Life can get hectic, so it’s good to take the time to get back on track and recenter ourselves. That’s where the magic of a monthly reset routine comes in!
Like all routines, the best one is the one that you create for yourself. These are great guidelines to get you started, but not everything may apply to your life. Pick and choose what you need, leave what you don’t.
Some tasks get repeatedly put off and forgotten for long periods of time. We can lose a little bit of perspective when we’re just taking it one day at a time. Step back and widen your view to a full month to help keep your life on track.
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Reflect
Grab a journal, a scrap of paper, your phone or your tablet and pour all of your thoughts out. Clear everything out of your mind to make space for a fresh new month.
Take a moment to really reflect on the month that just passed. Ask yourself questions about how things were.
You may want to take a moment to look back through any notes or photos you’ve taken to remind you. Be sure to practice gratitude for all of the good things that happened and try to only hold onto the lessons you learned from the bad things that happened.
Regularly reflecting upon your goals and values can help you take stock of what is truly important to you. It’s can also be beneficial to look back on things that didn’t go well to learn from your mistakes.
Reflection will also increase your self-awareness and help you learn more about yourself. In that way it can be an essential part of personal growth.
If you aren’t sure where to start, I actually have a collection of monthly reflection questions for you to work from.
Set Goals
Once you’ve wiped the slate clean, so to speak, it’s time to focus on the month ahead. One of the most important steps of your monthly reset routine is to take time to set your intentions for what you want this new month to look like.
What are the things you want to achieve or work on? Make sure your goals are SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-based. You can use that framework to help guide your actions throughout the month.
This is also a great time to set up your planner and decide on any habits you want to keep track of. Having a visual representation of how consistent you’re being can be a powerful motivational tool.
Be sure to also record any appointments, meetings, events or important dates coming up in your planner so you don’t forget about them.
That being said, you can’t plan absolutely everything. Stay open to new and unexpected experiences and opportunities. It’s when you step out of your comfort zone that you grow the most.
Schedule
The end of one month and the start of another is the perfect time to create (or manage) your schedule. Of course if you work a traditional in-office job you likely have a set schedule, but that your work shouldn’t encompass your entire life.
Set aside some time to set intentions for what you want this new month to look like. You should have already Identified what your top goals are, so find ways to prioritize them.
Write down important dates like appointments, deadlines, events and birthdays so you’re sure not to forget about them. Remind yourself of any obligations you have or promises you made.
You also want to be sure to leave some time for self-care and relaxation. Do not feel bad about creating space for yourself.
Another thing you should consider scheduling during your monthly reset routine is your physical wellness. When you plan your workouts, you’re more likely to stick to them.
Life often gets busy and it can be easy to push aside any extra exercise. Planning and scheduling in when you’ll exercise and what you’ll do will bypass several obstacles. You don’t have to think about it, you just have to stick to your schedule.
Of course there are so many benefits to getting regular exercise and moving your body. Not only does it benefit your physical health, but it can have a positive impact on your mental health as well.
It’s also really important to not OVER schedule yourself. So many things can come disrupt your carefully laid plans. Be willing to be flexible.
Clean
Trust me, a clean and neat environment can do wonders for your peace of mind. Besides that, cleaning allows you to create a fresh start for the upcoming month.
If you haven’t done a reset in a long time, it might feel overwhelming to tackle. You can start with one space and take as many days as you need. A few areas you might want to focus your efforts on are these:
– Your Kitchen
– Your Bathroom
– Your bag(s)
– Your Car
– Your Phone Gallery
– Your Downloads Folder
– Your Desktop
Interestingly, engaging in repetitive tasks can be therapeutic to some. Allow yourself to get lost in the actions of cleaning. You may just find a sense of peace, clarity or relaxation.
Take this time to catch up on any laundry, dishes, vacuuming, sweeping and cleaning those spaces that sometimes get overlooked.
Organize
It could hardly be a reset without organizing and decluttering your spaces. Both physical and digital.
