If you have 5 Minutes:
Try a five minute meditation.
Find a new favorite quote. Pinterest is full of them.
Reread your goals.
Call your best friend.
Write things down. Get that pen to paper and make a list of something or write about your dreams. I have a small journal with one question each day and I love it. You can find it here.
Have a dance party to your favorite song. Currently, I recommend the newest Justin Timberlake song.
If you have 5 Hours:
Light a candle, pour your favorite hot drink and grab a book. Dive in. I love reading and napping back and forth for an entire afternoon if possible.
Take a long walk outside. Hike in a park near you.
Do a deep clean of your space. I know that can take longer than 5 hours, but if you work on for that long, you will feel a difference. If you live in a small apartment, it might only take 5 hours.
Host a game night with some of your favorite people. We love an intense game of Risk every few months or so (it can take hours.) Sometimes laughter, competition and maybe a little wine can help get you back on the happy train.
Plan your next vacation. Read some travel books or blogs. If you can’t book it, figure out a savings plan and a budget and start making it a reality. Planning can be part of the fun.
If you have 5 Days:
Go somewhere without cell signal. Spend the time by a fire, in the woods, in a hammock… you can picture it.
Get in the car and head out on a road trip. Bring your tent and an atlas.
Take a few days off work and have a staycation. Visit all your favorite local haunts, sleep in and maybe cross something off your DIY Pinterest Board.
Go home. Sometimes going back to where you come from can help remind you how far you’ve come and what’s important to you.
Take a social media break. If you can’t shut off from work or don’t have extra cash for a quick trip away, sometimes just shutting yourself off from the other people in your social network can actually help reset. Go visit them in person, send a letter in the mail – just take a break from Facebook, Instagram, etc.
Hitting reset is good for the body and the mind. It’s important to step back from the craziness sometimes and just make sure you are getting your happy fill. I know this summer is going to be a little crazy for us (currently: I’m on a plane flying to Minnesota for a 48 hour whirlwind) so I’ll be checking in with this list often. Let me know what I’m missing. What do you do to reset?
Great list, and so important to know when you're heading for a freak out.
I always whip out my calendar and see what I can cancel or move – a lot of times my freak outs approach from the intersection of Too Much and Can't Breathe.
I make my house silent and read a book, walk my dogs, paint my nails. I go to the beach and read a book and just zone the F out.
planning is definitely part of the fun for me! especially when i am feeling worried about savings or money, looking into things for the trip helps me stay on track with no shopping more saving etc. as for when i am about to spin out of control, it honestly depends on what kind of meltdown i'm headed for. but most of the time, a half day to myself at home with a good book or movie, lots of food and no other plans normally sets me right again.
These are things I need to learn better. I'm that person who will just keep going until burnout and while that may have worked in college where marathon naps were acceptable, that's just not the case in the real world. It worked for a few years but now I really have to put focus on myself and taking those moments to just reset and breathe. I'll have to try a few of these!
Such a great list! I try to remember to reset often to avoid burnout!
Wow really enjoyed this article, this is such a great way to make a positive/productive use of your time in such a relaxed and non-demanding way.