I’ve felt completely stuck before. I knew something had to change because life was going by without me. Work wasn’t fulfilling. My daily routines sucked the life out of me. I found myself getting aggravated by every little thing.
I knew I had to hit the pause button and restart.
What I’ve learned:
Doing a life reset means taking a step back to reevaluate your entire life. You’re not running away from your problems or skipping town — you’re rebuilding your life to align with your values. You’re leaving the past behind and making space to welcome new, positive experiences.
If you need to reset but aren’t sure where to start, follow this helpful 12-step guide:
Step 1 – Take a Step Back and Figure Out Where You Are Now
In order to move forward, you have to understand where you currently are. Take a look at your habits and routines, mindset, relationships, and goals.
What’s draining your energy? What brings you joy? Where do you feel stuck?
Journal, take a long walk, sit in silence. Do whatever you need to zoom out on your life and gain a clear understanding of where you are right now.
Read also: 10 Peaceful Life Goals
Step 2 – Identify What You Want to Let Go
The process of resetting your life is letting go of the things no longer serving you and making room for more positive energy.
This could be unhealthy relationships, bad habits, emotional baggage, anger, resentment, limiting beliefs — letting go of anything holding you back from the life you want to live.
Face the hard truths about your life and understand that letting go of these things doesn’t make you weak; it allows you to grow stronger.
Step 3 – Set Intentional Goals
As human beings, we grow bored easily. That’s why it’s important to have goals to look forward to. Setting goals will not only motivate you but will help you stay focused.
Your goals should be specific and realistic. You should have goals for every aspect of your life including your career, relationships, health, and personal growth. Break your goals down into small steps to make sure they are manageable and not overwhelming.
You want to have a clear vision for your life during your reset.
Read also: 9 Common Goal-Setting Mistakes You Should Avoid
Step 4 – Create a Morning & Evening Routine
Your body and mind crave structure. When you give it too much freedom, it can often feel lost. That’s why you should create a morning and evening routine that will help you start and end your day with positive energy and a focused mindset.
Figure out what makes you feel energized and focused in the morning. Do you like to journal? Meditate? Drink lemon water? Move your body with some light exercise? Do you prefer to go straight to work?
Same questions for the evening. What helps you wind down? Reflect on your day? Give yourself some relaxation time?
Find your flow and repeat.
Read also: A 12-Hour Shift Morning Routine
Step 5 – Focus on Self-Care
You can’t pour from an empty cup. If you want to successfully reset your life, you have to make sure you’re caring for your basic needs.
Get enough sleep, eat nutritious foods, drink water, and move your body. But don’t forget about your mental and emotional health as well. Take time each day to do something you enjoy that allows you to relax and recharge your energy.
You’ll feel so much better when you know you’re taking care of your body inside and out.
Step 6 – Evaluate Your Relationships
When was the last time you sat down and thought about the people you surround yourself with? I mean really thought about it.
Your friend group can make or break your life. Surrounding yourself with healthy, positive people will encourage you to be better. Toxic friends will suck your energy and keep you stuck.
Focus your energy on the friendships that make you feel happy and safe. Let go of the ones holding you back.
Step 7 – Declutter Your Space
Another thing you should do when resetting your life is cleaning up your living space. When your room and workspace are cluttered, it’s harder for you to focus.
It also causes you to feel stressed — which you don’t need. Take some time to clean and organize your home. You’ll feel much better once you declutter!
Step 8 – Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness and meditation are powerful tools that can help you reset your life. Not only will they help you reduce stress, but they can also keep you from overthinking. You will feel more grateful and clear-minded.
Take 10–15 minutes out of your day to practice mindfulness. Sit with your thoughts and focus on your breathing. Allow yourself to feel every emotion that comes to the surface and remind yourself that it’s okay to let things go.
This exercise is great for resetting your thoughts so you can feel more productive when beginning your day anew.
Step 9 – Limit Toxic Inputs
Just as your friendships can affect your life, so can the media and social platforms you consume. During a life reset, you should really think about what you let enter your mind.
Unfollow negative people on social media and move on from any media that no longer serves you. Fill your time with things that will help you grow and learn.
You’ll feel so much better when you limit your toxins.
Step 10 – Take Action
All that time you spent reflecting on your life is great, but you won’t see progress if you don’t take action. Once you figure out what you want your life to look like, it’s time to take small steps each day to get there.
You’d be surprised how much small things (like working out, finishing small tasks on your to-do list, and journaling) can help you build a new habit.
Remember, change doesn’t happen overnight. Once you commit to taking action every day, you’ll be amazed by the results.
Step 11 – Don’t Be Afraid to Fail
Life is all about learning and growing — you’re going to fail many times before you succeed. Don’t beat yourself up when you realize you missed a day of being productive or drank too much wine last night.
Use your failures as feedback and figure out what you can do better moving forward.
Step 12 – Celebrate Your Accomplishments
You did it! Take time to celebrate how far you’ve come. Reflect on your life and write down all the things you’re grateful for. This will help you reset your mindset and allow you to welcome new changes to come your way.
Remember, life is about progression, not perfection. Take these tips and use them to better your life!
FAQ
Q: How long will it take me to reset my life?
A: Everyone is different. Some changes you make may take weeks to notice. Others may take months to feel different. But as long as you’re putting in the work, you’ll get there.
Q: Can I do a life reset without changing my whole life all at once?
A: Of course! Start by taking small, intentional steps. You’ll be surprised how little changes can make you feel like you’ve totally reset your life.
Q: Is it normal to feel overwhelmed during this process?
A: Yes! Usually when we decide to make a change in our life, it can cause some anxiety. You’re trying to break old habits and make new ones. Take your time and focus on one area of your life at a time. You got this!
Q: How can I ensure I don’t fall back into my old ways?
A: Reflect on how you used to live your life and what made you unhappy. Once you figure that out, it’ll be easier to avoid your triggers and continue your new path.
Q: Does mindfulness really help?
A: Yes! When you practice mindfulness, you’re allowing yourself to clear your mind of unnecessary thoughts. You’ll feel less stressed, which will allow you to make better decisions for your life.
Save the pin for later
