Illustration by Sumbul
Illustration by Sumbul

After a couple of months filled to the brim with assignments, work and exams; you might have no motivation or energy to do anything. And the long summer vacation ahead gives you a lot of time on your hands which you might not know how to spend.

That’s where a reset routine comes in. A reset routine gives you a comfortable place to land, recover and regain your rhythms quickly, whatever life throws your way. It essentially consists of productive activities for you to recharge and set you up for the next few days or weeks. It can be a monthly reset or a weekly, according to whatever suits you best and gears you up in a more productive way.

Monthly resets

The end of any month is an ideal time to reflect on the past few weeks and make plans for the weeks ahead. It’s a time for reflection, growth and setting new goals. You can not only set up new goals for the month, but also reflect upon the previous goals or any yearly resolutions that you’ve made and tweak them.

This is an opportunity to clear your mind and your space, and get organised for the month ahead.

Weekly resets

Like me, if you also need weekly resets to ensure maximum productivity, then you should also list your priorities by planning out how your week is going to look like; what are you going to spend the most time and energy on, etc.

I like having Sunday as my reset day. I’m able to not only unwind, but also freshen up for the next week or so. Here are some activities I like to do to help me stay organised and productive.

Things that might help

A reset routine will look different for everyone. Some of you might need a relaxing, self-care day to recharge, and others might need to deep-clean their space to de-stress.

First things first, de-clutter your surroundings. “Clean space, clean mind,” is not just a common, but also a very accurate phrase at that. A clean environment can lead to an improved mood and a subconsciously relaxed mind.

Deep breathing: you might not know that deep breathing helps us reduce stress and anxiety that we might be building up throughout the day. So deep breathing gives out signals to our brains to calm down and relax.

Organise: Organising your life can help you feel more focused and productive; so start with organising your calendar and making a to-do list, where you plan your deadlines, activities and goals for the week/month.

Lastly, I would like to mention that each goal or aim that you make should be attainable and realistic. Set realistic expectations for yourself to enjoy your life while also working hard. It is important if you want to keep things organised, and everything in your life to be meaningful and purposeful.

Published in Dawn, Young World, June 8th, 2024

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