A 'reset' update
What worked, what didn't, and what I'll be sticking to moving forward
You may know from reading my “getting my life together” post earlier this month that I love a good reset. While I agree with the argument that a new morning routine or set of habits won’t magically solve deeper issues you might be avoiding, I believe approaching new habits with intention makes a difference. Ultimately, it depends on what you’re trying to cultivate by hitting the reset button.
To organize a reset that truly serves you, you first have to understand what you’re trying to achieve. There are three types of resets:
Getting back to homeostasis Think spring cleaning, decluttering, or recovering from illness.
Cultivating new habits to solve an acute problem Like meal planning or daily home organization.
Shifting your perspective to get out of a rut Short-term inspiration like waking up at 5 a.m. for a run or going on weekly solo dates. These aren’t necessarily lifelong commitments, but they can spark change when you need it.
Once you’ve identified which type you need, you can start to visualize what you want your new routines or habits to do for you. When I wrote about my reset at the beginning of the month, I outlined three clear intentions: physical wellness, peace, and warmth. These themes became critical touch points as I experimented with meal planning, scheduling, and cleaning habits. I checked in with myself regularly, asking, “Is this cultivating wellness, peace, and warmth?” That clarity made it much easier to follow through on specific goals and assess whether they were actually working.
Here’s a full update on my reset goals, what worked, and how I’m feeling now that I’ve settled in:
Meal Planning
Reset solutions:
Keep more ready-made food on hand
Meal prep to free up time during the week
What worked:
Dedicating Sunday evenings to meal prep really paid off. Going into the week with ready-to-go meals and snacks helped us avoid the dreaded afternoon slump.
I also started making a snack plate most afternoons. My toddler insists he’s not hungry until I put out hummus, snack peppers, pretzels, cheese, and crackers. Then suddenly he’s all in. Honestly, so am I.
Favorite easy meals and snacks:
Nourishing Rice (made with bone broth from the chicken bones!)
Feeling Scattered / Spread Too Thin
Reset solutions:
Create a nighttime routine to mark the end of the workday and ease into rest
Schedule time for myself first and practice saying “no” more often
What worked:
Scheduling time for myself first was the true winner. I didn’t even attempt the other strategies on my list. Each Sunday, when I sat down to plan the week ahead, I blocked off time for self-care first and it made a huge difference in how I approached everything else.
I realized my self-care needs fall into three main categories:
Physical movement
Quality time with friends
Deep rest (reading, sleeping, or watching a movie)
Giving each of these equal weight helped me feel more grounded and rejuvenated.
Unfocused Work
Reset solutions:
Build a schedule that allows for single-task focus
Time tasks to understand how long they actually take
View the month holistically and plan projects accordingly
What worked:
When I planned for April, I looked at the whole month and broke my work into realistic goals. Viewing my time this way is still a work-in-progress, but it’s already helped me avoid overscheduling and stay more focused.
I also started assigning specific types of work to certain days, which helped me give each area the focus it deserved.
Keeping My Home Clean
Reset solutions:
Use a central “put away” basket
Do one load of laundry a day
Do a daily 10-minute cleanup
What worked:
All three of these small habits made a huge difference. I’ll be sticking with them, and if you’re struggling with home organization, I highly recommend giving them a try.
I approached this reset pretty meticulously, and I know all the planning and prep might seem like overkill, but it worked. Getting organized and trying new things pulled me out of a slump and made my days feel lighter. It’s been so worth it.
Despite how neurotic I might sound, I hope this post gave you a little inspiration. If you’re feeling the itch for a reset, reply to this email or leave a comment. I’d love to hear what you’re cultivating.
