As much as I love resetting an entire space or even an entire house, I think there's so much power and potential to change our lives for the better when we also put some daily reset rituals into practice. What we do every day definitely makes a bigger difference than what we do every once in a while. Here are my favorite tips for an effective yet simple Daily Reset.
How to Do a Daily Reset
1. Start Your Day Off Right
This will look different for every person and may require some trial and error before you figure out what it means for you. I like to set my intentions for the day in a journal, meditate and pray, make the bed, move/exercise, and nourish my body with water, greens, vitamins, and perk!
The days when I immediately start working on my computer or allow myself to sleep in, only to be woken up by my kids reminding me it's my turn to take middle school carpool, feel completely different. Think about what routine will get your day started on the right foot. The details might look different to everyone, but I do believe that routines are important and getting clear about what your ideal morning looks like for you will make all the difference.
2. Live by the "Touch it Once" Rule
What doe this mean? When you need to put something away, touch it once. For example, when you come in from the cold, instead of laying your coat over the back of a chair or couch, only to then have to touch it again later to put it in its rightful place, put it in the right spot the first time.
If clothes go in a hamper, put them in the hamper the moment they are taken off. If dishes go in the dishwasher, put them in the dishwasher instead of landing in the sink. If keys go on a hook, there's no reason to set them on the counter first. Just touch "it"- the coat, the backpack, the clothes, the dishes, the keys- ONCE. And teach the other people in your house to do the same. Don't put it down...put it AWAY!
3. The 2-minute Rule
If a thought comes into your head of something you need to get done, and you could do it right then in two minutes or less, do it! If you get an email or a text that you know you need to respond to and you can do it right then in two minutes or less, do it! Sometimes it's better to skip writing it on your to-do list and just get the thing done right then.
4. One In / One Out Rule
Did you get a new sweater for Christmas or snag a new dress on sale for Black Friday? Before you put it in your closet, pick one sweater or dress that you don't wear anymore to donate. Did you just buy a new can-opener to replace the one in your drawer that's rusty and not working just right? Make sure you throw the old one away before adding the new one to your drawer.
Whenever you bring something new into your home, see if you take something old or unused out of your home. Your clutter will stay in check, and your organizational systems will stay in place. This is especially a great principle to help your kids with toy management. After Christmas each year we make sure everything will fit by letting go of items that are no longer getting played with.
5. The 15-minute Family Reset
At the end of each day, maybe after dinner or right before bedtime, I yell "15-minute family reset" and my kids come running, eager to help out. 😉 Okay, maybe not, but they do know that that means that we all come together, turn on some great music, set a timer for 15 minutes, and clean as much as we can during that time.
Kids put things in their rooms that have been left in our common living area, dishes get done, floors are swept, throw blankets and pillows are put back on couches, papers are cleared off countertops. You might think that 15 minutes isn't enough time to get everything done, but when everyone pitches in, it almost always is.
6. Put Your House to Bed
Do you have a set bedtime routine for your kids? My young children know the routine by heart and they never ever let us skip a step: PJs, scriptures, books, teeth, prayers, song, tuck-in, and audiobook turned on. Have you ever considered having a bedtime routine for your house? I implemented this strategy a few years ago and am grateful every morning that I did.
It will look different for everyone, but for me, it includes making sure the kitchen is clean, the dishwasher is set to run, the family room is straightened, and my desk is cleared off. I have a friend that fills up her oil diffusers with water so they're set to turn on in the morning, another that makes sure her coffee station is stocked and ready to go, and another that makes sure her automatic vacuum is charged and ready to run in the night.
Making sure those things are done before I lock doors, turn out lights, and head to my bedroom makes such a big difference in how I feel and how I approach my day the next morning.
7. Have a 10-minute Gratitude / Scheduling / Goal Setting Session Right Before Bed
If you're not doing this yet, you'll be surprised at what a difference these ten minutes can make in your life! Just take a few minutes to write down something that happened that day that you're grateful for. Then look over your calendar for the next day to make sure you're ready and nothing will take you by surprise. Add or subtract things from your to-do list if you need to. And review your goals so they're not forgotten. It will help set your intentions and establish priorities for the next day. Your future self will thank you!
Have you tried any of these consistently? I want to know which ones help you the most!
Jen is the founder of Reset Your Nest, a Professional Home Organizing Business in Utah (servicing Salt Lake City, Park City, Ogden, Alpine, Highland, Mapleton, and St. George). She loves creating order and systems out of chaos and is known for bringing a beautiful aesthetic as well as easy to maintain function to any space. She shares her tips and tricks on Instagram @reset_your_nest.
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