40 Reset Day Ideas: Why Wait for a New Month?

Reset Day Ideas for That Fresh Start Feeling

Are you constantly finding yourself in reset mode? A new month rolls around and you think “Right, that’s it – this month I will change EVERYTHING!”

…But, it doesn’t last for more than a few days or a week? Do you then find yourself waiting for the next ‘right time’ – the 1st of the next month to begin the cycle again?

Below I share 40 reset day ideas so that you can make the changes when you want to – instead of waiting until the next new month or new year to start making changes.

These ideas aren’t grand gestures (this is probably where you’re going wrong each month). They are simple, small acts you can do to help declutter your mind and embrace that fresh start momentum.

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Why Wait?

I am one for a good old monthly, quarterly, yearly reset, but also – why wait until those specific dates to come along? If you want change – do it where you are right now. Use the feelings you're experiencing to jumpstart your new habits and routines.

As a serial dieter over the years, the whole “Fresh start Monday” just became a bit of a joke in the end that I didn't take on board, and usually resulted in an all-you-can-eat style of living the entire weekend.

The thing is, the neatness of a fresh new week feels tidy, but if you decide that you’re going to make the change, but will wait until Monday / next month you just use it ass another excuse to go into full-blown sabotage mode – is it worth waiting?

It’s something to think about, and if you really do want to wait until Monday or the 1st of the month, then make your plans before then, and use the days in between to incorporate some new habits or make some small changes to help you prepare.

Monthly Resets v Reset Days

Monthly Resets:

A new month is a great motivator, and a brilliant way to build momentum. However, if you are a serial stop/starter, there may be an issue with all or nothing thinking. New month goals tend to be pretty grand, and bigger than weekly ones. 

However, the bigger the goal, the further away they are from where you are right now, which can lead to over ambitious goals, unrealistic expectations, or being unable to efficiently estimate the time and energy needed to achieve the goal.

It can also be used as an excuse (think about my dieting example). If you’re really not looking forward to doing something, it's too easy to say “I’ll look at that next month”. Change is uncomfortable and your brain would rather you stay as you are as it knows it's how you've survived this long.

Too much space between decision and action can allow doubt to creep in, and if you’re a perfectionist who needs things to be “ready-er” – a new month is a great (and easily justifiable) way to push back the need to choose to start.

Reset Days:

Reset days on the other hand doesn’t allow you to use time to procrastinate! You make the decision to reset and use today as day one, and you get right to it. Reset days are great because you can choose to make change whenever you want, which supports a more flexible approach to your work / life.

Not waiting can help to limit the risk of not starting, sabotaging progress, or abandoning projects altogether by the time the next week or month arrives.

Regular reset days can be what you want them to be. It may be a day where you choose to declutter your home or workspace, or simply begin to introduce a new habit to support your progress and growth.

However, it can be easy to become complacent with reset days if you have an “ah it’s okay I’ll just start again tomorrow” attitude, without putting any real commitment into the intention.

How to Plan a Reset Day:

Picture this: You go to bed with the realisation that things aren’t going well, and you decide that in the morning things are going to change. You feel ready, motivated and in the zone as you think about what tomorrow could bring.

However, the risk of this is that when you wake up you may not feel as inspired. It's early and you're tired. Instead, grab your notebook or phone and open the notes app you use. Jot down your current thoughts, how you're feeling, the change you want to make and the reason why you want to.

This doesn't need to be in-depth plan – you're just making notes so that you can tap back into that energy in the morning. An evening braindump / mini plan can be a great sleeping pill, as you're essentially decluttering your mind to allow your brain to rest. It also means your subconscious will be processing your plans and ideas while you sleep!

Planning your reset day in the evening will mean you'll have a clear idea of what you want to do by the morning, and minimise the risk of ‘morning you’ deciding that no, actually today is not the day…

If you do decide to plan this out the day / evening before, be mindful of how you tend to feel in the mornings. If you're a bundle of energy first thing, then go for it, but if the mornings are already a struggle, let's not make it worse…

Step 1: Set an intention.

Decide on what your intention is going to be for the reset day.

• How do you want to feel?
• How will you show up?
• What do you intend to experience or change?
• How will doing this thing / making this change impact or change your life?

Step 2: Choose what you'll do, and keep it simple.

Pick 3-5 activities to focus on that align with your intention from step 1. These tasks need to be straightforward and easy to do so that there's less resistance. They should all be easily achievable in one day, so that you have small wins right away to help kickstart momentum.

If for example, you choose to focus on making changes to your business or career, and want to create new, aligned goals; make sure that you get specific, and identify smaller, actionable steps that you can get started on straight away. This is to ensure you move from a planning mindset to taking action. It also means you get to celebrate small wins from day one by breaking bigger goals into smaller, daily tasks.

Step 3: Create the right environment.

There are various things you can do, including planning and prepping things the night before. This is one of the best habit hacks I know. When you wake the following day the decisions have already been made. This makes it much easier to just do the thing when it’s all there ready for you to begin.

If you need to create a calm space, then set up things like candles, incense, calming / focus music. Declutter and have a good tidy and clean up of your space. If your reset is linked to productivity, this can make a huge difference.

If you're working towards a fitness goal, prepare your clothes the night before, and have them ready next to your water bottle so you don't have to think about it.

