The Power of the Reset
by Tamanna Sood ‘24
If you wake up scatterbrained and anxious about the day ahead, a daily “reset” ritual can help you organize and center yourself. As a person who lives alone, sometimes holding myself accountable can be really hard. I try to keep my apartment clean and organized, but every now and then, I slip up and suddenly clothes are scattered everywhere, my sink is full of dishes, and I have an enormous pile of laundry waiting for me. Creating a daily reset routine has helped me feel less overwhelmed and keeps me organized both mentally and physically.
What is a Reset?
A reset is an intentional period of time that you allocate every day to clean your surroundings and organize your thoughts. This period of time can be dedicated to anything you’ve been putting off during the day like washing your dishes, organizing your planner, prepping ingredients for dinner, journaling, or simply cleaning up. A reset period can last as long as you want, but keep it to a consistent time block every day. I try to do a reset every night for 30 minutes before going to sleep. Seeing a clean apartment before I go to bed helps me feel more prepared and peaceful for the next day so I don’t feel behind from the moment I wake up.
A reset can take whatever shape you need it to. If every day is too much of a commitment, you can aim for twice a week or set a whole reset day where you catch up on all the week’s chores at once. Do whatever feels good for you! I try to do a reset every day, but when it doesn’t feel right, I don’t force it. Doing this helps me keep up with my habit without finding it tiresome. I also find that having a reset day once every two weeks along with my daily resets helps me set aside time to deep clean.
How do you implement a Reset?
Implementing a reset can often be the hardest part of the process, but with a good mindset and commitment, it’s honestly not too bad. Resetting requires you to hold yourself accountable. Following the S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) technique is one of the best ways to implement a reset. When you first start your reset journey, make sure to set a concrete time for it. I tend to choose times later at night when I know I will be home and won’t be uninterrupted. Then I write a list of 5 to 6 quick things to accomplish in the time block. Choose an appropriate amount of time, set a timer, and begin.
It’s been suggested that to form a habit, you must follow through on the task for three weeks. Holding yourself accountable here is definitely the most difficult part, but the joy of a reset is that the gratification is instant. It helps us realize that cleaning up and organizing isn’t as daunting as it seems and it doesn’t need to take hours. The reward of a clean space is well worth it. Some tips to build a consistent reset habit include:
Start Small: Choose tasks that are simple and manageable. It’s important that you don’t overwhelm yourself to the point of wanting to give up. Starting with a manageable amount of tasks will help you gradually increase and expand your habit over time.
Consistency is Key!: Staying consistent is the only way to keep going! Scheduling a set time every day is a good way to start your reset. I find that setting an alarm on my phone for the duration of my reset helps me stay on track!
Stay Flexible: If you miss your reset for a couple days, don’t be hard on yourself! We often lose our habits by being too hard on ourselves when we slip up. Remember that a reset is designed to serve you and help you feel less anxious. You can always pick up and start again!
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