Reset Days are Real Days: How to Embrace a Soft Reboot when You’ve Been in a Fog

Ever wake up and feel like you’re already behind before your feet hit the floor? Like the laundry is judging you, your to-do list is haunting you, and your brain is trying to run on dial-up while the rest of the world is streaming in 4K?

Yeah. Me too.

Reset days are real days. And despite what productivity culture might have you believe, these soft reboot moments aren’t wasted time - they’re sacred.

TL;DR Summary:

Reset days aren’t lazy days -they’re necessary. If you’re in a fog and feel behind on everything (the house, the yard, work, relationships, or even yourself), it’s okay to pause and reset slowly. Try something small to gain momentum, repeat what’s worked before, and give yourself the same compassion you’d give a friend.

When You’re Behind on All the Things

Sometimes it’s the dishes. Sometimes it’s unread texts. Sometimes it’s a full inbox, a dry yard, and an even drier social life. When you’re in a fog, everything feels like too much - even deciding what to eat for lunch.

It’s tempting to either power through or check out completely. But there’s another way: soft resets.

Just like I talk about in Chapter 7 of my in-progress book Start Where You Are, Use What You Have, Forget the Fancy Planners, resets don’t need to be dramatic. You don’t have to clean the whole house or journal your deepest thoughts. You just need to re-enter your life gently.

💡 Reset Day Tip: Do the Bare Minimum with Intention

Not every reset needs to start with a perfectly timed morning routine. Sometimes it’s just putting away five things, drinking water, or wiping the bathroom counter.

If you need ideas, I keep two simple (but powerful) tools: a 10-Minute List and a Zone List. And yes, I do have multiple lists all over my house...and even one on my phone!

• The 10-Minute List is full of tiny tasks you can tackle when your brain’s in low-power mode - think clearing a counter or tossing expired fridge items.

• The Zone List breaks bigger spaces into bite-sized projects, perfect for medium-energy days when you want visible progress without going overboard.

These lists keep me moving even when I’m foggy, and they’re just one of the many tools I’ll be sharing more about in my book (coming soon!) for organizing life with a neurodivergent brain.

Want to see what a 10-minute task looks like in real life? I shared a Reel of me transferring protein powder from its giant, shelf-hogging container into mason jars that actually fit in my cupboard. Simple? Yes. Game-changing? Also yes. That one small task gave me just enough momentum to keep going - and that’s exactly the point.

Momentum Starts Small

You don’t need a burst of motivation (it’s a scam anyway - trust me, I’ve written a whole chapter about it in my book-in-progress). What you do need is something that feels doable right now:

• Warm your favorite scent (we don't do candles in our home)

• Listen to a favorite podcast

• Clear one chair off

• Put your feet on the grass

• Re-watch your comfort show (again, yes - it still counts)

Even if you’re not sure it’ll help, go back to something that’s worked before. Momentum often builds from repetition. It doesn’t need to feel magical to be effective - it just needs to feel possible.

I’ll be sharing even more of these brain-friendly strategies when my book comes out, but in the meantime, start with whatever tiny thing feels like a “maybe.” That’s where your reset begins.

Letting Go of the Picture in Your Head

You may have imagined your comeback looking a little more...Instagrammable. A clean house. A neatly checked planner. All the tabs closed - mentally and digitally.

But let’s be real: we don’t live in highlight reels.

Your actual reset might look like crying in the shower, letting the dog out while in yesterday’s clothes, and choosing to reply to one email instead of ten. That still counts.

Progress doesn’t need to be photogenic. It just needs to move you one inch forward.

Case in point? To the left is a quick snap of the mason jars I filled during a recent reset day. The labels are plain, a little crooked, and absolutely not Pinterest-perfect. But they work. They fit in my cabinet. And now I can actually find the protein powder when I need it. That’s real life - and I’m proud of it.

Let your version of “organized” look like whatever works for you, not what someone else would stage for a photo shoot. You don’t have to perform your progress for it to be valid.

Pauses Are Not Failures

Here’s something radical: taking a pause - whether for an hour or a whole day - is not falling behind. It’s regathering your spoons, recalibrating your brain, and reminding yourself you’re a human being, not a machine.

During those pauses, don’t wait to feel inspired. Do something familiar and kind. For me, it’s drinking my coffee while it’s still hot (rare), checking my digital calendar without acting on anything, and then taking a guilt-free nap. (You can borrow that strategy if you want.)

Reset Days Deserve Credit

If you’re in a funk, you’re not broken. You’re burnt out, foggy, or just...done. And that’s allowed.

The goal isn’t to snap out of it - it’s to soft reboot. To trust that your rhythm will return, your spark will come back, and your momentum will rebuild.

Because you, my friend, are not failing.

You are finding your way.

Let's Talk About It 💬

What’s one small thing you do when you’re trying to come out of a fog? What does your version of a reset day look like?

Drop it in the comments - or email me if that’s more your vibe. I’d love to hear from you and maybe even include some community-reset ideas in a future post. 💛