I absolutely love taking on any opportunity to refresh, reset, and realign. There’s a reason why New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are my favorite holidays. I also get excited for the start of a new month or even a new week. It’s wonderful to take a moment to reset yourself and get yourself back on track with your goals and personal development. Especially when you use the energy of a new year, month, or week to stir up your motivation and excitement for your reset. And I must say, quarterly or seasonal resets can be just as exciting as annual resets. Especially when you implement the energy and vibes of the current season into your seasonal reset.
Not only does a seasonal reset allow you to realign with your bigger goals, but it also helps you prepare for the season itself. Certainly, you want to be physically, mentally, emotionally, and energetically ready for each season. That way, you can fully make the most of what each season has to offer. Whilst also easing any hard feelings you may have when your least favorite season arrives. Especially if you’re anything like me and struggle immensely with any particular season. As a matter of fact, I’d put extra focus into the seasonal reset for any season you may not particularly favor.
Seasonal changes aside, seasonal resets are great quarterly checkpoints to check in with your progress. They make for wonderful opportunities to adjust for the better of your long-term goals and development. And they’re wonderful opportunities to tackle those tasks that you wouldn’t typically do daily, weekly, or even monthly.
Setting The Tone For Your Seasonal Reset
As you begin your seasonal reset, it can certainly be quite motivating to make a special occasion out of your seasonal reset day. After all, a seasonal reset isn’t something you’re going to do every week. Nor is it even something you’re going to do monthly. Heck, you’re only going to be resetting for each particular season once a year. So why not make each seasonal reset its own unique event? There are so many little ways to incorporate the energy and beauty of the season in your reset. Whilst making your seasonal reset days that you can truly look forward to. Even when it comes to the less desirable portions of them.
Enjoy Seasonal Treats and Drinks
Seasonal resets can be quite in-depth and involved, and can be a whole-day process. Heck, you could even make it a weekend venture to reset, refresh, and realign for the new season. Needless to say, as you’re going about your seasonal reset, you’re likely going to get hungry and thirsty. So, why not enjoy some seasonal meals, treats, and drinks as you go about your reset? You could even plan every meal for the day to be a seasonal treat. That way, you can truly get into the seasonal spirit as you realign your life for whichever season is upon you when it comes time for a treat.
Create A Seasonal Playlist and Watchlist
As you go about your seasonal resets, it can be quite inspiring to play something in the background that brings in the vibes of the season. Although this is purely optional, as it can be quite lovely to go screen-free and do a digital detox as a part of your reset. But honestly, there’s nothing wrong with putting together a seasonal playlist to play from your smart speaker as you do your deep cleaning. And watching some movies and TV shows set in the current season, as you do your self-care, adds to the experience.
In reality, it’s social media that we should minimize and detox from when we do a reset. Not necessarily technology itself. Perhaps, as a way to focus more on what we’re watching.
Bring In Seasonal Scents
One of my favorite ways to embrace the vibe of each season is to make my space smell like that season. I absolutely love to burn Autumnal and Winter scented candles in their respective seasons. The same goes for Spring and Summer scented candles. Although I tend to gravitate toward essential oils and room sprays for the warmer seasons, or for when I’m cleaning or decorating. Just so I’m not trying to work around a burning candle. I also find that I love wearing seasonal fragrances as I go about my seasonal resets. Or at least a fragrance that matches the vibe of the current season.
Put On Your Favorite Seasonal Outfit
Each season has its own unique vibe and its own unique fashion style. And while I have to be honest with you and state that I dress more based upon my current mood than I do the current season, I love to dress for the oncoming season when I do my seasonal resets. Especially as my seasonal resets are intended to help me embrace the new season. This one is honestly 100% optional. That said, you may also have to dress more for the vibe of the season, depending on the weather. It may be a bit too chilly for a floral dress in early Spring. Likewise, it may also be too warm for a sweater in early Autumn. But it’s still fun to allow the vibe of the season into your outfit as you reset for the new season.
Seasonal Deep Cleaning, Decluttering, and Organization
Deep cleaning may not be the most enjoyable part of any reset, but it’s certainly rewarding and refreshing. When it comes to seasonal deep cleans, they can always be done over a matter of days. Perhaps the next time you do your weekly or monthly cleaning in each area of your home. Although there’s no rule stating that you can’t make a day out of deep cleaning every corner of your home. Especially with how rewarding it feels to be in a freshly deep-cleaned space. Honestly, seasonal deep cleaning is a great way to kick off your seasonal reset.
Seasonal deep cleaning focuses on cleaning and organizational tasks that you wouldn’t typically do weekly. Or even monthly, for that matter. Of course, you’re always free to do any of the tasks that I personally do seasonally more often. Conversely, you can also choose to do them semi-annually or even annually. Remember to always do what’s best for you, your family, and your home. However you choose to go about your seasonal deep cleaning, be sure to make it as enjoyable as you can. Put on a seasonal playlist, have a seasonal drink ready to sip on, and go to town on refreshing your space.
