The Benefits of Starting Fresh

Life doesn’t always run smoothly, and all of us carry baggage from the past. This could be choices we regret, broken relationships or routines that no longer bring us joy. When this baggage piles up, it can feel overwhelming, leaving us feeling trapped, unmotivated and even depressed. Consciously choosing to wipe the slate clean, physically and mentally, can help you regain your sense of self. 

How to start fresh

Take time to identify thoughts and habits that are holding you back and actively seek out opportunities to reset. This could involve looking at new build homes in a new area as a chance for a completely blank canvas or something simpler, like focusing on building new, healthy routines that support your mental wellbeing. Whether you dive in at the deep end or take a step-by-step approach, you might be surprised how quickly you feel the benefits of starting fresh.

The benefits of a fresh start

1. Get mental clarity

When you consciously choose to pause, you give yourself the chance to see life with a clearer perspective and find out what is really holding you back. Decluttering your environment can support this pause and reaffirm your decision to begin again with a clean slate.

Start with something simple, like clearing your email inbox or tending to an area of your garden, and work up to larger tasks like a deep clean and tidy of your home. Once you reduce the noise around you, you’ll feel better able to concentrate on the matter at hand: finding a purpose and your happiness again. 

2. Reshape bad habits

   
   

Fresh starts aren’t just about clearing space. They’re designed to help you break loops that no longer serve you, from a poor sleep routine to an old friendship. 

An easy way to reshape bad habits is to link small positive changes to your existing habits. For example, do stretching or breathing exercises while waiting for your morning coffee to brew, or read for 15 minutes before going to sleep. Tweaking what you already do can help you stick with these changes, while overhauling everything at once is a sure-fire way to set yourself up for failure. Small shifts can lead to big differences in the future. 

3. Build new connections

   
   

Are you feeling in a rut with your friendships? As we age, we change, and it’s common to outgrow connections that were once central to our lives. Or perhaps your existing friends have different priorities than you at this stage, such as travel plans or family responsibilities, and you’re just naturally growing apart. Finding ‘your people’ will help prevent you from feeling isolated and enable you to celebrate your passions and live life to the full – whatever that means to you. 

Bear in mind that building new connections doesn’t necessarily mean closing the door on old ones. Think of it as creating more relationships so you have people and places to fall back on when you’re feeling lonely. Say yes to offers from colleagues, join a new club, or consider using apps to form friendships with people in your neighbourhood who are also seeking connections.