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By the author of The Ultimate Guide to Frugal Living and What to Eat When You’re Broke
A while back, I started a little routine on Sunday evenings that really starts my week off well. I call it my Weekly Replenishing Routine and it’s how I prepare for the week ahead.
Part of the reason that I think this makes me feel so good is that I am mindful while doing it. We’ve talked a lot about gratitude on this website (here and here are a couple of examples) and this is a way to make your gratitude take a bit of a physical form. While you are replenishing and restocking, focus on how glad you are that you have the supplies available to do this action. Be grateful that you have the ability to refill that sugar dish or map out your meal plan for the week ahead because we should never take this for granted. If you want to, you can take it a step further and express gratitude in whatever way your spiritual belief indicates, whether that is prayer, meditation, or offerings.
I know, it sounds a little woo-woo and out there. But this has made a real difference in my life, and maybe it will make a difference in yours too.
What is a Weekly Replenishing Routine?
First, I like to set the stage. I light a pleasant-smelling candle, fire up the diffuser with some lemon and rosemary oils, and open the windows, weather permitting.
I start in the kitchen and work my way through the house.
- I pull apart my coffee maker and wash all the parts.
- I refill the pod container for my Keurig with fresh K-cups.
- If my sugar dish needs washing, I do that, then refill it to the brim.
- I pull dishwasher pods out for the week and plop them in the little canister that lives above my dishwasher.
- I refill my large Brita.
- I put drinks in the fridge for the week ahead.
- I clean out anything from my refrigerator that has gone bad. (Hopefully, there’s nothing to throw out, but sometimes you miss something!)
- I plan my menu for the week.
- I put my prescription medications in the organizer for the week.
Then I move to the bedroom.
- I put fresh sheets on the bed.
- I tidy up my dressing table
- I make sure all my laundry is put away and that I have what I need washed and ready for the week.
In the bathroom…
- I restock the bathroom spare toilet paper shelf and make sure there’s a roll on the holder.
- I refresh the kitty litter box.
- I check all my bottles of body wash and shampoo to make sure I have plenty for the week. If not, I refill them from my larger containers.
- I put out fresh towels for hands, hair, and body.
In the living room…
- I tidy up the sofa pillows.
- I lint roll the furniture. (Pets. Need I say more?)
- I put a crossword puzzle book and whatever craft I’m stitching on in the basket beside where I like to sit.
- I make sure my pens work and replace them if required.
- I put away anything that doesn’t belong in the living room.
Basically, the task is refilling anything that needs to be refilled and refreshing anything that needs to be refreshed, all the while feeling glad that I am able to do this.
Why do I do a Weekly Replenishing Routine?
I started doing this one day after I found myself annoyed at being in a hurry and having to go to the pantry for more sugar for my 
coffee. I was so irritated, and it was completely unnecessary since I had plenty of sugar. I decided that taking the time to refill things every week would not just save me time and aggravation but that it could be a practice that made me feel gratitude for the things that I have. I wanted to always have soap in the dispenser, a clean towel to dry my hands, and a positive attitude. As silly as this might sound, this routine feels lovely.
Does it actually save me any money? Well, yes and no. It doesn’t outright save me money but it does help me to be organized enough to notice when I’m nearly out of something so I can put it on my list before the item is gone. But the reward for me is the good feeling while I’m doing it and the ease of my week when everything is set up and ready to go.
Do you have any similar practices to my Weekly Replenishing Routine? Do you have any small steps you take that you can combine with gratitude to make your week go smoother?
Let’s discuss it in the comments section.
About Daisy
Daisy Luther is a coffee-swigging, adventure-seeking, globe-trotting blogger. She is the founder and publisher of three websites. 1) The Organic Prepper, which is about current events, preparedness, self-reliance, and the pursuit of liberty; 2) The Frugalite, a website with thrifty tips and solutions to help people get a handle on their personal finances without feeling deprived; and 3) PreppersDailyNews.com, an aggregate site where you can find links to all the most important news for those who wish to be prepared. Her work is widely republished across alternative media and she has appeared in many interviews.
