How to Do a Monthly Reset in Life and Work
A Candid Guide to Recharging Your Routine
What do we mean when we talk about doing a monthly reset?
When we talk about a "monthly reset," it generally refers to a regular process of reviewing, organizing, and planning at the end of each month to prepare for the next one. This can involve various activities such as clearing out old files, reflecting on past achievements and setbacks, setting new goals, updating calendars and to-do lists, and generally tidying up both physical and digital workspaces. The idea is to start each new month with a clear mind and an organized environment, which can help boost productivity and reduce stress.
Here are my top five (5) things to include in your monthly reset:
Step 1: Reflect on the Past Month
Start by asking yourself some key questions: What were my biggest achievements this month? Where did I face challenges or setbacks? This reflection is crucial for understanding your progress and recognizing areas where you can improve. By analyzing your performance and assessing personal growth, you can learn valuable lessons from any mistakes made. It’s important to look at this from a positive perspective as well. Yes, you likely had challenges and setbacks but how to you navigate them? What worked and what didn’t? What did you learn from those mistakes? All of that information helps you build and prepare for the next month’s challenges.
Step 2: Declutter Your Space and Mind
A cluttered environment often leads to a cluttered mind. Begin by tidying up your living and working spaces—this could mean organizing your desk, sorting through old paperwork, or even rearranging furniture for a fresh perspective. Simultaneously, practice mental decluttering exercises such as journaling or meditation to clear your mind of unnecessary stressors. It’s also a great practice to do a digital declutter. Delete those apps that you don’t use that often, unsubscribe from those annoying emails and clean up your digital spaces. Start the new month off with a clean desktop, organized external drives, and minimal emails in your inbox.
Step 3: Set New Goals and Priorities for the Upcoming
Focus on setting achievable goals that align with your core values. Use strategies like SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals to ensure clarity in what you want to accomplish. Prioritize these goals based on their importance in both personal growth and professional development. It’s also important not to set too many goals. It’s easy to sit down and write down everything you want to achieve in the new month but that list can quickly become overwhelming. My tip is to pick two to three big goals that you really want to achieve and focus on those. Anything else you finish is a bonus!
Step 4: Create a Flexible Action Plan
Plan out the upcoming month with an adaptable mindset. Life is unpredictable; therefore, having a flexible schedule allows you to adjust when unexpected events occur without derailing your progress entirely. Incorporate productivity hacks that work best for you while leaving room for spontaneity. I love to plan but I also know that anything and everything can happen. I used to plan out every hour of my day but I found this actually made me more stressed. So now I write down three or four things each day that I’m aiming to complete and don’t put times to them unless it’s a scheduled meeting. This allows me the flexibility I need and want to have throughout the day.
Step 5: The Role of Self-Care in Your Monthly Reset Routine
Integrate self-care practices into this routine as they play an essential role in maintaining mental wellness. Whether it’s through exercising regularly or indulging in activities that bring joy—self-care rituals help reduce stress levels significantly during times of transition. I’m terrible at this part. I forget that movement is vital to our health and it’s so easy to sit through the entire day working without moving at all! My goal for December is to do some type of physical activity (walking, yoga, etc.) three times a week.
There will be hurdles along the way such as procrastination or resistance towards change—but addressing these issues head-on ensures success over time!
Learn methods like breaking tasks into smaller steps if feeling overwhelmed initially; handle setbacks gracefully by viewing them positively instead; stay motivated long-term by reminding yourself why this process matters so much personally and professionally.
What does your monthly rest look like?
