11 Things To Do At The Start Of The Month

Here are 11 things to do at the start of the month to do a little life reset, get organized, and also prioritize joy.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that nobody has a perfect life at all times.

We all go through phases of cluttered rooms, non-existent sleep, zero hydration, and untouched laundry.

And tackling all these things at once can be hard and maybe even impossible.

I mean, as much as I love watching ‘getting my life together’ vlogs, I don’t have enough motivation or energy to pull off something like that on a regular day.

But the start of a new month, though? That’s a totally different story.

A new month is like entering a new chapter of life, and the most perfect one if you ask me.

It’s not as elusive as the new year, or as frequent as the new week. That makes it a perfect checkpoint.

If you lean well into the fresh start effect of a new month, you can create all the positive changes to move your life forward, and all without tiring yourself out.

In this post, we’re looking at 11 start-of-month ideas to reset your habits, clean up a bit, and also prioritize your joy and sanity (because what is life without those two, right?).

You can do these things over the first week of the new month. Slow and easy!

And also, having a little notebook will definitely help.

Here’s your ultimate new month checklist!

11 Things To Do At The Start Of the Month

1. Clean your phone storage

Your phone probably has blurry selfies, screenshots you don’t need, duplicate Pinterest images, and random apps you forgot you installed.

Yeah, they need to go. Your phone doesn’t have unlimited storage, and neither does your mental space.

Spend some time deleting the unnecessary things from your phone. You can just do it in bed, during a commute, or while waiting for your coffee to brew.

Having a cleaner phone makes your brain lighter, too.

Plus, you’ll finally have enough storage to film videos, take pictures, and download things without getting the dreaded ‘storage almost full’ notification.

P.S: While you’re at it, also organize your home screen a little.

Move apps around, delete distractions, change your wallpaper to match the new month, and create a cute aesthetic folder setup.

It’s a nice little way to give yourself a new start.

2. Assess your bank account with a calm mind

I know that nobody ever wants to do this.

But avoiding your finances for an entire month is way more stressful than just sitting down and checking things calmly.

At the start of the month:

Check your account balance
Review last month’s spending
Pay any pending bills
Remove subscriptions you don’t need anymore
Set a rough spending goal for the month

These little acts will make you more aware of your money and make sure you don’t waste it.

It’s also better to know where you stand financially instead of just hoping for the best every time you tap your card.

3. Change your bedsheets and reset your room

Changing your bedsheets should actually be a weekly activity, but doing it at the start of the month is definitely non-negotiable.

Your body and mind both deserve to rest in a clean space at night. It keeps you fresh and hygienic, and feels nice too.

So, on the very first day of the month, throw your current bedsheet in the washer, put fresh sheets and clean pillowcases, and then do a 15-minute room reset.

Tidy up your desk, vacuum the dust stuck in corners, organize your nightstand drawer, and then light a candle for some pleasant fragrance.

This will also act as an instant mental reset for you. Hardly takes half an hour, but it might be the most important task on this list.

4. Create a tiny monthly bucket list

One of my favorite start-of-month rituals is creating a bucket list just for that specific month.

Often, we associate bucket lists with life goals that demand time, energy, and planning. But with a monthly bucket list, you can add things that are easy to plan and doable.

It’s a great way to step outside your routine and create happiness instead of waiting for it to come to you.

At the beginning of the month, write down the little things you want to experience in the coming days.

You can add things like:

Try a new cafe
Read two books
Watch a comfort movie
Bake brownies
Go on evening walks
Have a picnic
Wear cute outfits more often
Visit a bookstore
Take a pottery class
Wake up early for one sunrise

Having things to look forward to will really keep your mood up during stressful weeks.

When the month ends, you’ll actually feel like you lived it instead of just being in it.

5. Restock the little things before they run out

One of the things that frustrates me a lot is running out of something when I really need it. To avoid such instances, I’ve started doing a restock at the start of the month.

And if you’re not already doing the same, start, my friend.

It might seem like a hassle at first, but it actually saves you both time and money long-term.

Stock up on things like:

Toothpaste
Shampoo
Skincare
Laundry detergent
Tea and coffee
Protein bars
Medicine
Candles

Doing this will make work so much easier for the future you. If that’s not self-care, I don’t know what is.

6. Refresh your morning routine

A lot of the blog posts I write usually touch upon the topic of morning routine, because it’s the strongest part of your life.

If your mornings are right, you can shape your days whatever way you want, and create a good life as a result.

If you don’t have a morning routine in place, then create one for this month.

Lay down three simple morning habits (one for your mind, one for your body, and one for your soul), and follow them all month long.

