Building reset days, or small moments of pause in your photography business can really help when it all feels like a little too much. Perhaps you are going through a very busy season in your business. Maybe you feel a little bit lost and unsure on what tasks are most important?
Building this ritual into your business will help you feel less distracted and more connected to your business. And while taking a step back, when you are so busy, might seem a bit counter-intuitive – it’s often the most effective way to move forward.
What exactly is a Reset Day?
Well, there are lots of different versions out there, and I encourage you to create a little ritual of your own that feels helpful. But for me a reset day is all about taking a day to zoom out and really look at the big picture of my business – to recalibrate & recentre..
When you are the only person in your business, it can be so easy to get hyper focused on client work, or just getting through the most urgent tasks. Bad habits can start to stack up and important (but not urgent tasks) start to fall to the bottom of your to-do list. I have come to recognise these seasons when I feel more like a firefighter – flitting from one “urgent tasks” to the next.
Instead I like to feel more calm and grounded, that I have the headspace to focus on the tasks that have the biggest impact on my business. I also like to use reset days to create the systems and processes that are going to help me feel more rooted and anchored to my greater purpose and vision for my business.
Think of it like a Sunday reset, but for your business. So instead of journaling, cleaning your space and making sure your laundry is done, you do the exact same thing in your business.
You can do them as often as you like, I usually aim to do one a month, with smaller moments of pause in my week (usually a Monday). The best thing is to experiment what works for you.
This is why I love creating Reset Days, or moments to pause and recalibrate in my business:
It helps me connect back to my why:
When life and work gets busy, it can be so easy to get distracted and lose your sense of direction. Following the well meaning advice of others, comparison and shiny object syndrome are the things that often distract me.
By taking a step back you allow yourself to look at the bigger picture and reconnect and re-align your decisions and energy back towards your own vision and purpose. This helps you protect your energy, because you can reconnect and reflect on where you should be pouring your efforts and intentions.
It helps me think more creatively:
Having a moment to reset and re-calibrate frees up my mental load and allows me to think more clearly, but more importantly, creatively. When you are in a tangled mess, just trying to get through your daily to-do list, it’s almost impossible to see the picture. By taking a step back from everything you allow yourself to see things in a different light, challenge your own thoughts and get a fresh perspective.
It has helped me prevent burnout, and manage my time better:
If you have been following me for a while, you will know I suffered an extreme case of burnout a few years ago. By taking regular moments to pause, I can avoid pushing myself too far, which has led to a much more sustainable business model. It also allows me to manage my time better, because I don’t feel like I have to do everything all at once. I can also clearly see what is distracting me, and where I need to pour my efforts and energy.
How exactly do you create a Reset Ritual in your business???
Start by carving out some space to reflect:
This could be as simple as picking out a day of the week, or once a month where you set some time aside to reflect and focus on your intentions. Personally I like doing this in line with the moon, and so I will often use the new moon as a sign to take a moment to pause and notice what is coming up for me.
Often this looks like a problem, or area where I feel stuck. What’s really important here is that you actually need some space to notice what you are feeling.
This is what I do on my coffee chats with potential clients – give them the time and space to reflect on where they are getting stuck.
Next, is to be really clear about what I want to focus on for this particular reset – eg. setting the intention for the Reset.
A few things may have come up, but what is most effective is to tackle one thing at a time. Otherwise you might get too overwhelmed or try to tackle too many things at once. Remember, slow and steady is the aim here.
I like to set a desired outcome of what I would like to achieve from the reset. This helps you feel like you are making progress. This could be a practical outcome, but it could also be how you would like to feel after your reset. Personally, I like to define both the practical and emotional feeling I am working towards.
After that, it’s time to put an action plan or road map together.
This might look like breaking down all the steps involved in solving the problem, or creating systems to prevent the problem from happening again.
It can be so tempting to skip this step and just move straight into action – but this is what leads to overwhelm or losing your focus along the way. Which is why, when doing Reset Days with clients, we have a planning session to outline all the steps involved before we get started.
And finally, it’s time to start taking intentional action.
For some people it can be tempting to stay in the planning phase (because it’s comfortable and familiar). This can often look like staying in the research phase, or needing to plan every step in meticulous detail.
But the most important part of the whole process is actually taking action. Remember, you can always make tweaks and adjustments along the way.
As you move through your action plan or checklist, don’t forget to celebrate the small wins or milestones. This is what gives you the fuel to continue to make progress.
I hope this has inspired you to make some time for yourself to regularly reset in your photography business?
And if you would like me to guide you through this process, to help you identify the areas where you are getting stuck, and help you find the clarity to move forward with more intention – you can find out more about my Reset Days here.
