The #1 Monthly Reset Routine Every Cycle Breaker Needs

Do you ever get to the end of the month and think, “How did I end up here AGAIN?”

The same habits you swore you were done with. Another failed routine. The same relationship stress. The same emotional patterns. You might be living on autopilot, responding from old patterns instead of making intentional choices.

This is where a monthly reset will help. It’s not about changing your whole life, but slowing down long enough to notice what is repeating, why it’s repeating, and making small shifts before everything piles up again.

Most of us wait until we are completely overwhelmed or emotionally drained, but what if checking in with yourself regularly made these unhelpful, familiar patterns less frequent and less intense?

That’s exactly what this monthly reset is for. A monthly routine will help you from feeling all over the place.

I always say you can’t change what you don’t have awareness of, and this monthly reset routine will allow you to reflect and interrupt patterns that no longer fit the life you want.

So if you’re ready to step out of autopilot month after month and start living more intentionally, this is the reset you need.

What’s a Monthly Reset Routine?

A monthly reset routine is a simple, intentional check-in that helps you notice patterns, look at what’s working and what’s not, and make small changes before life starts to feel overwhelming.

You look at your habits, routines, emotions, and relationships and decide what you want to carry over to the next month and what you don’t.

Think of it like a grounding ritual you can return to each month. Instead of moving from one month to another on autopilot, you get the opportunity to reflect without spiraling, make small shifts, and intentionally move into the next month.

Doing these monthly reset routines consistently and making small changes is how long term change actually happens.

Why Every Cycle Breaker Needs a Monthly Reset Routine

I don’t know about you, but breaking cycles can sometimes feel like messy work. As cycle breakers, we carry A LOT.

Old family patterns, unspoken expectations, and emotional habits that didn’t start with us. Without regular check-ins, it’s very easy to keep repeating unhelpful patterns, even when you’re trying to live differently.

A monthly reset routine lets you look at what actually happened over the past month and build structure in a way that feels supportive.

From here on out, you stop wishing you would stop repeating things on autopilot and start focusing and following through with better organization and steadier routines.

Personally, when I feel overwhelmed, or I notice I’m procrastinating, avoiding, etc., I have realized it’s not just one big thing that’s not going right. It usually means that I am on autopilot.

My habits, routines, and even my self-talk are running in the background without me really checking in, and when that happens, I notice I feel stuck and out of control.

What has really helped me isn’t trying to change everything at once, because trust me, I’ve tried doing the “big reset,” and it just doesn’t work for me. Instead, taking stock of my habits and routines more regularly and, more importantly, focusing on smaller, more realistic changes have made change feel possible.

This monthly reset routine is something I actually look forward to now, and it has really helped me stay aware of my patterns. If you can relate to my experiences, I truly believe this routine can help you too.

Let’s help you check in with yourself before things pile up and choose yourself a little more each month. That’s how cycles slowly lose their grip.

The Ultimate Monthly Reset Routine for Intentional Living

Wondering “how to reset for the new month?” This routine is meant for anyone who wants a simple monthly check-in without overthinking it. The steps below cover different areas of your life that you can revisit each month.

Use this monthly reset list as a gentle guide to reset without pressure.

1) Reflect on the Last Month

Before we jump into your patterns, habits, and routines, we are going to reflect on the last month. The goal isn’t to judge yourself or be perfect, but to slow down enough to notice what stood out to you.

You don’t want to skip this step. Most people jump from one month to another without really processing what they experienced.

That’s going to change when you start doing this monthly reset, because if you don’t take the time to reflect on what worked and what didn’t in your previous month, you won’t have the data you need to make those smaller shifts.

Start by thinking about your month. Does anything jump out at all? Were there experiences that were meaningful or draining? Anything that brought you joy?

You could focus on your energy and how that changed throughout the month. Were there some moments you felt overwhelmed, reactive, or maybe more connected to yourself?

Write down any thoughts that’ve come up. There is no wrong answer here, and it doesn’t have to be perfect. We are just trying to discover patterns in how you felt.

Questions to help your monthly reflection:

• What experiences from this month stood out to me the most?
• What situations seemed to take the most energy from me?
• When did I feel the most calm and present?
• What seemed to go well for me this month?
• What didn’t go so well? (Think of things that might’ve felt challenging or emotionally draining)
• What did I want to do more of this past month that I didn’t get to focus on?

These are just some basic questions you can start with if you need some help getting started. Otherwise, feel free to do a brain dump of your month and see what comes up.

Here’s what this reflection looks like for me when I do a simple monthly brain dump. Nothing fancy, just helps me notice what’s been true.

• I read a lot more, which has actually been fun. Currently reading ‘The Covenant of Water.’
• I went to Florida, and getting more sun really helped my mood.
• I haven’t been exercising as much this month, and I can tell it’s messing with my sleep.
• I was a lot more mindful about food
• Organizing myself really helped lower my anxiety
• I scrolled on my phone way more before bed, which didn’t really help my sleep.
• I really enjoy afternoon tea and reading, and it forces me to step away from my computer.
• Perfectionism is really slowing me down and making decision-making harder.
• I didn’t really hang out with my friends.

