5 Ways You Can Reset | Finding the Perfect (ish) You

It's Monday and you already feel behind schedule. Your to-do lists are endless. Your calendar is over crowded.

Your kids need you. Your husband needs you. Your laundry is calling your name. The bills are piling up because you can't find time to sort them out.

You thought you could find some time during the weekend to get caught up but you ended up taking the kids to the pool and then having dinner with friends. Which was great overall, but not what you had planned.

And now you are cranky. Not overly… just a tad irritated. The things you would normally take in your stride are frustrating you to no end.

And so you snap at your 2 year old. You roll your eyes at your husband. You are impatient while waiting in line. Some of your frustration is revealed when you are talking to the person on the other end of the phone, the stranger who doesn't know you, who did nothing wrong.

You know it's happening. You don't like what is happening. But you just don't have the time to figure it out. Because it's Monday and you already feel behind schedule….

Does this happen to you? If so, I have a few suggestions that might help you find the time to figure it out AND find the time to reset.

5 ways you can reset.

I have been told that I can get more done in a single day than most people. Which is probably true. But even with my crazy busy schedule, I don't get flustered or stressed (well…95% of the time I don't anyway). And this is because I have learned to pivot. I have learned to adapt to new situations.

If my daughter wants to hang out for the day I put everything else on pause and hang out. If I can't hit pause I let her know because there are some things that might need to get done no matter what. Since I am honest with her, and normally I hang out, she respects my decision. And I don't feel bad saying no, not today. Because not today does not mean never.

I also know, from personal experience, that if I don't put the brakes on or hit pause, my anger, irritation and/or frustration will escalate out of control. Those little things that irk me will become big things. And then I speak with anger and usually say things that I can't take back and wish I could.

I have realized that my relationships with others is more important than brownies for the meeting, cleaning the bathroom, or doing the ironing (no one ever died when wearing wrinkled clothes).

As a result I need to stop and access. This is what I do…hopefully they will help you.

Reset #1 – Calendar Overwhelm.

Take a hard look at your calendar and delete delete delete. Eliminate things that do NOT directly link back to you or your family or your work (which is a subject for another day). Yes, brownies for the meeting are great…but not when you need a reset. Meeting a friend for lunch is great…but not when you need a reset.

Cancel what is in your way of you becoming the perfect(ish) you. Call. Email. Text. How ever you do it – but cancel. Every single thing on your calendar will either bring you joy or create overwhelm and stress. And not just short term joy…will that lunch with your friend create joy in you when you get home or are you your stressed out self when you walk in the door.

Calendar overwhelm is real. When you cancel what you can…that frees you up to fold the laundry, pay the bills, or even take a bath.

Reset #2 – Separate your to-do lists.

Write down everything, and I mean everything, that is on your list of things to do. The important and little things. Whatever you think you need to do. Include phone calls. Making dinners every night. Packing lunches. Car pool schedule. Pets to the vet. Car maintenance. Bill paying. Hair appointments. When you write it all down your mind frees up from the constant round and round your mind does trying to keep all of the mental balls in the air.

And then take those lists and separate them into priorities. Gotta get down now. Next week. Next month. Whenever you have time.

I like to use apps for this. My fave is Todoist (that is how it is spelled). I have 1 tab called ‘Errands and Things To Get Done'. I add them and separate them into categories and assign due dates. I have Errands. Phone calls. Outstanding (people I called and left a message). Things to Order. Home Tasks to Do. You can have as many as you want.

Once your schedule has a few holes in it, plug in your tasks. I have it set to sync with my Apple Calendar.

Every night, before I go to bed, I look at my calendar and see what is happening in the morning.

#3 – Write your today list.

Aside from what appears on your calendar there are always things that aren't scheduled. Either in the morning before the day gets busy, or the night before (my preference) make a list of 3 things you need to do in addition to what is on your calendar.

And, at this point, your calendar should only be filled with your personal and family schedule.

Don't try to do too many things. Better to feel accomplished than feeling behind. And…make sure you cross them off as you complete each one. Give yourself a mental high-five cause you got those tasks done.

#4 – Schedule time for you.

You are just as important as everyone else. And you need time right now – just time to be alone and relax.

Tell your husband that you feel a tad irritable and want to just go and read a book. Or take a bath. Or go for a walk. Or call a friend. Or do your nails. Whatever relaxes you.

If you have kids, get a babysitter or enlist your husband to make sure you aren't interrupted.

Those little ones just love to knock on the door, don't they?

#5 – Exercise.

Exercise is important on many levels. Exercise has been shown to improve mood, stabilize hormone levels, and decrease stress due to the positive effects of a behavioral change. You are changing what you normally do.

Your nervous system is made up of 2 sides. The action side and the rested side. When you learn to tap into the rested side (called parasympathetic nervous system) routinely, you can change how your body responds to stress.

You can then form a positive behavioral pattern. Your body will shift from the ‘fight or flight' response to the ‘calm and rested' response. And, isn't the goal to feel calm and rested….even if you really aren't?

I hope this ‘5 Ways You Can Reset' post has helped you. I have a few other blog posts that might help you out. The first one is my fave:

• Eliminate the Overwhelm | The 5 Minute Declutter
• The Power of Habits
• Is Life Balance Even Possible?
• Living a Life With No Regrets
• What is Joyful Living?

And, as always, I am reminding you: 1.) Choose to rise above your circumstances and live a life filled with joy. 2.) Accept you for who you are so you can age gracefully.

What is Joyful Living all about?

Joyful Living is ALL about not letting let the circumstances of YOUR life determine who you really are. You learn to choose YOU instead! Not sure how to do that? Let me help! 

To begin, go ahead and read:

• What is Joyful Living?
• 5 Simple Steps to Choosing Joy
• Finding Joy in All Things
• What Does God Say About Joy?
• Difference Between Happiness and Joy