Monthly Reset Routine: How to Reflect and Plan for May

⏱ 12 min read

Monthly Reset Routine – Disclaimer: Everything I share here is based on my own personal experience, not professional advice. If you’re going through something heavy, please do speak to a professional. Especially needed because the post touches on burnout and feeling lost.

Let me be honest with you, February and March were a lot. April was my birthday month, so while there was plenty to celebrate, there was also plenty happening all at once. There were days I felt incredibly productive, and days I couldn’t even open my laptop without feeling a wave of dread.

And as the last week of April hit, I realised something: even in a month where good things happened, I had no real sense of what I’d actually accomplished, what I wanted to let go of, and what I was walking into in May. A full month had passed, and I hadn’t stopped once to take stock of it.

But here’s what April did give me my Cult Ninja certificate. If you don’t know what that is, Cult Fitness gives you this title when you show up consistently for at least 3 classes every single week for 4 weeks straight. No skipping, no excuses. Getting that certificate reminded me of what I’m capable of when I’m intentional about showing up. And I thought, what if I brought that same consistency to the rest of my life, not just my workouts?

That’s when I decided to start a monthly reset routine. Not a rigid system. Not a 47-step journaling protocol. Just a simple, intentional practice of closing one chapter and opening the next with clarity.

If you’ve ever hit the 1st of a new month still carrying the emotional weight of the last one, even a good month, this post is for you.

What Is a Monthly Reset Routine?

A monthly reset routine is a structured practice of reviewing the previous month what worked, what didn’t, and how you felt and intentionally planning the month ahead. It typically takes 30–60 minutes and includes reflection journaling, habit review, goal setting, and clearing mental or physical clutter.

Think of it as a monthly date with yourself. No distractions, no to-do lists demanding your attention just you, your thoughts, and an honest conversation about your life.

Why a Monthly Reset Routine Actually Works

Most of us are so busy executing life that we forget to actually evaluate it. Stephen Covey called this ‘sharpening the saw’ in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the idea that pausing to reflect isn’t wasted time, it’s what makes all your other time more effective.

We rush from Monday to Monday, month to month, and then wonder at the end of the year why things feel the same. A monthly reset breaks that cycle. Here’s why it works:

• It creates intentional closure, you acknowledge what happened instead of just surviving it.
• It helps you identify patterns. If you were burnt out in March and again in April, your reset will show you why.
• It gives your goals a fighting chance because you review them every 30 days, not every 365.
• It trains your brain to look forward, not backwards, you feel less stuck and more in control.

My Monthly Reset Routine for May (Step by Step)

I do this on the last Sunday of the month or the first Sunday of the new one.

Full honesty: I used to do this, and then life happened, and I dropped the habit. May is my fresh start with it, too. So if you’re picking this up for the first time or picking it back up like me, you’re in good company.

Step 1: Create a Calm Space (5 minutes)

Before you write a single word, set the environment. Light a candle if that’s your thing. Put your phone on Do Not Disturb. Make a hot drink. This isn’t about being extra; it’s about signalling to your brain that this time is intentional. You can’t do a thoughtful review while notifications are buzzing every 30 seconds.

Step 2: April Reflection What Happened? (15 minutes)

Open your journal (or a blank Google Doc) and answer these questions honestly. No editing, no judgment:

• What were my 3 biggest wins in April, big or small?
• What drained me the most this month?
• What am I proudest of?
• What did I keep avoiding and why?
• How did I feel overall: energised, burnt out, somewhere in between?
• What was one thing that surprised me about myself?

Don’t overthink your answers. The first thought is usually the truest one. And if your Sunday reflection is bringing up a lot of dread about the week ahead, you might be dealing with more than just tiredness, it could be Monday anxiety, and it’s more common than you think.