These are just some things that come to mind when I think about my month, and also help me think about what small adjustments I might need to make without it turning into self-criticism.

2) Notice the Patterns

Reflecting on the previous month helps you see what happened. Noticing patterns is about what keeps happening. This step is all about zooming out to look for repeated patterns rather than isolated moments.

The learned pattern is what you do; it’s the repeated responses that show up automatically. And most of the time, if you’re not paying attention, you might not even notice them in the moment.

Maybe you start scrolling when you’re overwhelmed, spend a lot of time perfecting the plan, engage in people-pleasing behaviors, struggle to follow through, shut down during certain conversations, or feel resentful towards your partner.

These are random, but learned responses that might’ve helped you cope at one point, but not so much anymore.

It can also be helpful to understand what tends to trigger these patterns. Your triggers are what spark the response, and your patterns are what you do in response.

Again, we aren’t fixing anything yet. This step is just about bringing awareness to any patterns that might stand out to you.

Questions to help notice patterns:

• What behaviors or reactions showed up more than once this month?
• What habits did I keep falling back on when I was stressed or tired?
• What situations or feelings tend to trigger these responses?
• What do these patterns seem to be protecting me from?

If you’re new to pattern seeking, I encourage you to start small. You don’t need to figure out everything at once.

A pattern can be as simple as turning to the same habits when you’re anxious or sad, reacting the same way when you’re around certain people, or perfecting a routine over and over, but taking no steps to implement it. If something happened more than once and felt familiar, that counts. Start there.

Remember, your patterns are learned. Being able to notice them is progress, not failure.

3) Review Your Habits & Routines

I have a love/hate relationship with this step because I have to face how my days are actually structured. I can be all over the place sometimes, and this reset is exactly what I need to get back on track. So we started by looking at what you experienced in the previous month and how specific patterns showed up.

As you do this monthly reset more regularly, you will start to recognize that your habits and routines are where your patterns live. This step will focus on the practical, everyday behaviors that shape how you feel, and help you understand why your habits and routines keep your unhelpful patterns alive.

Everything from how you start your morning, move through the day, and prioritize relaxing at night affects your nervous system and emotional capacity. When you don’t have supportive routines, even small stressors can feel like a lot.

A lot of our habits actually help us in some ways, which is why we keep repeating them. I always say that every behavior has a function, and if we can identify it, we can replace it with healthier ways.

My biggest advice for this step is to have a curious mindset. It’s very easy to be critical of our habits, and very hard to show ourselves some self-compassion.

You aren’t labeling your habits and routines as good or bad, but just helping you understand how they impact you. Some habits might help you feel more relaxed and grounded, while others might feel good in the moment but leave you feeling drained later.

That was the easiest way for me to understand the impact of my habits and routines is to focus on how I felt after the habit, not during it. Many of my habits were (some still are) on autopilot, and without this monthly reset, it would be impossible for me to be intentional with my choices.

For example, I have a nightly habit of scrolling before bed that I am working on breaking, and every morning I wake up feeling more tired. I make a mental note that while scrolling in the moment feels fun, I definitely pay the price the next day.

Questions to review your patterns and habits:

• What does my morning and evening routine look like? How does it affect my mood or energy?
• What habits do I fall back on when I am overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, sad, etc?
• Whose needs usually come first in my daily routines?
• Are there parts of my day that feel rushed or draining? Any parts of the day that feel steady?
• Do I tend to avoid, worry about, or overthink money?
• Does my spending add to my stress, or does it make me feel more secure?
• How do I usually handle responsibilities when they pile up?
• Any habits or routines that leave me feeling worse after I am done?
• What habits and routines feel supportive?

You aren’t changing everything in one month, so if you find yourself overwhelmed after this step, take a break and come back to it later. We are focusing on small, intentional changes. That can mean starting with one thing at a time.

When you start looking at your routines and habits, you will see how even small adjustments can make your day feel much more intentional.

4) Identify What’s Supporting Your Growth

Now that we’ve looked at the last month, noticed patterns, and day-to-day structure, step #4 is where we intentionally shift the focus. Instead of asking what’s wrong or what needs to change, you’re going to identify what’s already supporting your growth.

I don’t know about you, but I am definitely someone who tends to be more aware of my challenges and struggles than of my progress, and this step really helps me move forward, reminding me that even small progress is progress.

Take some time to notice the experiences, habits, or choices that helped make things easier for you this month. Noticing what’s working helps reinforce the idea that there have been positive changes.

Questions to identify what supported your growth:

• What am I proud of myself for?
• Did I handle something differently than I usually would?
• What choices did I make this month that helped me feel more stable, and which do I want to continue?
• What habits or routines helped make my day easier?
• Are there people in my life I spent time with who left me feeling better about myself?
• Where did I extend self-compassion to myself this month?

When you have an idea about what helps foster your growth, you can move into the next month with more clarity. It won’t feel like you’re starting from ground zero.

