Wednesday 21 February 2018

The unexpected benefits of reset days

Inside - How and why reset days have changed my life

For a few months now, I've been doing a reset day on the last day of the month.


It's an idea that I've been aware of for a long time, but until recently had never regularly stuck to.

And now I can't imagine not doing it.
The premise is simple - at the start of each month (or the end of the month, or any day that sticks in your head) you do the small admin tasks that need to be done for your business and life.

I chose the last day of the month as it felt like something to work towards, a day without mindless scrolling, an easy way to put things off until later, while actually having a plan for dealing with it later.

I start by getting the computer component done. Then I move on to filing and tidying my desk, before moving away to the household items on my list, then finishing by diving into setting up the following month in my bullet journal.

It takes all day to move through the list in my bullet journal, and at the end I pat myself on the back for a job well done.

Reset days have had some unexpected benefits for me.

My paperwork is organised and it's easy to find things I need.

So often in the past Steve would ask where a bill was, and I'd have no idea! And my desk was always cluttered with piles of important kid-stuff, and bits and pieces of life.

But now, it all has a home. I can find the receipt for the obscure piece of technology Steve needs to claim on his taxes, and know when the insurance is due for renewal, and all our car registrations are paid on time.

I have clarity around the month ahead, and reflect on the past month's achievements

Celebrating achievements and reflecting on the past month's happenings has been the biggest game changer for me.

It's shown me that even when I wonder "why should I bother?" that we do do things, that I am successful, and can reach my goals.

And setting future goals helps me direct my month (although I'm still a bit slow on the actual doing), and balance the mum-life with blog-life.

Small jobs that often get left for tomorrow are actually completed regularly

It's really easy to leave things for another day.

But, quite often, that other day doesn't come.

So having a plan for tackling those little things, and a routine for capturing them, means that they do get done, regularly.

And I feel that my day has been productive.

I have fallen into the terrible habit of spending much of my days scrolling. With no one else here, it's an easy habit to fall into.

But on reset days, I get stuck in early, even setting my day up so I have no choice but to move away from the computer and scrolling, and get things done.

(If only I could figure out how to apply those same rules to every other day!)


So how do I do reset days?

My reset days have four components to them - computer (electronic), desk (paperwork), house (physical) and bullet journal (organising)

Computer (electronic)
  • backup gadgets (4 iPads, 1 iPhone)
  • import photos from phone and camera
  • unzip all downloaded files
  • backup blog, track monthly stats

Desk (paperwork)
  • file piles of paper from the month
  • sort small piles that have accumulated
  • update monthly bills, check bank statements
  • make any appointments needed (hairdresser, doctor, tests, etc)
  • empty rubbish bins (always gets forgotten on bin days)

House (physical)
  • clean air conditioner filters (5)
  • flea tablets for dogs
  • clean essential oil diffusers (3)
  • eyeball freezer/pantry/fridge for out of date products 
  • run dishwasher cleaner

Bullet Journal (organising)
  • review last month, celebrate achievements
  • set up quote page and calender
  • decide on monthly goals and projects
  • decide on editorial calender for posts, newsletters, and videos

Keeping track on reset days

Every month I write a new list in my bullet journal, noting things I liked doing last month, and things I would like to try this month.

Then on the day I set my journal on my desk open to the right page and literally tick things off the list as they're done, and write down new things as I think of them.

After just four months of reset days, I can see how they've impacted my life, and can't imagine not doing them next month.
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1 comment

  1. I really like this idea! I've had a mountain of paperwork to sort out for what feels like ages....you've inspired me to have a reset day of my own :)

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