A Gentle Reset: 3 Ways to Start Your Month with Intention


There’s something about the beginning of a new month that invites us to pause and take stock. June, with its long days and promise of summer, offers the perfect opportunity to reset—not with pressure or perfectionism, but with gentle intention.

If life has felt a little chaotic or overwhelming lately, know that you don’t need a complete overhaul to feel better. Sometimes the smallest shifts can bring the most meaningful change. Below are three simple, doable ways to start your month with intention and a clear mind.

1. Clear One Space

You don’t need to deep clean your whole house to feel lighter. Start with one small area that you see or use every day—your bedside table, kitchen counter, desk, or even your purse.

Spend ten minutes clearing out anything that doesn’t belong. Wipe the surface clean. Put back only the items that serve a purpose or bring you peace. Add one small thing that makes you smile—a candle, a photo, or a fresh flower from the yard.

Why this matters: Physical clutter creates mental clutter. When you clear one space, you’re sending a message to yourself: “I’m ready for a fresh start.” And every time you pass that clean space, it becomes a visual reminder that you’re choosing calm over chaos.

2. Set a 3-Word Intention for the Month

Instead of setting a long list of goals or resolutions, try choosing just three words to guide your energy for the month ahead.

For example:

  • Rest. Nourish. Simplify.
  • Move. Laugh. Breathe.
  • Create. Connect. Trust.

There’s no wrong way to do this. Choose words that feel like a gentle nudge in the direction you want to go. Write them down and keep them visible—on a sticky note, your phone wallpaper, or in your journal.

Why this matters: Words shape our focus. When you return to your intention words throughout the month, they act as a compass, helping you make small daily choices that align with what really matters.

3. Make a “Yes List”

Instead of focusing on what you need to stop doing, try focusing on what you want to say yes to this month. It could be as simple as:

  • Yes to five quiet minutes before everyone else wakes up.
  • Yes to drinking a glass of water before coffee.
  • Yes to calling someone you miss.
  • Yes to sitting outside after dinner.
  • Yes to bedtime by 10.

Choose 3–5 things that feel doable and uplifting. This isn’t about discipline—it’s about creating small, feel-good habits that support the kind of life you want to live.

Why this matters: Focusing on what you want more of—rather than what you want less of—feels empowering. A “Yes List” creates momentum without pressure. And it makes space for more of what brings you joy, peace, and presence.


A Fresh Start Doesn’t Need to Be Big

We often wait for a major moment—a birthday, a New Year, or a big change—to start over. But every month, every Monday, every morning offers a chance to choose again.

This week, start small. Pick one space to clear. Choose three words to guide you. Say yes to what lifts you up.

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to begin.

And June? It’s a beautiful place to begin.


Want more like this?
If this post spoke to you, I invite you to share it with a friend who could use a gentle reset, too. And if you’re looking for more practical, encouraging ways to take care of yourself, stay connected—there’s more to come each Monday this month.


Hot Summer Days

Wildflowers in Pierre Marquette State Park, Illinois

These are my favorite days.

So far today I have mowed the grass, dressed unused flower beds with fresh straw for our cats, made herbal tea from herbs that I grew and dried sweetened with local honey from my BIL.

Now I’m cooking yellow rice to go with the beans I have already cooked.

For lunch, I had a salad with raw spinach, cilantro, a little pickled cabbage, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, and my guilty pleasure – Ranch dressing. Topped with peanuts for more crunch.

I stretched and limbered up in the sun, in the backyard, in the freshly mowed grass.

I have been missing feeling strong. I’m beginning to feel strong again.

Now, back to my glass of herbal tea with lime.

I love hot summer days.

The Back Window Can’t Hold Itself Up

The back window on my camper shell lost it’s shocks, the things that hold it up.

I lived about 15 minutes from a beach near Corpus Christi about 7 years ago. The truck spent a LOT of time very close to the salty spray. Not close enough to get stuck in the sand but really really close to the waves.

I didn’t get any rust except for those window holder-upper things. One went fairly quickly. The other one lasted a while but it finally gave way and leaked all of it’s oil out and never worked again.

It’s a pain in the butt to hold the window up with one hand while trying to open or close the tailgate.

Not to mention how awful it is to have to climb in there with a heavy window hitting you on the head.

Finding replacements has been it’s own challenge but we may have succeeded. We shall see.

**Edit to add that the new shocks have indeed worked very well. I’m pleased.**

I LOVE the convenience of having a truck but I abhor repairs. How about you? Does anything car related irritate you or do you take it in stride?

Heat Wave and Ants

Heat Wave

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Hello Summer!

It’s finally here and it is H.O.T.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the heat. The humidity, though….. I could do without feeling like I could cut the air with a knife. Where’s the cool breeze? Where’s the relief with being in the shade?

I do my best to keep complaints to myself, or at least to a minimum. I prefer to use that privilege in the winter. Cause give me hot weather over cold all day.

Summer Vacation

Do you have a summer vacation planned?

We have quite a nice vegetable garden going, so we won’t be leaving it for an extended time this summer. The hot weather is good for the okra, peppers, and tomatoes. Mini vacays and mental breaks will suffice for us this summer. We get to eat yummy veggies though! It’s a good trade.

Ants Are Here

They don’t like the heat either. We currently have them in our bathtub, presumably in search of cool water to drink. They have been inundating the kitchen countertops, stove, and sink too.

While I feel for them and their plight, I don’t appreciate them running around my kitchen.

While being mindful of our limited space and our food prep area, we have been using Terro Liquid Ant Bait to keep them at bay. It works like a charm! If the darn things would just stay outside……