5) Choose Small, Intentional Shifts

Now begins the fun part of this monthly reset. The first 4 steps of this reset are all about building awareness, and now we are going to turn that awareness into action. Not big actions, but small intentional shifts that you can practice in your real life.

Don’t try to change everything at once, because that will overwhelm you or leave you feeling discouraged. Also, notice if you’re getting stuck in the all-or-nothing mindset. Don’t get stuck waiting for the RIGHT plan before you begin.

There is no right plan, just small shifts that feel sustainable to you. Your only focus, month after month, is to build momentum while maintaining flexibility and compassion.

Remember, you’re already growing (go back to step 4 if you need the reminder). These goals are just a way to support that growth even more. You want to choose something specific and realistically doable.

Something I struggled with is setting goals that fit my real life, not an idealized version of it. It’s definitely a lot of experimenting.

Whether you choose a habit, a routine, or a pattern, what matters most is that you’re intentionally choosing something you want to work on.

Examples of small, intentional shifts:

• Creating a simple morning and evening routine.
• Practice learning how to regulate your emotions
• Try pausing before responding when you feel triggered.
• Putting your phone down during meals.
• Stop working at a set time at least 2-3 times a week.
• Say “Let me check my calendar” instead of agreeing immediately.
• Write out monthly goals.
• Read 2 books this month.
• Choose 2 days a month with no plans to rest.
• Set a sleep schedule.
• Review your budget this month.
• Go on one solo date this month.

You want to choose a goal that will easily fit into your life. I’m not a runner. If I set a goal to run every day, I am pretty sure I will get frustrated and drop it entirely. But if I choose to walk every day, that’s very doable.

These goals aren’t something you have to master, only practice as often as you can. The goal is also not perfection, but learning to notice your choices, adjust when needed, and keep showing up for yourself in supportive ways. Be on your own team!!

The last step brings everything together by setting a monthly intention that helps connect the dots. This isn’t another to-do list, but a reminder of how you want to move through the month.

The first few steps in this monthly reset focus on awareness and practical changes, and this final step is all about your mindset.

Monthly intentions are a great way to stay connected to your values when motivation is low or when things aren’t going as planned (trust me, that will happen).

There are many times when an old pattern starts to show up, like the urge to jump straight into fixing things for someone, and without intention, I would lose sight of why I’m making the change in the first place.

Setting monthly intentions helps me stay centered on what is important to me, or to choose something different when I slip back into familiar habits.

My intentions keep the work connected to my values, not just my actions. So your intention should feel personal to you, but also be realistic. Think of it as an anchor you can return to when you don’t know what to do next or are feeling overwhelmed.

When your actions are in line with your values, change feels possible. So think about how you want to show up for yourself this month, and what value you want to prioritize.

Examples of monthly intentions:

• Practicing resting without guilt.
• Asking for help when I need it.
• I am practicing responding instead of reacting.
• Letting go of things I cannot control.
• Practicing self-trust.

Write one clear sentence that captures your intention: “This month, I am practicing __.”

I probably sound like a broken record at this point, but the goal is not perfection. Use your intention as an invitation to guide your behavior and a reminder of how you want to move through your month.

When Should You Do a Monthly Reset?

There isn’t a “perfect” time to do a monthly reset. Most people naturally might feel like they need to reset when they are feeling overwhelmed or mentally cluttered. These moments can be used as a sign that you need to slow down, not push through.

If you’re reading this post in the middle of the month, that’s OKAY! A reset should be done when it feels realistic for you.

So whether you choose the start of the month, the end of the month, or the middle of the month, the best time is one you’re most likely to return to, and it’s okay if that changes because, well, life as we know it can be unpredictable.

I like to do both a monthly and weekly reset because it helps me feel a little less chaotic going into each week. You can choose to start with just monthly if you’re new to this.

What does matter, though, is how consistent you are with it. Think of this reset as a monthly check-in with yourself, and the more consistently you do it, the easier it will be to keep doing it long-term rather than feeling like another to-do item.

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Final Thoughts….

Honestly, the real value of doing a monthly reset isn’t in doing everything “perfect.” It’s in giving yourself the time and space to step back and say, okay…what’s actually going on with me?

Life has its way of moving fast, and if you don’t slow down to check in with yourself, you won’t be giving yourself the chance to see what’s helping, what might need some adjustment, and what are things that no longer serve you.

Some months will feel much clearer than others, and in some months you will rush through these steps (I am guilty of this). That’s ok!! Either way, I hope you find these monthly reset ideas useful as you think about your month.

What matters is that you keep coming back to yourself and make the effort to change your life in a way that you want.

More Ways to Reset Each Month

• 16 Simple Habits for Your Morning Self Care Routine
• 10 Practical Mental Health Goals for 2026 You Need in Your Life
• 30 Day Self Care Challenge For Cycle Breakers
• 10 Important Weekly Reflection Questions You Need To Ask Yourself
• 15 Simple Mental Health Goals to Set in 2025

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