Holiday Break: The Reset Routine I Swear By

My Annual Holiday Reset (That You Can Do Anytime)

For years now, I’ve taken time off from December 24th through January 2nd(ish). This ~10-day break has honestly been my saving grace. It’s the reason I don’t roll into the new year completely fried.

Over time, I’ve realized this break naturally falls into three phases—and together, they’re what help me actually feel rested, reset, and ready for whatever comes next.

Because let’s be real: it’s really hard to think about new goals when you’ve barely survived the year that just happened.

Phase 1: Decompress

This usually takes at least three days. No alarms. No workouts. Minimal productivity. I don’t clean, I don’t “catch up,” and I try not to think about work at all.

I lounge hard. I watch shows and movies I’ve been saving. I stay home. I let my brain shut down and give my nervous system a break from constant input and decision-making. This phase is about doing as little as humanly possible—and not feeling guilty about it.

Phase 2: Organize

Once I’ve caught up on rest, something interesting happens: I actually want to do a few things.

This is when I’ll run errands I’ve been putting off or organize a closet or room in the house—usually in comfy clothes, with a movie on and a cocktail nearby. Nothing major, nothing rushed. These tasks don’t take long, but they’re the kind of things that feel impossible when life is busy and your brain is overloaded.

This is also when I might venture back into the world a bit—meeting a friend for lunch or a movie—because I finally have the energy to do so.

Phase 3: Rejuvenate

Now that I’m rested and feel like I’ve regained some sense of order, my brain has space again.

This is when I’ll put away Christmas decorations, look at my finances and update my budget, fill out my New Year journal, and start loosely planning for the year ahead. With no time pressure, these things feel supportive instead of overwhelming.

I’ll also start moving again—long walks, a hike—and maybe pick up a new book. Nothing intense. Just easing back into routines that feel good.

You’ve Gotta Rest to Reset

Only after all of this do I start to feel inspired. Ideas come back. Motivation returns. I feel excited instead of exhausted. It’s a huge contrast from the chaos of the holiday season—and the best way I know how to close out a year.

If you’re feeling fried, I highly recommend some version of this for yourself. Give your body and brain real time to wind down, and you may be surprised by how different you feel on the other side.

One More Thing I’ve Learned The Hard Way:

A couple of years ago, I skipped this whole reset.

I convinced myself it wasn’t that important, and since many of my clients were off work, I wanted to be available and keep training them. On paper, it felt like the “right” thing to do. In reality, it completely threw me off. I went into the new year still frazzled from the holidays, mentally scattered, and totally uninspired. I wasn’t ready to set new goals for my health, my business, or myself—and it took weeks to catch up. That experience was a big wake-up call for me, and it’s why I protect this reset now. If I can avoid making that mistake again, I absolutely will.

A Few Important Notes

This reset doesn’t have to happen at the end of the year. For some people, it might actually work better in the summer—or during a quieter season of life.

I also fully recognize that I’m self-employed and don’t have my own children, which gives me more flexibility. If you’re employed and need to take PTO, this usually looks like about 5–7 business days off, even though the total reset period is around 10 days. And if you have kids, this routine may need to look very different—and that’s okay. The point isn’t copying this exactly; it’s honoring the need for real rest.

This is simply what helps me mentally, emotionally, and physically every year. Take what works, leave what doesn’t.

And if nothing else—maybe go ahead and block off a little time for yourself now. Your future self will thank you.

Happy New Year!

• Ami

If you’d like a little structure to support your own reset, I created a New Year Reset Journal to go along with this.

It’s a pressure-free guide to help you reflect on the past year, take stock of where you are, and to organize your thoughts to be able to move forward feeling more grounded and clear.

👉 You can download the journal here.

Use it all at once, or come back to it slowly—whatever feels right for you.