Step 4: Reflective Attitude

If you’re a chronic stop / starter, it’s a good idea to become aware of patterns and behaviours that highlights why you find it difficult to maintain progress or consistency.

Each day find space to reflect on the day. Focus on:

• What went well
• What you achieved
• What felt good
• What felt challenging.
• Responding behaviours – did you move onto something different?
• Were your expectations of the task low before you started?

Self-awareness is your secret weapon, and can help you get off the stop / start cycle. As with anything new, things will feel uncomfortable, it won't be perfect, and that's okay! Commit to using your reflections as lessons to help you continue to grow and improve step by step.

40 Reset Day Ideas for Every Need

Mental Clarity:

Declutter your workspace.

Make a list of things you're grateful for.

Journal your ideas, worries and thoughts for 10 minutes.

Do a guided 10 minute Meditation to start your day.

Unsubscribe from emails you no longer read.

Unfollow people who don’t make you feel good.

Practise mindful breathing exercises.

Physical Space Reset:

Organise your desk / workspace.

Declutter your digital space (e.g., delete old files, organise your bookmarks).

Rearrange a room or change the décor.

Do a 15-minute speed clean in one room.

Sort through old clothes / belongings and donate what you don’t wear or use.

Pack away items left out on the sides.

Clean out your bag and wallet.

Self-Care & Well-being:

Take a long bath or a refreshing shower.

Try a new healthy recipe.

Spend time in nature.

Practice yoga or stretching.

Create space to relax and read for an hour.

Listen to a motivating or feel good podcast.

Purposely stop and take your breaks, eating and being mindfully present.

Listen to an audiobook as you clean or walk.

Goal Setting & Planning:

Review and update your goals.

Visualise your ideal life and use these to create a vision board or mind map. 

Order or download a new journal / planner for your new focus / goals.

Plan your week or month in a way that feels good and achievable.

Set up a productivity system (e.g., Todoist or Sunsama).

Outline and plan your next big project. 

Create a To-do list for the next 7 days.

Creative Expression:

Try a new hobby or craft that you’ve been meaning to start.

Write a poem or short story – allow your mind to wander.

Draw or paint something that inspires you / spend time colouring in.

Create a playlist of music that makes you feel energised.

Listen to music and dance – release some of that energy.

Take a photography walk where you focus on nature / buildings / wildlife.

Collect things from outside and create a collage.

Digital Breaks:

Introduce a no phone before 8am rule.

Spend a day without social media.

Set a screen time limit for your phone each day.

Go for a walk without any devices.

Tools, Resources & Support

Each post I add my favourite tools and resources:

Quit Unhelpful Habits Create and stick to your new habits with ease and confidence

90-Day Planner – This printable 90-Day planner is the perfect companion for you as you set your focus for the next 3 months. Use it every 90 days to help build consistent habits and achieve your goals with ease. With a focus on intentional planning and moving forward at your own space, it's the perfect companion to see you through to the end of the year.

Impact Stationery – Have you ever dreamed of creating your own high-end stationery products? Laura has an amazing course & community designed to help you created printed products that you can market on Amazon, or your own website. It's different to KDP in that they're not print on demand, and the quality of products are incredible.

Elite Sourcing Collective – Laura has also introduced a brilliant new tier in her Elite Sourcing Collective. With free access to Impact Stationery as part of this offer, you also get to take part in a 6-week sprint, and have access to one of her recommended manufacturers, making the step into bringing your product to life even easier. Highly recommend being part of this group. At $999 per year, and with access to ISC – it's an incredible deal!

Etsy – Are you ready to create your own online store? Etsy is a brilliant shopping platform that's used by millions. Setting up your store is simple, and when you sign up with this link we both get 40 free listings!

Your Growth System – This all-in-one system for service providers / coaches / therapists / VA's etc. is a perfect way to save time & energy. Improve your productivity and beat procrastination by having everything you need to run your business in one place!

Final Thoughts

I hope you like the 40 reset day ideas. Whether you're looking to reignite a project, pivot your focus, or you want to make some personal changes, reset days and the fresh start effect they bring can be a great way to kickstart motivation.

For years I would wait for a Monday to start a new project, or focus on eating better, but that usually just meant I would overindulge on the weekend before, then lose motivation to implement the new regime.

I do LOVE a Monthly reset though, especially when working on business goals, but the freedom that comes with knowing that you can make the change any day of the week or month is empowering!

Share below what your go-to reset activities are:

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Meet Lynsey

Hey there! I'm Lynsey, a counsellor, coach and mentor for women who want to create change, but are feeling lost, uncertain and exhausted. With over 7 years’ experience of training, running businesses, and over a decade as a tutor and adult trainer, I've learned the value of a gentle and intentional approach to work and life that energises you without draining all of your energy.

I've lived with ME/CFS since 2011, and since then re-trained as a counsellor, and achieved a distinction for my Masters in Counselling and Psychotherapy Practice; all while running 4 businesses!

How? Improving your mindset, finding acceptance in yourself, and developing a gentle, but solution-focused approach to achieving goals is key. Knowing that it's not about how fast you move, but finding your own pace and trusting that you can achieve your goals in your own way, one step at a time.

If you'd like to know more about working with me, you can email [email protected] or find me on socials (links in the menu)

Have you seen my online store Quietly Conquer – Find DFY templates, downloads and more!