You might choose to do:

Morning hydration (for your body)
Five-minute journaling (for your mind)
Drinking your coffee by the window without your phone (for your soul)

If you already have a morning routine, then feel free to do a little morning reset. Because nothing ever needs to stay the same, right?

You can start a new habit, like stretching or reading. Or you can start waking up 20 minutes earlier.

You can add morning walks just for this month, or watch the sunrise from your window.

It’s fun to change your routines based on the current month and the season. Makes you want to keep showing up.

7. Have a one-hour monthly planning session

I know one hour can be a lot if you’re too busy, but this will actually save you time in the future.

You’re going to plan your month in three parts:

Review your last month
Decide what you want this month to be like
Set your main priorities

Let me break down each one quickly for you.

First, you’re going to spend about ten minutes looking back on the last month.

What went well, and what didn’t?
What made you the happiest, and what stressed you out the most?
What habits helped you, and what were meh?
What do you want to improve?

It’s important to do this as gently as you can. You’re not grading yourself as a human being here. The goal is awareness, not self-criticism.

Secondly, you need to create a rough idea of what you want the new month to be.

What energy do you want this month?
What do you want more of?
What do you want less of?
What needs to change a little?

The answer will differ from person to person. You might have a healthier month, a softer month, or a productive month.

Maybe you need to be more social, focus on healing, or be more disciplined. Or maybe you need to keep creativity first because you’ve got too many ideas wanting to burst out.

Once you have intentionally chosen the vibe of your month, your habits will naturally start aligning with it.

Third and last, write down your main priorities, and make them as specific as you can.

It can be:

Improving your sleep
Posting consistently online (if you’re a creator like me)
Exercising regularly
Saving money
Healing mentally
Spending more time with family
Studying harder
Being less addicted to your phone

Pick 3-4 things and focus properly on them. This will keep you from trying to turn into a brand-new person every three business days (never works, my friend. Tried and tested by yours truly).

8. Set up a monthly challenge

I love clubbing ‘fun’ and ‘self-improvement’ together, and taking challenges are one of my most-used tricks for that.

Challenges help you build habits without feeling too serious, and you can set your own rules with them.

Here are some ideas you can pick from (just one for this month):

30-days of morning or evening walk
No takeout challenge
Bedtime journaling challenge
10-minute daily meditation
10 glasses of water every day
Waking up at 5am
Morning stretch challenge

Do any of these things every single day and maintain your streak for the whole month.

You’ll also be teaching yourself consistency with this. Because doing things every day for a long period is how change happens in life.

9. Check in with your mental health

Sometimes we’re so busy functioning that we don’t even realize we’re exhausted. This month, though, that’s not going to be you.

Sit down for just ten minutes (I am sure you can find the time), and ask yourself these questions about your mental health:

Have I been emotionally okay lately?
Am I constantly overstimulated?
Have I been resting enough?
What’s been draining me?
What’s been making me happy?

You don’t have to fix everything right now. But just knowing the answers will make you emotionally more aware.

You’ll be able to take care of yourself better this month and avoid burnout before it can sneak up on you.

10. Romanticize your calendar

You can take a dozen monthly challenges and create the best schedule for the month, but none of it means much if you’re not enjoying your days.

You need to avoid treating your schedule like a punishment.

So, add little rituals and soft moments into your weeks. Pencil them in if you have to!

Have slow mornings on Sundays, take evening tea breaks, and go to a bookstore to grab a new book for your bedtime.

Have cozy skincare nights in the middle of the week, do a journaling session when you need it, and take sunset walks in pretty comfy clothes.

When your days contain things beyond responsibilities, life feels good, and isn’t that the whole point of why we do anything at all?

It’s something worth remembering for sure.

Must read: How To Romanticize Your Everyday Life – 12 Joyful Ways

11. Make your space smell good

This is not the most obvious thing to add to a monthly checklist, but it deserves its rightful spot here.

When your home smells good, you love being in it. Everything you do indoors feels pleasant, and your mood stays better, too.

Open the windows on day one of the new month and let in some fresh air.

The next day, you can wash your bedsheets and blankets. Light some candles, use room spray, and diffuse your favorite essential oils.

You can buy fresh flowers whenever you go out, and put them in a vase in the place you spend most time in at home.

Freshen up your curtains and cushions, and hide scented sachets in your bathroom, living room, and bedroom.

And now that your home is clean and fresh again, you’re ready to begin the month. I really hope it’s a good one for you!

Was this checklist helpful at all? If yes, then let me know in the comment box, please. Your words always make my day.