The start of the month is a great time to feel refreshed and energized, which is why it’s a good time to schedule some of your most important tasks during this time.
A new month is also a great time to release old ideas, projects, or goals that haven’t been serving you.
In order to make this time meaningful and valuable, it’s important that you determine what you want to accomplish during this time. Here are five things that can help you do just that:
5 Things to Do at the Start of the Month
These 5 options can help you get started on making each month more intentional. Start with one or two suggestions at first, or try a new one each month. With practice and dedication, you can integrate many of these monthly rituals into your life over time.
1. Reflect on the Previous Month
One of the best things you can do at the start of every month is to take some time to reflect on how it went. Ask yourself questions like:
- How have I felt about this past month?
- What was really successful for me?
- What didn’t work as well?
- What can I do differently next month?
- What larger themes did I see this month?
- What did I learn about myself?
- How can I apply this insight in my life moving forward?
- Who helped me along the way this month?
Make sure to be very intentional with the number of questions you ask yourself each month. The fewer questions you have, the more time you will have to answer them and dig deeper into your answers.
The goal is to get a deeper understanding of yourself and your life. Be honest with yourself during this process, especially if you tend to be critical or judgmental toward yourself when answering questions like these.
It can be helpful to have a space to track your monthly reflection. This may be a planner, scheduler, journal, or an online platform like Google Docs.
Spend at least 20 minutes to one hour on this process each month. Make sure to take time to review your entries over time. You will be surprised by how much insight you gain from this activity as you track each month.
2. Choose 1 to 3 Priorities for the Upcoming Month
When we are about to start a new month, we usually try to think of all of the things we can do to make it a great one. This can be overwhelming and may also lead to disappointment when we don’t accomplish the 10 to 20 tasks we set for ourselves.
Once these three priorities are chosen, write them down somewhere where you can see them every day. This might be on your desk at work or by your bedside table at home. This way you won’t forget about them.
These three priorities should be things that you can check in on and measure throughout the month. For example, if your goal is to have more time for rest and relaxation this month, then try scheduling regular times during each week or day to practice these habits. This helps keep us committed without feeling overwhelmed by all of the other tasks we set for ourselves during the month.
3. Take Note of Any Obligations That Are Coming Up
The beginning of a new month is a great time to anchor any obligations you may have. This may include routine things such as paying bills, going to the gym, or completing special work projects. It also may include special occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries, and other celebrations.
It is helpful to create a list of all these obligations, as well as the dates that they will occur and who you need to follow up with for each one. This way you can see what’s coming in advance and feel prepared for these occasions. You might also want to consider professional commitments if you know these might take away from your personal goals.
4. Use Your Planner or Calendar
If you’re a person who enjoys being organized, then the beginning of a new month is the prime time to use your planner or calendar. You can schedule work tasks and personal events for this upcoming month so that you have them front of mind as they approach.
This also helps us stay committed to our priorities because it reminds us of what we are working towards throughout each day without having to think about the whole picture and all of the steps at once.
Planners can track many other things, such as daily to-do lists, grocery shopping lists, personal budgets, or personal goals. This can be helpful for staying on top of tasks that are easy to lose count of and will help you to stay motivated.
5. Make Space for Wellness
We can get so caught up in goal setting and achievement that we often forget to make space for wellness in our life each month as well. Firstly, decide how much time you want to take for yourself. Is it one hour a day? Perhaps you can take one full day to yourself each weekend.
Once you’ve decided how much time you will set aside for yourself, decide what this time will be used for. This might include personal health goals such as cooking a nutritious meal or going to the gym. It may be social, like making plans with friends, or self-care activities like getting your nails done.
Seeing a therapist, pursuing a spiritual calling, and engaging in a healthy physical lifestyle are also important parts of wellness. It’s important to take time for these things each month as well, instead of waiting until you feel “stuck” or overwhelmed by life circumstances.
When we make space for self-care and wellness in our lives, it helps us stay healthy both mentally and physically. This can help prevent burnout after a high amount of stress or panic and can help us feel more balanced throughout the year.
Final Thoughts
This is by no means an exhaustive list of activities you can do at the start of a new month, but these are some of the most powerful and helpful strategies to try.
By establishing a routine at the beginning of each month, you will feel more prepared and ready to go as the month progresses, instead of scrambling to find a balance between all your goals.
This sense of empowerment is invaluable and will increase over time if you stay consistent. You will soon find that your new routine is a breath of fresh air at the beginning of each month, and you will look forward to getting started.