All Around Your Home
Let’s get into all of those little nooks and crannies that we often think little about. As well as those areas that just might be too much of a hassle to do weekly or monthly. Certainly, many of these areas can be taken care of annually instead of quarterly. But it certainly feels good not to allow these areas to go unchecked for too long and build up a bigger mess to clean later.
- Clean the windows. For colder seasons (Winter, early Spring, and late Autumn), be sure to do this on a day where the temperature is above freezing.
- Wipe down all A/C and heating vents of any buildup of dust. Especially cold-air return vents that build up dust quickly.
- Sweep and mop, or vacuum, behind and under furniture. Dirt loves to hide in those hidden areas.
- Wipe down baseboards and crown moulding of any dust and cobwebs. The spiders can rebuild their home outside, where they belong.
- Dust light fixtures around the home. Including ceiling, wall, table, and floor lamps.
- Wipe your decor pieces and books of any dust with a soft dry cloth. Keep them sparkling and clean, so they look lovely around the home.
- Wipe down drawers and cabinets of dirt, dust, and crumbs. You’d be surprised how dirty they can become over time.
In The Kitchen
Honestly, it feels like cleaning the entire kitchen tends to be a daily task. Or at the very least, a weekly task. But there are a few areas of the kitchen that we’re likely not focused on cleaning or decluttering regularly. So let’s give them some seasonal attention as we go about our seasonal reset.
- Deep clean your appliances. Clean inside the burners of your stove, deep clean the oven, and wipe down every shelf and drawer of the fridge. And don’t forget to give your small appliances some love as well!
- Check the condiments in your fridge. Most of us aren’t thinking about our condiments when we’re doing our weekly cleanout of expired food from the fridge. But they do go bad over time. So let’s check on them seasonally and toss those old expired ones.
- Reorganize and declutter the pantry. Decluttering the pantry is another thing we don’t think of doing weekly or monthly. But the things in your pantry can expire or become stale as well. So be sure to toss the items that are well past their “best by” date. Whilst you get your organizational system back together in your pantry, as pantries can get a bit disorganized over time.
Bathroom and Vanity
The bathroom is similar to the kitchen in terms of how often we clean it in its entirety. We likely aren’t going more than a month without deep cleaning most areas of the bathroom. That is, if we aren’t cleaning and disinfecting these areas weekly or even daily. But there are a few areas of the bathroom that we may not pay close attention to regularly. Although your seasonal reset of the bathroom will often be more about decluttering and managing your health and beauty products. That way, we don’t get too behind on decluttering old expired cosmetics.
- Clean bathroom fixtures of buildup. Calcium deposits on faucets and shower heads can become an eyesore over time. So let’s clear that build-up seasonally before it builds up too much..
- Clean floor mats and bath mats. I personally love mats that can be tossed into the washer and hung to dry. That way, there’s no scrubbing or hassle needed.
- Deep clean all your hair brushes and combs. Be sure to soak and deep clean your hair brushes and combs at least seasonally. That way, you’ll have a fresh brush free of buildup oils, hair products, dead skin cells, and hair that may be left behind from your daily cleanup.
- Reorganize and go through your cosmetics. Rotate any seasonal products into your daily drawer for easy access for your daily routines. And while you’re at it, be sure to check your collection for expired or broken products that may need to be tossed.
- Wipe down and clean your favorite products. Sometimes our favorite products can get a little messy as we use them. Let’s take the time during our seasonal deep cleaning to wipe them down and remove any crusty old makeup or fingerprints from them.
In Your Home Office or Creative Space
Apart from my regular dusting, sweeping, and mopping, my office space doesn’t typically get a lot of deep cleaning attention on the regular. Especially as I typically keep my creative space the most well-organized. But given the fact that I do spend quite a bit of time at my desk, I always feel compelled to include my office space in my seasonal deep cleaning. Certainly, I want to reset my creative space as I go about my seasonal reset. That way, I can go into all of my creative projects with a fresh mind in a freshly reorganized space.
- Clear computer vents of dust. I was shocked one day when I ran my finger under my iMac and found the fan vents coated in dust. Be sure to clear your electronics vents of dirt and dust to prevent them from becoming blocked.
- Clean keyboards and/or keyboard covers. So many little crumbs can get into your keyboard without you noticing. Be sure to clean them seasonally. Or better yet, get a cover for your keyboards that you can easily clean instead.
- Check all your pens and supplies. Toss any pens, markers, or paints that are dried up and no longer usable. And donate any unused office supplies that you don’t absolutely love or don’t see yourself using.
