The life-changing habit of resetting your space

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In our fast-paced, often chaotic lives, stress seems inevitable. But what if the solution to reducing stress isn’t a spa day or a new mindfulness app, but something as simple as resetting your space? This isn’t just about decluttering; it’s about creating habits that transform your home into a sanctuary of calm day after day, and once embraced, it’s a life-changing concept that can lead to long-term stress reduction.

Modern living room with a gray sofa, wooden coffee table, and TV stand. A gray throw is draped on the sofa, inviting stress reduction with its cozy warmth. Shelving with baskets and decor stands against a calming brick wall.
Photo credit: Depositphotos.

Understanding the power of resetting your space

Resetting your space is not the same as tidying up or spending the weekend deep cleaning and overhauling your household organization. It’s about maintaining spaces that are always ready to support your well-being. The key principle is consistency: resetting your spaces every time you use them. This proactive approach prevents mess from accumulating, creating a calming and functional environment over the long term.

Unlike the occasional deep clean or kitchen refresh, resetting is a daily habit. The goal is not to achieve calm temporarily but to establish a cycle where your surroundings continually offer peace and order. It’s a small yet powerful mindset shift — instead of reacting to clutter, you’re actively preventing it to maintain a state of calm.

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The number one principle: Reset every time you use a space

The foundation of this practice is simple but profound: Once you’ve used a room, ask yourself, “What can I fix right now to put this room back in order so it will bring me calm the next time I use it?” This step should take no more than five minutes and, with a little practice, seamlessly integrate into your routine. Simple tasks to generate stress reduction may look like these:

  • In the living room, fold blankets, plump pillows and clear the coffee table.
  • In the kitchen, hang up the towel to dry, put away the cutting board and wipe down the countertops. 
  • In the bedroom, tuck your phone charger back into the bedside table, straighten the comforter and open the blinds.
  • In the bathroom, unplug and store the hairdryer and put toothbrushes back in their holders.

These micro-resets don’t require significant effort but have a cumulative effect, keeping spaces ready and calm for the next time you enter them. Even resetting just twice a day — before leaving for work or going to bed — can prevent overwhelm and maintain harmony in your home.

“Before bed, my family re-sets all of our rooms in the main living area. My husband will usually take the kitchen while my son and I do the living room. We take snack wrappers to the trash cans, make sure stray socks go to the laundry room, fold blankets and put away toys. It’s so nice to wake up to rooms that aren’t messy and really helps to reduce my stress load.”

— Michelle Goth, Blackberry Babe

The benefits of resetting your space

Resetting your space offers profound and long-lasting advantages for your mental and emotional well-being. It goes beyond the simple task of decluttering your home and aligns with your ingrained actions. By incorporating this habit into your daily life, you’ll experience a noticeable difference in how you feel and function in your home.

  • Stress reduction: An environment kept in order promotes a sense of control and clarity.
  • Time savings: You no longer spend hours decluttering or searching for misplaced items.
  • Long-term calm: Your spaces consistently support your mental well-being, reducing anxiety and fostering peace.
Bathroom vanity drawer organizer.
Bathroom vanity drawer organizer. Photo credit: Depositphotos.

Teaching the habit to your family

A common challenge for many is the thought: “How can I do this when I don’t live alone?” Resetting your space isn’t just a personal habit — it’s a mindset that can be shared with your household. Teaching your family to reset a room is no different than assigning chores to your child, you have to keep it relevant.

Take my five-year-old, for example. While I don’t enforce this habit in his bedroom, which is his personal domain, he’s learning to help reset communal spaces. He knows the importance of leaving shared areas — like the living room and kitchen — ready for everyone to use. Whether it’s putting his toys back in a basket, placing books on a shelf or putting his Switch controllers back in the dock, his small contributions lessen the burden on me and reinforce a sense of shared responsibility. Here are a few pointers for helping to teach children:

  • Model the behavior: Show them how you reset spaces and explain why it’s important.
  • Start small: Assign simple, age-appropriate tasks, like clearing their plate from the table or hanging up their coat.
  • Be patient: It’s a learning process; progress is more important than perfection.

By involving your family, resetting becomes a collective effort, further reducing stress for everyone. It takes much less overall effort if everyone who enjoys the space helps maintain it.

“As my kids got older, I realized that teaching them to create, make a mess and then reset the room was an essential part of learning responsibility. This habit, similar to cleaning up after cooking in the kitchen, might not always be fun, but it’s always easier to maintain order little by little rather than letting things pile up and overwhelm the house.”

— Jessica Haggard, Easy Homemade Life

How to build resetting habits

Building a habit of resetting your spaces is easier than you might think. The key is to make it a natural part of your routine so it becomes second nature over time. Here are some strategies to help you get started.

  1. Anchor it to existing routines. Pair resetting with routines you already have, like brushing your teeth, making a quick breakfast or putting on pajamas. For example, before bed, take five minutes to tidy the living room.
  2. Make it quick and manageable. The goal isn’t perfection. Focus on small actions that make a big visual impact, like straightening a crooked rug or putting shoes away.
  3. Celebrate the results. Take a moment to appreciate the calm you’ve created, then take another moment when you return to find the place exactly how you expected it to be — perhaps this time with a glass of wine. This reinforces the habit and reminds you of its benefits.
A woman sits on a carpet, indulging in a book and a glass of red wine, finding stress reduction in the cozy living room's soft lighting.
Photo credit: Depositphotos.

Start resetting today

Resetting your space is a simple yet transformative habit. By committing to small daily actions, you create an environment that supports your best self and keeps stress at bay. Whether you live alone or share your space, this practice can lead to a home that’s not only functional but genuinely joyful.

So tonight, before you head to bed, look around your living room, kitchen or bathroom and ask yourself: “What can I fix right now to make this space calm for next time?” You might just discover the magic of resetting your space.

Renee N Gardner is the creator behind Renee Nicole’s Kitchen, a recipe blog based on seasonal ingredients, dedicated to helping home cooks build their kitchen confidence to become home chefs. When Renee isn’t writing, developing recipes or photographing food, you’ll find her in the garden, traveling or enjoying the outdoors with her husband, son and two dogs.

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