Habits to start in a new month

Happy August! Starting a new month is the perfect opportunity to reflect and reset. Here are 10 habits I implement to begin at the start of a new month on the right foot:

1. Monthly Reflection: You have to look back before you can look forward. Ask yourself 3 things: What worked in July? What didn’t? What did I learn? Next, write down 3 tings you’re proud of accomplishing in July, 3 challenges you experienced , and 1 thing you’ll do differently this month.

2. Set 1–3 Clear Intentions: Choose a few  goals for the month. These should not just be to-do’s, but how you want to feel and show up this month. Maybe you want to feel more energized or prioritize time with your kids before the summer needs. Alternatively, you may want to slow down before the start of the school year or semester.

3. Create a Simple Morning Ritual: A great way to start your mornings is with a few habits that help ground you in the present moment. This could be journalling, meditating, enjoying your coffee or tea praise (bonus points if you leave your phone indoors!), going for a morning run or walk, stretching, doing some yoga, or reading a few pages of a book…whatever brings you a sense of calm and peace before you start your day.

4. Try a Digital Detox: Last month I participated in The Challenge’s Digital Detox and noticed that designating screen-free hours during my day made a huge difference in my sleep schedule. I also had more time for creativity and focused on prioritizing face-to-face connections. Designate screen-free zones or hours. If you find it difficult to put your phone down, start small. You may make a goal of no phones during meals. Catherine Price, author of “How to Break Up With Your Phone” suggests you ask yourself these three ‘W’ questions and then decide if you really do need to use your phone: What for? (What are you picking up your phone to do?) Why now? (Why are you picking up your phone now instead of later?) What else? (Could you be doing right now besides checking your phone?)

5. Track a Micro Habit: Choose one habit to track daily this month. It could be steps working towards achieving a big goal things like water intake, steps, gratitude tracking, flossing, journalling, reading... Use a habit tracker or calendar so you can track your progress.

6. “One-A-Day” Rule: Do one thing daily for yourself to make sure your cup is full. We often find ourselves prioritizing the needs of others over ourselves, so schedule one thing a day that will bring you a feeling of happiness and joy.

7. Financial Check-In: Review your spending from last month and set a small savings goal. This could be saving for a splurge, a vacation, or some other goal you have in mind. You might want to track your habits with money. Do you find yourself spending more money with friends? If so, plan a monthly get together at your home or a friend’s to avoid spending money. I’ve also noticed a lot of people online in the last year committing to no-spend months in order to embrace minimalism, avoid overconsumption, and commit to becoming more sustainable. If this is something that interests you, I recommend watching the Netflix documentary “Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy” which shows the  impact of excessive shopping on individuals and the planet.

8. Deep Clean or Declutter: A clear space translates to a clear mind, which is always a great way to start off a month. I spent part of the long weekend doing this and instantly felt better. To make things less overwhelming, pick a room, drawer, or spot in your home to focus on, then set a timer. This can be for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes…whatever works for you. Make three piles or designate three boxes: Keep, Toss, Donate/Sell. If you’re a sentimental person like me and you find it hard to part with things, start the process with less sentimental items to build momentum. Digital backups can help preserve the memories of items without the physical clutter. There are lots of great decluttering tips online, but two of my favourites are:

-The 20/20 Rule - If you can replace an item for $20 or less within 20 minutes, consider getting rid of it

-One-in, One-out - For every new item you bring in, get rid of another item

9. Schedule Rest: Don’t wait to burn out. Schedule a day in your calendar just for you where you prioritize resting or plan a fun outing with friends/solo, so you have something to look forward to during your work week.

10. Affirmations or Mindset Shift: Write 1–3 affirmations you want to lean into this month or try reframing your thoughts. A great trick I use to reframe my mindset is replacing “have to” with “get to”.

How to you intend to make the best of this new month?

~Kate