For many years, I believed the New Year was meant for resolutions — setting ambitious goals, pushing harder, and trying to become a better version of myself overnight. January felt like a deadline to fix what wasn’t working.
But that approach never lasted.
The resolutions would slowly fade, but because there were no systems in place to support my real life. I was reaching for transformation without building a foundation. When life went crazy, I didn’t have a system to back up my circumstances.
What I’ve come to appreciate instead is the pause the New Year offers. A moment to reflect on what’s working, what isn’t, and where small shifts could make everyday life feel lighter. Even a one-degree change, practiced consistently, can quietly reshape an entire year.
As I’ve grown older, I’ve also grown more aware of where God is gently forming me. After 4 years of alot of struggle due to a great loss in our family, this year especially, I realized that a reset isn’t just about creating better habits or more efficient home systems. It’s about asking deeper questions:
What do I want my life to feel like?
What kind of relationships do I want to cultivate?
How do I want to show up — at home, at work, and in my faith?
The answers to those questions are shaping how I’m approaching this year. Less striving. More intention. Fewer systems — but ones that actually support the life we’re living. And just as importantly, clarity around what I need to do less of.
Resetting Slowly After a Season Away
After taking a step back from blogging for a long season, due to personal circumstances, I’ve been easing myself into the New Year slowly. Not with a dramatic reset or a long list of goals, but with a quieter, more honest question:
What would make our everyday life feel lighter?
For me, the answer kept returning to simplicity — and letting go of perfection in favor of a few simple rhythms. Systems that don’t demand more from me, but instead hold daily life with a little more grace.
Simple Systems That Support Our Everyday Life
As my children grow and seasons shift, the demands of homeschooling, working full-time, and managing a household naturally increase. Without simple home systems in place, even the things I care about most can slip through the cracks.
The two systems that consistently support our days are:
- A weekly “ideal schedule”
- Sunday Prep
Neither of these is rigid. They’re not meant to control our lives — only to support them.
Creating a Weekly Schedule That Feels Supportive
At the start of each week, I begin by anchoring our non-negotiables:
- Homeschool days and school hours
- Extracurricular activities: baseball, dance, gymnastics etc.
- Work schedules
- Individual and family commitments
From there, I layer in flexible rhythms:
- 30–60 minutes for movement or exercise
- Reading or quiet time at night
- A consistent dinner window
- A gentle wind down bedtime window
These help my days feel grounded rather than reactive. Even when plans change — and they often do — there’s a sense of stability.
A simple weekly planner that helps me map this out without overthinking.
→ Home Planner
Digital Tools That Help Our Family Stay Organized
Simple systems only work when they’re supported by tools that fit real life. These are the digital tools that help our home run more smoothly:
- Google Calendar for keeping our family schedule in one place
- Google Tasks for daily and recurring to-dos that sync directly with the calendar
- iPhone Notes for shared lists and quick reminders
- Amazon Echo Show with Alexa+ to communicate schedules and daily rhythms to the whole family
These tools don’t replace presence or intention. They simply create space for both.
→ Amazon Echo Show
Why Sunday Prep Creates a Calmer Week
Sunday prep has become one of the most grounding rhythms in our home. It’s the reset that allows the week to feel calmer before it even begins.
Instead of organizing life on the fly, I’ve truly learned that front-loading on Sundays saves an incredible amount of mental load during the week. Anything you can do to help your future self, is a WIN!
This usually includes:
- Meal planning and grocery shopping (typically Trader Joes or the occasional Costco run)
- Filling the car with gas (I don’t have an electric car, so this allows me to save money, and always get the cheapest gas)
- A car wash (I have a membership with Soapy Joe’s)
- Restocking the car with essentials
A stocked car may seem small, but it makes daily errands and transitions feel far less chaotic.
I share more about Sunday Prep in THIS POST.
Planning the Week Ahead for Work and Home
Once the logistics are handled, I review the week ahead — both work and personal commitments. I add preparation tasks directly into my task system by date, which helps prevent midweek scrambling.
This often includes:
- Meeting preparation
- Deadline reminders
- Identifying days that will be VERY busy, or evenings that will likely be leftovers or takeout
This small habit helps set realistic expectations, communicate to necessary parties, and avoid overcommitting.
Weekly Replenishment to Reduce Decision Fatigue
Sunday is also when I replenish weekly essentials. Keeping snacks, household items, and personal care products stocked prevents the familiar “we’re out of everything” feeling and reduces unnecessary trips during the week.
Before the day ends, I pack my work bag and make sure the kids’ snacks and lunch items are ready. Starting Monday prepared allows mornings to feel lighter and more intentional.
→ What’s in my work bag
A Different Kind of Growth
None of these systems are perfect — and they don’t need to be. They’re simply rhythms that make everyday life feel more manageable.
In a culture that constantly encourages us to do more and be more, it’s easy to miss the radically different rhythm Jesus invited His disciples into — a life of abiding.
In John 15, Jesus describes Himself as the true vine and His followers as the branches. Branches don’t grow by striving harder, but by remaining connected to the vine. Growth comes from nourishment, not effort alone.
“Apart from me you can do nothing.”
The life I truly long for, is one that has true peace, fruitfulness, and love. This doesn’t come from self-reliance, control or hustle. It comes from resting in Christ and allowing His love to shape how we live, work, and care for those around us.
This year, I’m choosing and commiting to a gentler kind of reset. One rooted not in pressure, but in presence. Not in striving, but in surrender.
→ Devotional I’m currently reading daily, written by one of my favorite faith based authors: Cleere Cherry Reaves.
Reflections
- What might God be inviting you to say no to this year?
- In what areas of your life might He be calling you toward greater surrender?
As you step into this New Year, may your reset be gentle — and your growth deeply rooted.
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