Life can be overwhelming. Our days can be tiresome, and we can soon feel these effects mentally and physically. As stressful as our days can be, it's vital we look after our wellbeing. To do so we need to look after ourselves.
This is where reset days come into action. If you’ve never heard of this term before, strap yourself in because you’ll be wanting to have one shortly after! A reset day is when you take a day and dedicate it to resetting your mind and doing everything that will affect you only in a positive way.
Beginning a Reset Day
Start the day by going one of two ways: getting up and seizing those early morning endorphins or allowing your body to rest and get those extra hours of sleep. Your everyday routine may look different from someone else's so both of these are absolutely acceptable to start a rest day! You may be someone who is always getting up early and wants a morning when you can hit the snooze button and get your well-deserved sleep. On the other hand, you may be someone who thrives in the morning and feels it could be a nice change to see the sunrise!
Put the Phone Away
What’s really challenging for us in this generation is to go without our phones. What will we do without scrolling through social media? Reset days are really important, and something that we don’t always realize is that our phones can be extremely damaging to our minds and mental well-being.
Switch it off and put it away in a drawer or out of sight! You’ll feel better for it, and you might even find yourself wanting to incorporate extra time apart from your phone more often.
Get in Those Nutrients
Kick-start your day with a healthy breakfast. They don’t call it the most important meal of the day for nothing. Breakfast boosts up your energy levels, as well as your supply of glucose.
Put a little extra effort into your first meal this morning and try something different. Some great healthy breakfast foods include: smoothies, baked oats, fruit bowls, or my personal favorite… smashed avocado and eggs on toast. Make the start of your day as positive as possible, and try new recipes. Try ones from TikTok you’ve been dying to test (the fluffy pancakes are worth the work)!
Tidy Space, Tidy Mind
You can’t avoid doing it forever! Clean your room and trust me when I say it does make all the difference. A crowded space can make it hard to focus and can make you feel cramped.
I know it makes me feel disorganized when I notice my room getting messy. This doesn’t have to be a dreadful chore— put on some music and groove to it as you organize your space. I cannot promise that you won’t have a cleaning dance party though… we've all done it.
Move Your Body
Dancing in your kitchen might not be enough exercise for you— it’s important to exercise and move your body in some way every day. Some of you may be regular gym attendees and want to get in a gym session, while for others this may look like a run or dog walk around your area. Another good way to move your body right from home is by at-home workouts!
Clear your lounge and put a follow along session on the TV. It’s recommended to get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, not only for the purpose of your physical health but also mental health. Exercise releases endorphins so either way, you’ll be happier at the end of your workout!
Journal and Gratitude
If you have not used a journal before, this is your time to. Journaling is great for expressing your thoughts and clearing your head. It’s a great habit to get into if you can squeeze five minutes out of your day to do so.
If you struggle to put pen to paper and have no clue what to write, some great prompts are 5 things you're grateful for, what you're looking forward to, the best part of your day, and progress on your goals. You may find that once you begin writing, you cannot stop and that’s great. That's what it’s there for: a tool to express emotions and thoughts.
Cleanse Your Mind
Meditation is a great way to cleanse your mind and calm your thoughts. You may or may not have tried meditation, but it’s great to include into a day like a reset day. Cleansing your mind doesn’t look the same for everyone.
This may look like a stroll to the beach or getting out in nature, a strong whiff of ground coffee beans and a coffee in hand, or even a creative activity like painting, drawing, or writing. Do something that makes you feel happy and calm!
Self-Care and Self-Care Learning
Prioritize looking after yourself, your skin, body, and mind— whether this looks like a spa evening or a simple face mask. Remember to stay hydrated throughout the day and learn about self-care. I find that self-help podcasts are great to listen to for getting new perspectives and advice on certain aspects.
You learn and take away a lot from them. My personal favorites recently have been: Anything goes with Emma, @lexie, The girl's bathroom, and The rise and conquer podcast. If you're more of a visual learner, there are some great self-care books out there that you can browse through at your local bookstore.
My Results For a Reset Day
Reset days for me go hand in hand with self-care days, so I do frequently take these as I heavily prioritize looking after my well-being. I find that these days really help to keep on top of my physical and mental well-being, and I enjoy taking a break from my regular thoughts and stress for a day. I try to incorporate as many healthy habits that I pick up during my reset days as possible and use them in my day-to-day life. Journaling for one, is one that I aim to do as often as possible, and putting down my phone when I feel consumed by it.
Reset days: a term that I think I will definitely be recommending for everyone from now on. It’s about looking after your overall wellness and keeping yourself in check with your wellbeing. Nobody should feel guilty for taking one or having frequent reset days, as it’s an important aspect to be able to do.