Step 3: Review Your Habits and Goals (10 minutes)

Pull out whatever you set for April goals, habits, and intentions. Now be honest:

• Which habits did I actually stick to?
• Which goals did I hit? Which ones did I drop, and am I okay with that?
• Is there anything I need to carry forward into May, or is it time to let it go?
• Are my current goals still aligned with what I actually want?

A goal you’ve missed three months in a row isn’t a failure of discipline, it’s a sign the goal doesn’t fit your current season of life. It’s okay to release it.

Step 4: Clear the Clutter Physical and Mental (10 minutes)

This is the reset part of the monthly reset routine. Choose 2–3 of these:

• Clear your phone camera roll of screenshots you’ll never use
• Archive or delete emails that have been sitting in your inbox
• Tidy your workspace or one corner of your room
• Unfollow social media accounts that make you feel bad about yourself
• Write down one thought or worry you want to mentally let go of, then cross it out
• Cancel that subscription you’ve been meaning to cancel

You don’t need to do all of these. Even if one creates the psychological feeling of a fresh start, which is the whole point, if you’re feeling particularly overwhelmed during this step, pairing it with some of my favourite stress relief activities can really help you decompress before you move on to planning.

Step 5: Set Your May Intentions (15 minutes)

Now look forward. Not with a massive to-do list but with intention. Ask yourself:

• What is the one word or feeling I want May to be defined by?
• What are my top 3 priorities this month, not 10, just 3?
• What is one habit I want to build or strengthen?
• What do I want to do for fun that I’ve been putting off?
• What would make May feel successful when I look back on June 1st?

Write these down somewhere you’ll actually see them a sticky note on your mirror, your phone wallpaper, the first page of your planner. Out of sight really does mean out of mind.

Step 6: Do Something Small to Celebrate (5 minutes)

You made it through another month. That deserves acknowledgement. Make your favourite meal, take a long shower, and watch one episode of something you love without guilt. The celebration doesn’t have to be big, it just has to be intentional. You showed up. That matters, and honestly, that’s where building real confidence begins. Not in grand gestures, but in small acts of showing up for yourself, month after month.

Monthly Reset Routine: Quick Reference Table

Step	Time	What You Do
Create your space	5 mins	Tea, candle, phone on DND
April reflection	15 mins	Journal prompts: wins, drains, surprises
Habit & goal review	10 mins	What worked, what to drop or carry forward
Clear the clutter	10 mins	Physical + digital + mental declutter
Set May intentions	15 mins	One word, top 3 priorities, one new habit
Celebrate yourself	5 mins	Something small, just for you

Tips to Actually Stick to Your Monthly Reset Routine

• Schedule it like a meeting. Put it in your calendar for the last Sunday of every month. Treat it as non-negotiable.
• Don’t wait for the perfect time. You will never feel 100% ready. Start with 20 minutes if an hour feels overwhelming.
• Use the same prompts every month. Consistency in questions helps you track your growth over time.
• Do it analog if possible. Something about writing by hand slows your brain down in the best way.
• Pair it with something you enjoy. A good playlist, your favourite candle, that expensive tea you save for ‘special occasions.’ This is a special occasion.

A Personal Note Before You Start

I want to be clear about something: your monthly reset routine will never be perfect. Some months you’ll skip it. Some months you’ll do it in 15 minutes while eating lunch at your desk. And that’s okay.

The goal isn’t perfection it’s consistency over time. Even an imperfect reset is infinitely better than just rushing into the next month on autopilot. The simple act of pausing and asking “how was that?” and “what do I want?” changes things. I’ve seen it change things for me.

Give May a chance to be different. It starts with how you end April.

Try It This Weekend

You don’t need to do everything in this post. Start with just the reflection questions. Sit with a cup of tea, open your notes, and ask yourself: “What did April teach me?” That one question, answered honestly, is already a reset.

And if you try this routine, I’d love to hear how it goes. Drop a comment below, or find me on Instagram I share my own monthly reflections there too.

Here’s to a May that feels a little more intentional. You’ve got this.

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