routine entails doing laundry, cleaning the dishes and vacuuming.
“Cleaning is calming for me,” Donham said. “It lets me have a clean space for the coming week. I don’t like to live in chaos.”
Donham said that her biggest tip for other students is to put on some form of entertainment while you clean.
“My tips would be to just put on music or a show,” Donham said.
Weekly resets are not just for cleaning. Some students enjoy practicing self-care to de-stress and relax, choosing to physically reset their bodies along with resetting their living spaces. Self-care can range from doing something you enjoy to taking care of your body and mind.
“I usually treat Sundays as a spa day for myself,” Kukuckova said. “I like to do a physical reset, as well.”
Alexis Bailey, a junior elementary education major who lives in an apartment, said part of her weekly routine is spiritual. Attending church on Sunday helps her to maintain mental clarity for the upcoming week.
“I’m a Christian, so on Sundays, I’ll get up in the morning and go to church, which is like a little brain refresher for me,” Bailey said.
Weekly-reset routines differ for every student. Whether it is cleaning, practicing a self-care routine or fulfilling spiritual needs, taking a moment to care for yourself and your home could set you up for a better week.
“I like the saying ‘clean space, clean mind,’ because it definitely does help me,” Kukuckova said.
