The Power of a Reset
What is a reset?
A reset is a gentle pause to step back and reflect on the habits you currently have, to see whether they are actually supporting your growth or just slowing you down. Resetting means acknowledging what in life no longer serves you and learning and practicing healthier habits to reduce stress and anxiety.
Mental Reset
A mental reset is giving you a brain break. It involves stepping back from overstimulation, such as social media and large social environments. A mental reset involves regrounding yourself and allowing yourself to be without self-judgment or criticism.
Mental Resets to Try
A walk in nature or outdoors
Digital detox: turn off technology for a period of time
Casual, low-stress journaling
Emotional Reset
An emotional reset is stepping back from negative emotions. The key aspects of an emotional reset are: awareness, decompression, regulation, and finally, reconnection. First, acknowledge any emotional struggle or strain, then create a space to let go of those heavy emotions by processing them at a speed that is comfortable to you. Thirdly, practice meditation to stay calm and peaceful. Finally, reconnect to yourself, reflect on what you need to improve, and use that as a structure for your next steps.
Emotional Resets to Try
Deep breathing
Journal: writing raw and vulnerable thoughts with no judgment
Take breaks periodically
Physical Reset
A physical reset combines exercise, rest, and sensations to calm the nervous system. Small actions like gentle exercise (ex., stretching or walking), rest, and spending time in nature will help your mind manage overwhelming thoughts. A physical reset interrupts stress by giving your body calm signals.
Physical Resets to Try
Movement: Stretching, shaking out limbs, practicing posture
Sensory Input: Sipping water, humming, tapping pressure points
Digital Reset
A digital reset is taking an intentional break from technology. This helps give your brain a break, reduce stress, improve focus, and reconnect with yourself and the world.
Digital Resets to Try
Delete old accounts, unused apps, and unsubscribe from unwanted newsletters.
Mini digital detox: Try a mini detox during the day ( a couple of hours) to reset your brain.
Why Black Women Are Rarely Allowed to Take a Break
Black women are often categorized as resilient, strong, and unbreakable, but shamed for practicing softness and emotional vulnerability. Society has shoved an unrealistic stereotype down Black women’s throats that makes being human feel unachievable. From a young age, we are taught to work twice as hard as anyone else, but when we need to take a break or slow down, we are seen as lazy. The Strong Black Women stereotype strips Black women of their softness, grace, and vulnerability. Rest is not a luxury or a prize; it’s a human right. Practicing rest and resets, we reclaim our minds, bodies, and emotions. Remember: we are human, and we deserve gentle care, restoration, and wellness.
What Social Media Forgets to Tell You
Social media can encourage you to put more effort into your goals, set bigger goals, etc. However, what social media forgets to show you is that any journey takes time, patience, and you are not in competition with anyone but yourself. Social media only shows you the wins, not the losses, the product, not the process, and the smiles, not the tears. Resting and resetting doesn’t go viral, so it's a shameful practice. But all this goes beyond your phone, because the internet does not define you; your actions determine you.
Remember:
You are allowed to log off.
You are allowed to move at your own pace.
You are allowed to take a break.
