Each year, Easter gets framed as a reset point. Spring, fresh starts, new routines. These sound good on paper. but most of it is overdone. Around this time, people are start shifting things automatically, packing away winter clothes, pulling out lighter layers, opening windows again and changing the feel of their space without really thinking about it.
It creates the impression that everything else should change just as easily. You do not need a full life overhaul because the calendar says so. A reset doesn’t have to be dramative to be effective. In most cases, the smaller and more controlled it is, the more likely to stick
Most “resets” fail because they’re too big.
The usual approach is:
- New routine throughout household, work, productivity, school and family.
- new habits, perhaps you are quiting smoking or losing weight, or perhaps you;ve started to exercise more regularly and have joined a gym.
- New mindset: “I’ll start monday morning fresh” “New month, new routine”.
- All at once, you will be juggling multiple changes at once.
It lasts a few days, maybe a week, then drops off and you are back in the same cycle. It is not because you lack discipline, but because it’s unrealistic. You have tried to replace eveything at once instead of adjusting what’s already there.
A reset should be small and controlled.
If anything, Easter is good point to look at what’s quietly not working and deal with it. Not everything, just the obvious ones:
For example:
- Constant snacking without thinking about it
- Picking up your mobile out of habit when you are bored, frustrated or angry.
- Sending that text when you are angry or frustrated with someone.
- Letting your day drift with no structure
- Having too much structure in your day.
- Having too many apps on your mobile and cycling through them without purpose.
- Having the daytime tv on in the background without really watching it.
- Letting your emails and various accounts pile up with unread messages.
It’s time to take control, as these small habits are not major issue on their own, but they add up and make your day harder. Individually, they’re easy to ignore, you can forget about that snack or let a few e-mails pile up. But over the weeks it all adds up.
The difference is removing, not adding
Most people try to reset by adding more. They create more habits, more structures and more things to keep up with. That’s usually when it starts to fail apart. A better approach is remove friction.
Cut one thing:
- Stop crazing betweens meals and remove any tempting foods out the house.
- Reduce unncessary smartphone use., we don’t need to check our social media every few minutes or browse the news. Make it harder for yourself to reach the smartphone, leave it drawer., turn off notifications and block or delete problematic apps
- Limit how many times you default to apps and set specifc time for it.
- Turn off that television when you are not watching it. Set times when you can watch television.
- Keep yourself busy with various projects, study, work or simply have lots of hobbies and interests.
- Unsubscribe from mailing lists and chats you don’t want and flag important emails.
You don’t need to fix everything, just remove or two things that clearly aren’t helping. That alone makes more difference than adding few new habits.
Keep the routine, adjust the edges.
There is no need to rebuild your day from scratch, if parts of your routine already work, keep them. Just tighten those areas that slip.
Leave a Reply