Reset Day

As I was writing my latest blog draft, which will be coming up in a future Tie Tuesday post, I realized I needed to take a day and get my life back on track. Whether it is traveling for work, moving to a new apartment or city, or other major life events I sometimes lose track of my goals.

Every few months or so I find myself getting comfortable with the status quo, wanting to stay in my apartment instead of meeting up with friends, taking the easy route, and I need something to jolt me back into my motivated self. This post is going to go over how I use “Reset Days” to reflect on where I am at in my life and what I need to do to stay on track to meet my life goals.

Career Reflection

This is generally when I ask myself three basic questions about the past, present, and future of my career path:

What have I done over the past year to help myself reach my career goals? This is the time to reflect on your motivation and what actions you have taken to reach your long-term goals. Did you go the extra mile when a co-worker needed a hand? Did you take that risk that could lead to potential game-changing profits? Have you learned from failure and adapted to today’s fast-paced business world? If you haven’t, it is time to start taking action!

Am I in a position to grow and expand my skill set or have I reached the peak of my current path? This is a reflection on your current position, and if you aren’t in a position to learn and grow you need to make a change. A change can come in a variety of ways; joining a new committee at the office for something you are passionate about, network with other business segments, check out opportunities in advanced degrees, or reach out to friends and openly discuss their career situation.

What is your five-year plan? This is a common interview question we love to hate but important nonetheless. Is there a position in your company you want to work on filling with your future self. What steps can you take to get there? Who do you need to network with to understand the skill sets it takes to succeed in that position? Do you see yourself relocating or changing industries?

Reflecting On My Relationships

If you are randomly receiving a text from me after a long absence, you can almost guarantee that I just had a “Reset Day”. This is a time to make sure you are doing the best you can to be a good friend, relative, son/daughter, or sibling. We all have busy lives but that is no excuse to neglect the ones you love. Schedule a trip to visit a friend, facetime your parents, or just go out for some quick drinks after a hard day of work.

This is also a time make sure you are giving yourself a chance to have a fulfilling romantic relationship. While that sentence may sound funny coming from me, you need to make sure you are giving others a chance to know the real you. Single or in a relationship, take the time to go out on dates, explore the world, and try new things.

Health & Diet Reflection

I was hit full bore with a reality check when I was moving into a new place, traveling for work, and attempting to have a social life at that same time. I ate out a lot because cooking at a Courtyard Marriott is challenging. My new home isn’t close to a gym and doesn’t have a grocery store in the direct path home (it’s the little things).

After a few weeks of eating out for lunch, catching fast food on the way home from work, and sitting on the couch after work, I need to set up a plan of how to get back to the basics. Since the grocery store is a bit out of the way, what day can I set aside to ensure I go there? What meals can I prepare that will last me a few days? Is there a gym close to work or should I start an in-home workout?

Personal Finances

This is ultimately affected by all of the other areas but is still vital to you reaching your goals. I suggest using a budgeting program like Mint.com, so you are able to pinpoint your high spending areas and ensure you are saving up and investing in the right places. Look at the investments in each of the areas above and ensure you are paying for things that allow you to be healthy, start and grow your personal relationships, and help you make moves towards your dream career path!

I would love to hear what you do to keep yourself aimed at a pushing towards your goals! Please comment below with what you do to reset or realign yourself or tweet me @evbtuesdays.

Stay casual until next Tie Tuesday!

EVB