Life changes pretty quickly and it doesn’t take very long to behind in any number of ways. One of the most obvious of course is clutter. When you don’t manage it, the clutter seems to just multiply over-night!
When you’re doing your monthly reset routine, please, don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to do everything all at once. Not everything needs to be done in one day.
Remove items that longer serve you and create a space free of clutter that makes you feel calm and happy. That applies for your digital spaces too – clean up your e-mail inbox(es), unsubscribe from spam, and create appropriate folders.
Budget
Checking on your finances is something you should probably be doing at least weekly but you should only have to write out a budget at the start of a new month.
Having a budget will help you be more aware of how your money is being spent. You want to be able to make informed choices about where you are spending your money. This can be especially true if you are attempting to make some significant financial changes – like paying off debt, or boosting your savings.
It can be so easy to swipe your card and immediately forget about it. Or maybe you have some subscriptions that have been lurking around that you’re no longer using – cancel them.
Keep track of the bills you need to pay so you don’t accrue any late fees.
Take a look at how much money you spent in the last month and where you spent it. If it’s not looking how you want, make adjustments as necessary.
Update
Give yourself a fresh start and leave stagnation behind by renewing some of your surroundings. Update your device’s looks by changing the wallpaper and general aesthetic.
Make your phone or computer’s wallpapers images or quotes that motivate or inspire you. Each time you use your device you’ll get a visual motivation.
The start of a new month can be a good time to start on some new habits. Trying new habits each month not only adds a little variety to life but can also prevent you from feeling any sort of stagnation.
Updating your environment and your habits can signal to your brain that it’s time for a fresh chapter. It can also help you create a shift in your mindset for the new month.
Develop
Personal development is a continuous journey with almost unlimited opportunities to learn and grow. As part of your monthly reset routine, choose some new personal development activities that align with your goals.
One of the best ways to learn and grow is through reading. Select a new book to dive into this month. Reading can expand both your knowledge and your understanding of the world. It can help to improve your critical thinking skills and even help reduce stress.
If you have difficulty finding time to sit and read, there is also the option of audiobooks. Audiobooks are great for so many different occasions. You can listen to audiobooks while you do almost anything – including driving and exercising. Not that you need to be multitasking to listen to audiobooks, they’re great on their own!
There are also several other ways to advance your personal development ideas including learning a new skill through taking a class or improving a skill through practice.
Another great way to grow and expand your horizons is through travel if you have the means to do so. Try planning a trip!
Self-Care
Now that all the hard work is done, it’s time to pamper yourself. (Is it even a Jade’s Journey routine if self-care isn’t involved at some point?)
If you have trouble allowing yourself to just be, schedule in that off time like it’s an appointment you absolutely have to keep! Light some candles, play soothing music and indulge in a relaxing bubble bath. Unwind and recharge yourself.
It’s important to treat your self-care time as non-negotiable. Performing regular self-care is a commitment to yourself. Consider in what areas of your life requires extra attention. What activities bring you joy and relaxation? Be sure to make time for those activities.
Make sure to fill your own cup first before going out and filling other’s cups. While you might not have a ton of time to dedicate to yourself, you can at least find small pockets of time – as little as 5 minutes – to take care of yourself.
Edit
Editing your monthly reset routine is the final but most important step. Each person’s needs, circumstances and preferences are unique. No routine is one-size-fits-all.
When you edit and customize your reset routine you can also prioritize the areas of your life that mean the most to you. You want to incorporate activities that resonate with you – not just what looks good. When a routine aligns with your personal preferences, you’re that much more likely to actually stick with it.
The ultimate key to a successful routine is to tailor it to your specific needs. Use trial and error. Take the things that are most impactful and leave what doesn’t matter to you. When you edit your routines to your needs, consistency is that much easier.
It may be necessary to review your plans on a week-by-week basis, but already having the entire month’s outline planned, it will go much smoother. With each monthly reset, you have the opportunity to realign with your values and create a life that fills you with purpose.
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Until next time, embrace the magic of a monthly reset and take care!
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