Last Friday evening, we were all sitting around the dining table playing cards, when it dawned on me—it was almost 9 pm, and none of us had looked at a phone in hours. Henry was laughing so hard at something ridiculous that he could barely shuffle the deck. Brownie crumbs littered the table. And I realized: this is exactly what I’d been craving all week.
We started our No-Screen Saturday experiment back in February of last year, and as we head into 2026, I’m realizing it’s been the biggest gift for our family. From 5 pm Friday through Saturday night, our phones live in a drawer (at least, mostly—it’s not about perfection!). Henry’s computer is shut down (thank you, parental controls). The TV stays off unless we’re having a family movie night. What we get instead is space, connection, and the feeling of time slowing down instead of slipping through our fingers. It’s become the anchor to our week.
Honestly, I didn’t realize how much we needed this kind of weekly reset until we started doing it. We’re so good at filling every moment, staying busy, and moving from one thing to the next. And somewhere in all that motion, we forget to just be together. Creating a family reset isn’t about adding another thing to the calendar (the last thing any of us needs!). It’s about carving out time to reconnect and remember what matters.
SO—if you’ve been feeling like the weeks are blurring together, or that you’re passing your partner in the hallway more than you’re actually connecting, or like your family is existing in the same house but living parallel lives? This is for you.
What Is a Family Reset Ritual?
A family reset ritual is a consistent, intentional time each week when you pause the usual chaos and reconnect with the people you love most. It’s not about perfection or elaborate planning—it’s about creating a rhythm that feels good for your family.
Think of it like hitting the reset button on your week. You’re not trying to fix everything or solve every problem—you’re just making space to slow down, check in with each other, and set intentions for the week ahead. For some families, this might look like a Sunday morning breakfast where everyone talks about their week. For others, it’s a Friday night ritual that kicks off the weekend with intention.
The beauty of a weekly reset is that it becomes something everyone looks forward to. It’s not forced family time—it’s the time when you’re all actually present with each other, when the usual distractions fall away, and when you remember why you love being together in the first place.
Our No-Screen Saturdays have become this for us. What started as an experiment (honestly, I was nervous about how the kids would react) has turned into the day we all look forward to. We’re discovering new hiking trails around Austin, curling up with books by the fire, working on our golf game, making cozy recipes (most recently, this roasted tomato and white bean soup), hitting up our favorite Austin restaurants, and sitting around the table talking about everything and nothing. It feels expansive, and like we’re building something real.
Choose Your Ritual
Your weekly reset doesn’t have to look like ours—the important thing is to choose something that fits your life. You could do a Sunday “family meeting” where everyone shares their highs and lows from the week. Or a Friday pizza night with some time to check in with each other. Even carving out time with your partner for a Saturday morning coffee date can be a game-changer—just an hour to talk about the week ahead in a more intentional way.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach—your family reset routine should feel like something you want to do, not something you have to do. A few things to consider:
What day and time works best?
Look at your actual schedule—when do you have the most breathing room? For us, Friday evening through Saturday made sense because it kicks off the weekend and gives us that full reset before the week starts again. Most of our kids’ activities happen on weekdays, so we’re able to block off Saturdays most weeks. But maybe Sunday evenings work better for you, or Wednesday nights, or even a weekday morning before everyone scatters.
How much time do you have?
This doesn’t have to be an all-day thing (though if you want to go screen-free for 24 hours like we do, I highly recommend). Even an hour of intentional connection can shift the energy of your whole week. Start with what feels doable and build from there.
What does your family actually enjoy?
If you hate structured activities, don’t force yourself into a rigid family meeting format. If your kids are young and chaotic, maybe your reset looks like a nature walk where everyone can move their bodies. If you and your partner thrive on deep conversation, maybe it’s a weekly date-night ritual where you check in on your relationship and dreams.
The ritual we’ve created works because it’s built around what we actually value: presence, connection, and time away from screens. And we actually plan fun activities so our kids look forward to them!
Prompts for Connection
Okay, so you’ve carved out the time. Now what? This is where having a few conversation prompts in your back pocket can be really helpful, especially when you’re just starting out. These aren’t meant to feel like an interview—they’re just gentle ways to spark real conversation and help everyone feel heard.
