Three Ways to Reset When You Feel Like You’re Out of Touch with Yourself

I get it. You wake up one day and notice you don’t quite feel like yourself. Somehow, at some point along the way, you stopped doing the things that brought you joy. Maybe you were caught up in caring for someone else, building a relationship with a new partner, or distracting yourself with tasks to stay busy. No matter the reason, here you are trying to find yourself again. Oftentimes we think of this feeling as a personal default but I prefer to think of it as an opportunity to reset. Maybe you aren’t lost, you just have to connect with yourself again. A reset is when you take the time to be intentional about returning to yourself. This is a way of honoring where you currently are while identifying what you’d like to change, improve, or revisit. 

I offer three ways to reset when you’re feeling out of touch with yourself:

1. Get back to or establish a routine

Moving away from our routines is one of the first signs we may be neglecting ourselves. Not doing our morning, evening, or other daily routine is a clear sign of disconnection. I encourage you to think about the routine you had when you felt at your most optimum. Did this include meditation, exercise, getting up early, or scheduling time to rest? Routines are helpful guides to structure our days and gives us the opportunity to establish practices that keep us whole. Our routines tell us about what we prioritize, what we enjoy, who we enjoy those things with, and how we care for ourselves. I believe our routines will be edited and shift as our lives change and evolve. Revisit one of your previous routines and use that as a guiding practice for self-care.

2. Use journal prompts to reflect on your present

Journaling is one of the most beneficial ways to help us gain insight and this is a practice that can be catered to your individual needs. Whether you are free writing or using bullet points to outline your gratitude, keeping a journal is a proven tool for self-reflection. One of my favorite ways to use a journal is by using prompts. Journal prompts give you an idea of what to write about by asking a question or encouraging you to write about a certain area of your life. 

Here are a few journal prompts to use to reconnect with yourself. Pick one to journal about over the next 7 days. 

Write 5 things you are grateful for.

What are some things I am ready to let go of in my life?

Six months from now, what do I want my life to look like?

Write 3 affirmations or mantras to guide your day.

Today I learned…here’s how it helped me grow.

3 things that brought me joy today.

What is important to my life today?

3. Shift your thinking

Our thoughts tell us a lot about ourselves. The content of our thoughts lets us know what is at the forefront of our mind. Our thoughts reflect our beliefs, perceptions, fears, anxieties, hopes and dreams. We have between 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts in a day, many of which are repetitive and often are negative. We have to do the work to bring positivity to our lives and this requires us to shift our thinking. Our inner self-talk can promote wellness and peace or it can cause us to feel shame or discontent. When we shift our self-talk, we transform the way we experience life.

We can shift our thinking by first becoming aware of the common thoughts we have. What are you saying to yourself? Write it down. Is there a pattern? Is what you saying to yourself helpful or harmful? Notice how you feel after you have certain thoughts, is what you are thinking true? How do you know it’s true? 

By reflecting on the content and helpfulness of yourthoughts, you can speak more kindly and offer yourself grace for the journey.

I hope these tools were helpful. Stay tuned to this blog for more information on wellness, healing, and self-care. For additional information about Simply Being Wellness Counseling, go to our About Page.