We all feel the need to hit the reset button in our lives from time to time. Even when you have the best intentions it’s very easy to get caught up in unhelpful routines, habits and patterns (especially over the holiday season). 

And as the quote goes, 

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”

So, we’re encouraging you to take some time to disconnect from the online world, and reconnect with yourself. 

Consider, 

• How have you been feeling lately? 
• What’s been draining your energy? What’s been giving you energy? 
• What do you want to focus on this year? 

From this place of having a little more clarity on the things that have been causing us to feel “off,” we can move forward with more intention. 

We can shift our habits and routines in ways that will serve us better and let go of the things in our lives that aren’t working. 

If this is resonating and you’re looking to start this year fresh, here are 3 ways to hit reset and improve your life. 

1. Clear the Clutter (Physical and Digital)

Clutter holds a lot of negative energy. When we have too much in our home, in our closets, on our phone, or on our desktop, it’s really easy to feel stressed and overwhelmed. 

So, in the spirit of starting fresh, consider doing a deep clean of your different physical and digital spaces. 

Here’s a checklist to support you: 

• Clean out your closet. What no longer fits you? What no longer matches your style? What are you holding onto but never wear? What is simply uncomfortable? Donate as much as you can and properly dispose of the rest (as environmentally friendly as you can), to clear space. Once you’ve made room, you can look at inviting in new pieces that actually excite you! (Only comfortable pieces, please.😉)
• Clean up your desk. If you have big visions and dreams for your life, you need to access your creative flow and productivity! And these states are really hard to get into if you can’t focus because your desk is messy. 
• Clean your bathroom cabinets. These spaces can hold a lot of old and expired products that aren’t helpful to hold onto. 
• Clean up your social media profiles. What accounts are you following that don’t feel good? Unfollow or mute accounts that drain your energy and replace these with accounts that light you up or inspire you. (P.s. we’re always here for you if you’re looking for self-care, self-love and body positivity inspiration).
• Clear your photos, apps, and files from your phone. Do you keep getting the “storage full” notification? Us too. Go through your photos and apps to ensure you’re only keeping things that are going to propel you forward and support your life. Export old photos and files you want to keep to a harddrive to save space on your phone. 
• Do a tidy of all other spaces you frequently visit, letting go of items that you no longer want or need, and cleaning the area to help create that feeling of a fresh start. 

You don’t need to overwhelm yourself by doing all of this, especially not all at once, but it can be very beneficial to take some time in these first few weeks of the new year to move through your home at your own pace, clearing space. 

Once you’ve decluttered and cleaned up, you’ll have room to invite in things that will actually support you and your vision moving forward. 

2. Connect With Yourself 

We’re so often consuming other people’s content that it’s easy to lose touch with our own vision. Take some time to disconnect from the online world, and instead reconnect with yourself. 

Practices like meditation, journaling, breathwork, yoga, creativity and long walks can really help you to clear the mental clutter and get in touch with yourself. 

What do you want this year of your life to look like? How do you want it to feel? What practices help you to feel that way? 

Instead of always looking to other people for advice, or for suggestions on what you “should” be doing, start to trust yourself. You have the answers within! It just takes some intentional quiet time and exploration to begin listening to yourself.

We love using affirmations when we’re finding it difficult to trust ourselves, to help us along the journey: 

• I trust in myself and my vision. 
• My goals, values and beliefs are important. 
• I have the answers within. I don’t need to look outside myself for guidance (though I can always ask for help when I need it). 
• I am choosing to believe that I have the power to create my dream life. 

Consider when the last time was that you allowed yourself some solitude. Then, schedule this time for yourself! 

This is a beautiful time to set goals and intentions, create your vision, and recognize any limiting beliefs or unhelpful habits you currently have that you want to leave behind. 

3. Add In New Routines and Habits 

Now that we’ve taken time to clear the clutter and start to get in touch with what we truly want, we can start to add in new routines and habits. 

If we start here, we often try to do too much all at once and get overwhelmed because we’re not clear enough in our own vision. 

When you’re clear on your goals, and intentions for your life though, you can start to experiment with implementing routines and habits that fit into that. 

Take a look at your calendar and notice what spaces you have in your day. Where can you fit in some self-care? What’s one thing you can fit in each day that will allow you to feel better? 

If you’ve read the book Atomic Habits by James Clear (and we definitely recommend it if you haven’t already), you’ll know that adding in these new behaviors is often quite difficult. 

So, remember to be kind to yourself if you don’t hit your goals the first time through. And know that although meditating for 2 minute or exercising for just 10 minutes a day may sound easy, it’s the difference over time that matters. 

Start slow and work yourself up! 

Focus on consistency over perfection. 

And make time to celebrate your progress and wins along the way (no matter how small they may seem). 

“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity.”

― James Clear, Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

How are you entering the new year? What does a “fresh slate” look like for you? We’d love to know!