Daisy is the best-selling author of 5 traditionally published books, 12 self-published books, and runs a small digital publishing company with PDF guides, printables, and courses at SelfRelianceand Survival.com You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Gab, MeWe, Parler, Instagram, and Twitter.
8 thoughts on “A Weekly Replenishing Routine Makes Me Happy and Grateful”
My replenishing schedule is similar to yours. A biggie for me is Wednesday as Thursday is garbage, recycle and yard waste pickup and everything has to be on the curb by nightfall. The whole house, garage, lanai, and yard get a thorough going over. Makes my weekend restful
I do this a few times a month. Hubby and I go down to what he calls our Costco, we grab the gallon jars of product and go upstairs and refill the smaller containers. What I haven’t done is feel gratitude….I mean I’m grateful for what we have, but I haven’t made a conscious effort to feel that way while replenishing. Going to talk about this with hubby, get him thinking about this as he’s not really as involved in prepping as I am. Might help.
I often learn from and benefit from your articles. But I really enjoyed this above all others. I can’t describe it well, but it gave me such a calmness of spirit. My life has been in a bit of a turmoil over the past year for many reasons. It is just beginning to settle down and your article was a sweet reminder that things can return to normal. I look forward to implementing your ideas. Thank you for sharing. And thank you for reminding me of the many reasons I have to be grateful. God bless you.
Whatever makes you happy I guess.
Just don’t video yourself doing it and then posting it to social media.
SO tired of having to scroll past all those videos with the tapping long painted nails and the high dollar name brand products. ugh
I was organized like that for 40 years. I’m retired now. I’m thrilled I don’t have to do all that.
I’m fine having to get something out of the pantry when I need it and not waste my time in the evenings doing all the organizing anymore. I can enjoy my hobbies or my dvds now
I’ve been working on enjoying “the process” and not just the satisfaction of the finished product, or the goal. For instance, instead of just crocheting or knitting a hat to have a finished hat, I’m learning to enjoy the activity, which removes impatience for the end product. I’ve never really enjoyed housework, though I appreciate a clean house. Trying not to view cleaning as “chores” – I now think about the blessings of having a home, furnishings, running (hot and cold!) water, cleaning supplies and the physical ability to clean. There is a great deal for which to be thankful. Including, and perhaps especially, the simple, quiet ordinary day.
Daisy, your article fits within this perspective perfectly. Even the simplest job, done well can provoke satisfaction and contentment.
Genevieve, I can also see your viewpoint – especially when working to other people’s deadlines. Happy retirement!
Loved this article! I love your site in general, but often times I’m already doing or aware of the thrifty topic covered. This was totally new for me and the coffee replenishing hit home! My pantry is downstairs so when I run out of coffee, I find myself sleepily (and grumpily) fumbling down the stairs to get a new bag. I don’t like the feeling, but haven’t really done anything about it. Your article got me totally thinking in a new direction. I’m going to start implementing the Sunday evening replenishing routine in my home. I like the structure/routine of setting a time aside to take care of everything and doing so with a thankful heart just makes the whole process easier. 🙂 Thanks for the great article, Daisy!
On Saturday, I check the upstairs locations for items that need to be replenished from their storage area in the basement then grab a canvas bag and go “shopping”. Also do that for items where the refill bottle is on the main floor. As I “shop”, note what needs to be replenished in the storage area. Replenishment buying is done by both of us – I do non-perishable/non-edibles. When either of us brings up the last of an item that we don’t replenish, we inform the other. It works for us but YMMV.
I think this is a really cool idea. It’s practical and positive at the same time. Mindfulness is so important and something many of us don’t practice enough (myself included). Combining practicality with mindfulness and a gratitude practice is a winner in my book!
I’ve been totally destitute a few times in my life so there are times when I pause and think “I have hot water. It’s so great to have hot water that I can use any time I want,” or something like that. Again, not enough, but it’s a warm feeling when it arises. Usually I just refill things as I go, but this is really something for me to think about. Thanks for the article!