- Check essential supply levels. Let’s avoid not having the batteries we need when the need for them arises. As well as not having ink or paper for the printer when we need to print. Take stock of everything you have, and order more of what you’re low on.
Bedroom and Wardrobe
Sleep is a wonderful and essential thing, so you’re going to want a neat and comfortable sleeping space to help you sleep better. Of course, you’re going to want to include your sleeping environment in your seasonal reset and deep cleaning, and give it a little refresh. Whilst you also prepare your wardrobe for the next season, and restore the organizational order of your closet.
- Wash all of your bedding. This includes throw blankets, comforters, and duvets. That way, your bed is completely refreshed for the season. Or so you can put them away and swap them out with more seasonal bedding.
- Declutter unworn or unloved clothing. Are there any pieces from the previous season that you haven’t worn or felt no desire to wear? It may be time to donate them and free up precious space in your wardrobe. Let someone else enjoy them.
- Rotate in-season items to the front. You likely don’t want to reach around your Summer dresses to access your Winter sweaters every day in January. Nor do you want to dig through your Autumnal plaid shirts to find your Spring floral blouses. So let’s rotate our in-seasonal garments so they’re the easiest to access.
- Neaten up your closet and drawers. Let’s make sure all our clothes are hung properly on their hangers. I personally also like for each garment to face the same way in the closet. And don’t forget to tidy up the folder items in your dresser drawers from all the times you indecisively sifted through them over the last few months.
Need a little extra guidance or want a checklist?
I know that at a glance, my seasonal deep cleaning may seem like a lot. It can also seem like a lot to keep track of room by room when you factor in the bits from all around the house. Which is why I’ve created a free checklist for Stridefully Newsletter subscribers, which subscribers can access from my freebies page at any time.
Prepare For The Season Itself
Each season is quite unique and has its own set of wonderful things for us to embrace about it. Heck, even as someone who strongly dislikes Winter, I must say it does have its own perks. And on that same note, every season also has its own downsides and challenges. Even as someone who loves Summer, there are a few things I’m not sad to see go when the cooler weather arrives. But what helps to minimize the pitfalls of each season is to be prepared for them and to be able to adjust to the season accordingly. Whilst also preparing to make the most of the wonderful things that the coming season has to offer.
Seasonal resets make for a great time to adjust for the new season, before that season fully sets in. Not only is a seasonal reset a great time to make sure that you have all the practical things ready for the season, but also to mentally, emotionally, and physically prepare yourself for the season. Let’s set ourselves up to have a great season ahead. Whilst also embracing change along with the seasons, and allowing the seasonal changes to renew us. Let’s be practical about it, while also having some fun with it.
Take Care Of The Practical Things
One of the best things about doing a seasonal reset early in the season, or slightly before it even begins, is having a bit of time to prepare yourself for it before it fully sets in. It truly makes the transition into the next season go much smoother. Alongside rotating my wardrobe as you’re reorganizing your closet, or swapping out seasonal bedding as you strip your bed to wash all your bedding, it’s never a bad idea to practically prepare for each season. Especially when it comes to preparing for inclement weather or harsh weather conditions.
For example, it’s never a bad idea to get ice-melts or rock salt before a winter storm is even in the forecast. And on the note of inclement weather, it’s also never a bad idea to review your emergency plan for any severe weather that may be prevalent in your area in the coming season. It may not be the most aesthetic or pleasant thing to think about, but it’s better to be prepared than to be caught off guard. Heck, even things like who will watch the kids on a calamity day absolutely matter. Or making sure you have sunscreen in your bag for the impromptu walk in the Summer sun.
Decorate For The Season
One of the simplest ways to embrace any season is to decorate for that season as it begins. Not only does it allow you to be surrounded by the vibes of the season and any holidays associated with it, but decorating can certainly be a fun process. Honestly, I like to make a special moment out of decorating for the season as a part of my seasonal reset. And while I do find Autumn and Winter to be the easiest seasons to decorate for, you can also find some lovely decor pieces for Spring and Summer.
But at the very least, a seasonal reset makes a great time to put away any seasonal or holiday decor that’s been up for a bit too long. Such as the Christmas tree that’s still up in March. Or the Halloween decorations that were left out into December. No judgment, I know life gets the better of us all sometimes. But let’s put those past holiday decorations away for next year, and embrace the next season.
Make Seasonal Plans to Embrace The Season
Every season has so many wonderful activities and festivities to be enjoyed. Let’s be sure that we’re allowing ourselves to take part and embrace those festivities before the season ends. Because why would you allow yourself to miss out on some of the best things that each season has to offer? I highly recommend making a seasonal bucket list as a part of your seasonal reset. Write it down on paper or make a special list for it in your digital journal. That way, you have something to refer back to so you can cross off each thing as you do it. And don’t forget to be on the lookout for local festivals and seasonal events to attend!
