What a Reset Means: A Journey of Change

Why We Crave Resets

Ever get that quiet nudge in your chest that says, “Something’s gotta give”? Yeah, that was me at 45.

I had spent basically my whole life in New Jersey. I knew every diner waitress by name and could drive to Quick Chek with my eyes closed (not that I recommend it). Life was fine, comfortable even, but it started to feel like I was living the same week on repeat.

After a failed relationship and years of feeling stuck, the thought of facing another gray winter made me want to curl up under a blanket and never come out. Sunshine started calling my name, and before long, the idea of moving to Florida went from “Wouldn’t that be nice?” to “I think I just packed the coffee maker.”

So I did it. I packed up two dogs, two cats, and a car full of boxes, and drove to Florida. I thought I was chasing sunshine and palm trees, but what I was really chasing was a reset.

A reset isn’t about running away from life. It’s about giving yourself permission to pause, breathe, and start fresh in whatever way you need.

Reset vs. Escape: Knowing the Difference

Here’s the truth: not every change is a reset. Sometimes, what we’re craving is escape. And there’s a big difference.

Escape: Avoiding feelings, responsibilities, or difficult truths.
Reset: Facing reality, then making intentional shifts to realign your life.

When I left New Jersey, I didn’t leave behind all my struggles. Moving didn’t erase grief, stress, or challenges — but it did give me space to begin addressing them differently. I knew I needed a change and the pull of warm Florida weather led me there.

A reset is not about running from yourself. It’s about meeting yourself where you are, and choosing to grow forward. A reset does not have to include moving across the country. It can just be about making changes to move your life in a direction more aligned with your goals. While moving to Florida was a big part of my reset, I also made other small changes to my life that helped me reset.

Signs You Might Need a Reset

How do you know it’s time? Some common signs include:

Feeling restless, uninspired, or “stuck.”
Constant exhaustion or burnout.
Longing for change but feeling unsure where to start.
Struggling with old habits that no longer serve you.
A sense that you’re living on autopilot.

These signs don’t mean you’re broken, they just mean you’re ready for renewal.

Different Types of Resets

Not every reset means burning your life down and starting from scratch. (Please don’t. Ashes are terrible to vacuum.)

Resets come in all shapes and sizes:

Mental Reset: Reframing your thoughts, practicing mindfulness, or taking a digital detox.
Lifestyle Reset: Adjusting your daily routines, prioritizing sleep, or bringing more movement into your day.
Career Reset: Exploring new paths, shifting roles, or creating boundaries at work.
Location Reset: Sometimes a change of environment really does help — whether it’s a new home, a new city, or even rearranging or redecorating your space.

Your reset doesn’t have to be dramatic. Small, intentional steps can add up to big shifts over time.

How to Begin a Reset (Step by Step)

Pause and Reflect
- Ask yourself: What feels heavy right now? What’s no longer working?
- Journaling or even voice notes can help uncover what you’ve been pushing aside.
Choose One Small Shift
- Instead of overhauling your whole life, start small.
- Example: Drinking water first thing in the morning, creating a nighttime ritual, or adding a short walk after work. Before I moved to Florida, I started implementing small changes like these. My nighttime journaling really helped me figure out what changes I wanted to make in my life.
Experiment Without Pressure
- Try something for a week. If it doesn’t feel right, try something else. Resets are about flexibility, not perfection.
Build Consistency Slowly
- Small changes become powerful when practiced consistently.
- Think: 10 minutes of journaling, 5 minutes of mindfulness, or 1 weekly digital detox. Try one thing at a time and only add something else once it becomes routine.
Celebrate Progress
- Every small reset matters. Even noticing that you want change is a step forward. Try to remember that change does not happen overnight and takes time.

Encouragement: It’s Never Too Late

One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves is: It’s too late for me. Too late to change careers, too late to get healthy, too late to start over.

I believed that lie for a while. But when I moved to Florida at 45, I proved to myself that life doesn’t end at a certain age. In fact, it can bloom again in new ways, ways that you never expected. Whether you’re 25, 45, or 65, your reset doesn’t need to be dramatic. It just needs to be yours. Maybe it’s setting boundaries, starting therapy, moving somewhere sunnier, or finally saying no to things that drain you.

Your Next Step

If you’re craving a reset but not sure where to begin, I’ve created a simple 5-Day Self-Care Reset Plan that walks you through gentle, doable steps to recharge your mind and body. Sign up for my newsletter below to get your free download.

Remember, your reset doesn’t need to look like mine. It only needs to look like yours. If you have had a reset in your life in some way, please share in the comments below. I would love to hear from you!

Check out my guided journal, “The Emotional Reset Journal: 30 Days to Reconnect with Yourself“

If you’re ready to take your own gentle first step, I’d love to invite you to subscribe to my newsletter. You will receive a free download of my 5-Day Self-Care Reset Plan. It’s a simple way to start making space for yourself again, in just five minutes a day.

Feel free to visit my Etsy shop for resources to help you on your journey. I also have a free private self-care interactive Facebook group for women that you can join here.

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What a Reset Really Means (and How to Start One at Any Age)