Yesterday evening, while I was cutting potatoes for dinner, I listened to a YouTube video about a mid-year reset. Reader, I can't tell you how easily I get sucked into a good reset routine. With June being smack-dab in the middle of the year, it makes for the perfect time to reflect and reset before the next 6 months fly by (and fly by they will).
I hold the power to set the tone for the day; I need to use that power wisely. While summer means more time at home, if I don't provide some kind of structure we can all end up frustrated with one another for not knowing what's going to happen on any given day. Structured freedom helps keep summer break from feeling like a prison sentence (for parents and kids alike).
A daily or weekly schedule can help everyone feel in control of their day. The kids will know when the fun will be had, as well as when snack time will be. And I get to make a routine that helps me manage all of my usual tasks, plus the extra summer things that I don't usually get to enjoy during the rest of the year.
Now that I'm actively working to combat my inner conflictions instead of sit with them, I've got a brand new burst of inspiration that was further encouraged to go through a mid-year reset of my own. I like to think of it as "Designing My Year 2.0." I can process what I've accomplished so far, what has worked and what has bombed, and plan the next quarter of my life accordingly! If I had to choose one word to sum up the main goal of my reset it would "Intentional." I want to live intentionally and get out of cycle of going through the motions just to get through the day.
Please note, if all you have energy for is the minimum, that is acceptable. I've been depressed and anxious for much of this last decade or so, so there's no shame if you're battling depression or another mental health disorder. Hopefully you have someone you can reach out to and trust to support you during your time of need. My heart and prayers go out to you.
Since I'm out of the darkness for the time being, I'm using the energy that I have to continue climbing my way out of the pit I fell into at the end of May. My secret weapon for doing so: rituals and routines.
Rituals are the priorities that I make and are nonnegotiable.
Routines are the time I take to perform these rituals.
This is where a summer schedule comes in handy. If I have too much freedom on my hands I will be frozen in a state of overwhelming anxiousness. When I set up a routine for myself, I can fully expect to make progress or at least work toward progress.
I created a little guide that explains how I create my daily routines, and the rituals they contain, if you'd like more in-depth reading. I go through step-by-step how I plan out my day to set me up for progress (not perfection) until the next season's reset is necessary. You can download the free guide here!