Lean In To Hobbies and Interests That Work With The Season
As a Summertime girl, I look forward to Summer activities. I love being able to go swimming, soak in the hot tub, and enjoy ice cream on the back patio. It goes without saying that I never want Summer to end. Honestly, I often find myself feeling sad when the time comes to pack up the hot tub and put my swimsuits away for the year. But I’m going to be honest for a second, I’m also very much an indoor girly. So much so that it makes little sense for me to complain about a lousy day. I have so many indoor hobbies, or hobbies that can easily be done indoors, that it’s not hard to lean into them in the colder seasons.
On that note, let’s not forget to embrace hobbies that are specific and special to each season. Whether it be gardening in the Spring and Summer, or photographing the colorful scenery in the Fall. Or even just leaning in to journaling or reading on the couch when it’s too cold, too rainy, or too snowy to do anything outdoors.
Set Your Goals For The Next Quarter
Seasonal resets are a great time to set quarterly goals and start planning for what you’d like to accomplish over the next few months. Whilst also checking in on your annual and longer-term goals, and refining your game plans as needed. Perhaps you could use your seasonal reset to set smaller goals within your larger goals, and help them become less daunting. Especially as seasonal goals can then be broken down into monthly and weekly goals. And these seasonal checkpoints also allow you to adjust your game plan as needed. Whether that be scaling back slightly and giving yourself more time, or doubling down on self-discipline.
On that note, not all seasonal or quarterly goals necessarily have to be a part of a larger or long-term goal. Perhaps you’d like to take on a fun project over the next few months and hold yourself accountable to finishing it. Or you’d like to implement a certain lifestyle change and test it out over a longer period of time than just a week or a month. Heck, maybe you’d even like to set goals that pertain to the season itself, and embrace that season even more. For example, you might wish to collect and preserve any number of different types of fallen leaves in the Fall.
Remember to have some fun when setting your seasonal goals. Be sure that they’re measurable, whilst also having meaning to you. Be realistic with your goals, so they’re highly attainable, while also giving yourself a bit of a challenge. And don’t forget to check back in on your goals that you made in your previous seasonal reset. Adjust what didn’t work in your plans, and scale back if necessary. Or make it more challenging when you’re goals are going better than you originally expected!
Pamper Yourself and Align Yourself To The Season
No reset would be a true reset if we didn’t take the time to pamper ourselves and allow ourselves some time to rest. Personally, I find regular rest and leisure to be essential to our well-being. And because the point of a reset is to get us back on track and feeling renewed, self-care is a non-negotiable element of a seasonal reset. Just as it is with a weekly or monthly reset, as well as an annual reset. But I personally like to make my seasonal resets extra special by embracing elements of the season into my self-care ritual. Whether it be through the leisurely activities that I choose, the food and drinks I enjoy, the beauty products that I use, or the overall vibe of my self-care session.
One thing that I personally love to do as a part of my seasonal self-care is writing about journal prompts that correlate to the themes of each season. It truly allows me to embrace the energy of the season, whilst pondering on the deeper meaning of each season. While also allowing my emotions surrounding each season to flow, and even build some excitement. It’s a mindful activity that pairs so wonderfully with other seasonal self-care activities, while sipping a seasonal beverage. And afterward, I can watch a movie that correlates to the coming season while pampering myself with seasonal beauty products.
Honestly, your leisure time can look however you want. This is your seasonal reset, after all. So be sure that your seasonal leisurely activities and pampering sessions make you happy. This is all about helping you feel your best and allowing you to feel refreshed going into the new season.
Conclusion
A new season is quite an exciting time. Whether you’re entering into your favorite season or even your least favorite season, you can’t deny that the beginning of each season is quite an exciting time. The beginning of a new season is quite a wonderful time to do a major reset and get yourself realigned with your longer-term goals. It also makes for a wonderful time to fully embrace that season and dive right in to what that season has to offer. That way, you’re ready for the season, and you’re realigning yourself with nature as you go about your daily life. Especially if you use your reset to refresh your routine to work with the season.
Honestly, the activities of a seasonal reset pair well with the festivities of Ostara, Litha, Mabon, and Yule if you follow the Wheel Of The Year. They can also pair wonderfully with Beltane, Lammas, Samhain, and Imbolc. But there’s no rule stating that you have to do your reset on any specific day. Do your seasonal reset when you have the time to commit to it. Whether it be a week or so before or after the start of the season, or on the day of the new season. Or perhaps alongside your regular monthly or weekly reset. The day you choose doesn’t matter as much as the effort and energy you put into your seasonal reset.
What does your seasonal reset routine look like? What season are you currently preparing for as you read this post? Do you have any specific rituals for each season’s reset? I’d love to hear from you!
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