At some point it just happens, life gets louder, the to-do list gets longer, and the version of you who used to feel everything deeply starts to get a little quieter. You stop noticing the light coming through the curtains. You stop caring about things that aren't urgent. You become very good at getting things done and somehow less good at actually living.
This list is my personal reset button. These are the small, ordinary things that brought me back to myself — not once, but over and over again. None of them are big. None of them cost much. But every single one of them reminded me that I'm still here, still me, still capable of feeling things.
I hope something on here does the same for you.
Look at the light between the curtains.
I did it this morning and it instantly transported me to childhood when I could do this every day.
Look at the rain drops on your window
Remember summer rain? Those days where it is pouring rain and you’re inside just loving it.
Goo Goo Dolls - Iris live.
Whenever I want to feel life deeply I listen to this version of Iris. Highly recommend.
Cuddle up with a pet
In case you’re in need of love, animals are always there for you unconditionally. If you have one, you are lucky. If not, there are a lot of stray animals who could use all the love, or maybe you have a friend who can share it.
Read outside
I always find comfort in being in nature and just admiring life while reading my fav book.
Walk bare feet in the grass
There's something grounding about feeling the earth beneath your feet. It takes you back to being a kid without shoes in the backyard, not a care in the world. Try it even for just five minutes.
Spend time with a kid for a while
Kids haven't learned to overthink things yet. Spend an afternoon with one and you'll be reminded what it feels like to be fully in the moment, laughing at nothing, curious about everything.
Buy some flowers/plants for your home
Something living in your home changes the energy of a space. You don't need to be a plant person, just one pot on the windowsill does it. It makes home feel more like a home.
Bake something - love the smell
I know it works better during rainy or colder days but who can say no to a pie? For me it screams cosy vibes and the idea of home. I remember when I was a kid and the whole kitchen smelled like apple pie. Still my favorite.
Deep cleaning - makes me feel I got my shit together all the time
It’s always been therapy for me. Whenever my mind feels full, I need to clean it starting with the outside world.
Call someone you love and just chit chat
Not to catch up on anything important. Just the kind of call where you end up talking for an hour about nothing and everything. Those are the conversations that remind you that you're loved.
Be nostalgic - look through some old photos and give yourself some grace
This is more common for millennials. We have a lot of analog photos sitting in a drawer. Make use of them, visit your inner child. You might find out he/she was a happy kiddo.
Write in a journal
Another form of therapy. It is difficult being consistent but it helps with your thoughts. Advice: get a bullet journal, for me it has been easier. Just some random words thrown there can make your mind at peace.
Paint or draw
When you get older it gets more difficult to get in touch with your creativity, hence my substack page. I felt the need to do things that made me happy when I was young. Painting is one of them even though I consider myself a not-talented-person. Who cares?
Call your mom
This hits hard for me and it comes from a place where I lost a parent. Trust me, do it now so you don’t regret it later. There are days when the only person I would want to talk to is my mom and I can’t anymore.
Watch a very good comedy
When was the last time you laughed at a comedy? I missed that so recently I decided to watch Borat! - highly recommend if you haven’t seen it yet.
Go alone to a museum
I did that a month ago and it was very fulfilling. Admiring art alone hits differently. No one is there to rush you or interfere with comments. We need that from time to time.
Put your headphones on and dance in front of the mirror
My fav hobby. It makes me daydream a lot and feel good about my inner world.
Daydream
We're told to always be productive and present, but daydreaming is where some of the best things live. Let your mind wander without guilt. It's not wasted time, it's how we make sense of what we want.
Sing in the car
Full volume, solo concert, no shame. Doesn't matter if you can carry a tune. This is just for you and the open road. Pure joy.
Make yourself a cocktail/mocktail
Put on some good music, pick a recipe, and make something just for you. The ritual of it is the point, choosing the glass, the garnish, the whole thing. A small act of taking care of yourself.
Put on your favorite outfit and stare in the mirror
The one that makes you feel like yourself. Stand there for a minute and actually notice. Not to be critical, just to see yourself as you are. It does something for your confidence that's hard to explain.
Look at trees
Not just glancing at them but really look. The way light comes through the leaves, the way a whole tree moves in the wind like one living thing. It's a good reminder that the world is bigger and quieter than your thoughts.
People watching
Find a café, a park bench, a train station, anywhere people pass through. Just watch. Everyone has a whole world going on inside them. It makes you feel more connected to life somehow.
Light up a candle in the evening and make yourself a cup of tea
This is the ultimate reset. A lit candle, a hot cup of tea, the evening slowing down. Put your phone away and just be there for a while.
Fresh sheets after an everything shower
The combination of a long shower and fresh sheets is honestly one of life's small luxuries. Everything shower: hair, nails, skin, the full reset. Then you slide into bed feeling like a completely new person. Absolute bliss.
Summer salad: sunflower oil, tomatoes, fresh onion, cucumber, apple cider vinegar, salt. trust me, you will thank me later, only in the summer.
a night out with your friends
Not a dinner, not a coffee, a proper night out where you laugh too loud and stay out too late. We forget how much we need this until we're actually in it.
a hug from your fav persons
A proper hug from someone who really gets you. The kind where you both hold on a little longer than usual. There's nothing that fixes things quite like that.
seeing the sea for the first time
That feeling when you catch your first glimpse of the sea, the horizon stretching endlessly, the salt in the air, something in your chest just opening up. It never gets old. If anything, it hits harder the older you get.
I would love to know what else reminds you of who you are. We can all learn from this. :)
All great reminders.
Mine would be take yourself out more. Gotta learn and appreciate where we have been, and who we are becoming be enjoying our own presence
Similar to some you mentioned
Light through the curtains is so underrated!