For families with kids:
- What was the best part of your week? What was the hardest part?
- Is there anything you’re worried about this week?
- What’s one thing you’re excited about coming up?
- If you could do anything together as a family this weekend, what would it be?
For couples:
- How are you feeling about us right now? Is there anything you need more of from me?
- What’s taking up the most space in your mind lately?
- What’s one thing we can do together this week that would make us both feel good?
For the whole family:
- What’s something we haven’t done together in a while that you miss?
- If our family had a motto, what should it be?
- What’s one thing each person can do this week to help our family feel more connected?
The goal isn’t to force deep revelations every single week (though sometimes they happen, and those moments are magic). It’s just about creating space for everyone to share what’s real for them—the good, the hard, and the ordinary that make up life.
I love that these relationship rituals give us language for things we might not otherwise talk about. Like last week, Henry mentioned he’d been feeling stressed about an upcoming test, and we were able to problem-solve together in a way that felt supportive rather than pressured. Phoebe shared a situation involving another girl at school, and we had an honest conversation about friendship and belonging. These aren’t things that always come up during the rush of weeknight dinners—they need the spaciousness that a weekly reset creates.
Ideas for Couples or Families
If this sparks something in you, here are some ideas to get you started with your own reset ritual. Feel free to use them as inspiration to create something entirely your own.
The Screen-Free Day
This is our version, and honestly, it’s been game-changing. Put your phones away for 24 hours (or even just a few hours if that feels more realistic). No social media, no email, no mindless scrolling. You’ll be amazed at how much mental space this creates and how much more present everyone feels. We keep Adam’s Apple Watch on for emergencies, but otherwise, we’re completely unplugged. And yes, sometimes we watch a family movie together. The point isn’t to be puritanical about screens, it’s to be intentional about when and how we use them.
The Weekly Walk
Every Sunday morning, rain or shine, go for a walk together. It doesn’t have to be long—even 20 minutes around the neighborhood can reset your nervous system and give you time to talk without the distractions of home. There’s something about moving your body side by side that makes conversation flow more naturally.
Saturday Reset Morning
Set aside Saturday morning for family organization and connection. Make a big breakfast together, review the week ahead, talk through everyone’s schedules and commitments, and make sure everyone feels prepared and supported. This is especially helpful if you have busy weeks with lots of moving parts.
The Friday Night Ritual
Light candles, make dinner together, put on music, and treat Friday night like the special occasion it is. This is your transition from the work week into the weekend—make it feel different. We’ve done this with just putting on good music while we cook, or lighting candles at dinner, or having everyone share one thing they’re grateful for before we eat.
Couple’s Coffee Date
If you have young kids, use naptime or cartoons to have 30 minutes of uninterrupted connection with your partner. Make coffee, sit somewhere comfortable (not in front of the TV), and just talk. About your week, about your relationship, about your dreams, or about whatever feels important. Protect this time fiercely—it’s so easy to let it slip away.
Game Night
Pull out board games, card games, whatever your family enjoys (our favorite board games are here)—and make it a weekly tradition. No phones at the table, no rushing through it, just quality time being playful together. Some of our best conversations happen during games because everyone’s relaxed and laughing.
Nature Day
Commit to spending a few hours outside every week. Hike a new trail, go to a park, have a picnic, explore somewhere you’ve never been. Changing your environment—even just a little—can shift everyone’s energy and mood in the best way.
The goal with any of these is consistency. Calling it a weekly reset doesn’t mean it has to be elaborate or Instagram-worthy—it just means you’re showing up for it every week, even when it’s imperfect, even when someone’s in a bad mood, even when life is chaotic. Because that’s when we need it most.
The Takeaway
Setting aside intentional time each week to connect with your family isn’t about adding more to your plate—it’s about remembering what actually nourishes you. It’s about creating space for what matters most.
These little moments make up our lives, and having weekly rhythms helps me remember to look my kids in the eye instead of always glancing at a screen. Having deeper conversations with Adam instead of just coordinating logistics. I want us to feel like a team that’s actually present with each other, not just coexisting in the same space.
Setting these boundaries can feel hard, and I’m far from perfect at it. But I also know that when we’re truly present—when we slow down enough to actually connect—everything feels different. More alive, more meaningful, and more like the life I want to be living.
