Hey everyone, Summer here.

Welcome to Monday Morning Reset—just a few minutes to ease into the week with intention instead of chaos.

I know it's Monday. I know you might be dreading it. But grab your coffee, take a breath, and give me ten minutes before you dive into emails and to-do lists and everything demanding your attention.

Let's start this week differently.

So it's Sunday night right now as I'm recording this. 10:17 PM, to be exact.

And you know that feeling that hits around this time on Sunday evenings? That low-grade dread that starts creeping in? The weekend's ending, Monday's coming, and your brain starts running through everything you have to do, everything you didn't get done, everything waiting for you when the alarm goes off tomorrow.

Sunday night anxiety. It's so common we've given it a name.

I used to let that feeling ruin my entire Sunday evening. I'd spend hours mentally preparing for Monday, scrolling through work stuff, getting myself wound up, essentially starting my workweek Sunday night at 10 PM instead of enjoying the last few hours of my weekend.

And then Monday would arrive and I'd already be exhausted before it even began.

Here's what I realized: I was living Monday before Monday even happened. I was giving Monday my Sunday night. And Monday didn't deserve that.

So I started doing something different. Sunday nights, I let Sunday be Sunday. And Monday mornings, instead of hitting the ground in panic mode, I give myself a reset. A moment to arrive at the week with intention.

That's what this is. Your Monday morning reset. Not motivation. Not hustle culture nonsense. Just... a moment to breathe and choose how you want to show up today.

Here's the difference between expectations and intentions, and why it matters on Monday morning:

Expectations are rigid. They're about outcomes you can't always control. "I expect to get through my entire to-do list today. I expect everything to go smoothly. I expect to be productive and focused and accomplished."

And when reality doesn't match those expectations—because it rarely does—you end up feeling like you failed before lunchtime.

Intentions are different. They're about how you want to be, not what you want to achieve.

So instead of "I expect to finish everything," try "I intend to focus on one thing at a time."

Instead of "I expect today to be perfect," try "I intend to stay present and handle what comes."

Instead of "I expect not to be stressed," try "I intend to notice when I'm stressed and take a breath before reacting."

See the difference? Intentions keep the control with you. They're about your approach, your mindset, your choices—things you actually have power over.

Here's what I intend for this Monday:

I intend to start slow instead of rushing.

I intend to eat actual breakfast instead of just coffee.

I intend to tackle the hardest thing first when my brain is fresh, instead of procrastinating with busy work.

I intend to take real breaks instead of just switching between different types of screen time.

I intend to be kind to myself when things don't go as planned—because they won't, because that's life.

I intend to end the workday at a reasonable time and actually stop working.

None of that is about achieving specific outcomes. It's all about showing up in a way that feels sustainable and sane.

What do you intend for your Monday?

I know it's kind of rebellious to suggest that Monday could be a gift. We're supposed to hate Mondays, right? It's practically required.

But hear me out.

Monday is a fresh start. Every single week, you get a reset button. You get to try again. Last week might have been terrible, but it's over. This is a new week. Clean slate.

Monday means you're here. You woke up. You get another chance to do something that matters, connect with someone, learn something, create something, help someone.

Monday means you have work to do—and I know work isn't always fun, but having purpose, having something that needs you, having a reason to get up... that's actually a privilege. Not everyone has that.

Monday means possibility. The week is unwritten. You don't know what's coming. Maybe something difficult. But maybe something wonderful. Maybe both.

I'm not trying to toxic-positivity you into pretending everything's great when it's not. If your Monday genuinely involves hardship, struggle, situations that are painful—I see that. That's real.

But even in hard seasons, Monday still offers this: one more day. One more chance. One more opportunity to choose how you show up.

So here's my invitation for this Monday morning:

Take five minutes before you check your phone. Just five. Sit with your coffee. Notice how you feel. Set one intention for how you want to be today. Not what you want to do. How you want to be.

Patient? Present? Kind to yourself? Focused? Brave? Honest? Gentle?

Pick one word and let it guide your day.

When things get chaotic—and they will—come back to that word. That intention. That choice about who you want to be in the middle of whatever happens.

Alright, your coffee's probably almost gone and the Monday is starting to happen around you.

Before you dive in, just remember: you don't have to be perfect today. You don't have to accomplish everything. You don't have to prove anything to anyone.

You just have to show up as yourself, do your best with what's in front of you, and be kind to yourself when it's hard.

Monday isn't the enemy. It's just another day. And you've gotten through every Monday that's ever come before this one. You'll get through this one too.

Set your intention. Take it one thing at a time. And when the day is done, let it be done. Don't carry it into tomorrow.

This is Summer, and you've been listening to Monday Morning Reset on Red Dirt Radio.

Thanks for starting the week with me. I believe in you. You've got this. Not because you're superhuman, but because you're human, and humans are way more resilient than we give ourselves credit for.

Now go be Monday's boss. I'll see you next week.