It’s the perfect time to reboot your life!

Children are back at school and more workplaces are reopening as life slowly gets back to normal. Here’s how to embrace the shift in routine and use it as a chance to create a calmer, more contented future

With the new school term in full swing, more workplaces opening up and restrictions eased (for now at least), things are beginning to feel more “normal” than they have for a long time.

That makes now the perfect opportunity to reassess what you want from your future and nourish your relationships.

“This is a great time to take stock,” says life coach Kerry Hales (kerryhales.com). “Reflect, listen to yourself, and ask, ‘What do I really want from here on in?’ You can live a life that’s far more connected to who you really are.”

From detoxing your relationships to having a financial fresh start, here are our expert tips for leading a happier, richer life…

WORK OUT WHAT YOU LOVE

Between work and family commitments, we’re often too busy to think about what really makes us tick. But identifying what makes you happy is an essential step towards creating the future you want.

“On a piece of paper, write down all the things you do each week,” says psychotherapist Mark Newey, founder of headucate.me. “Add up how much time you spend doing each activity, then rank them from most time to least. Now score each activity out of 10, according to how important it is for you living a good life. This is not about work or supermarket shopping – this is about what makes your heart sing. It will help you clarify what you need to do more and less of.”

SCHEDULE ‘SLOW’ TIME

With life being more normal than it has been in 18 months, it could be easy to slip back into living at breakneck speed. But psychotherapist Mark says it’s essential we don’t get completely sucked back into the rat race. “Living in sprint mode means our body is filled with adrenaline and cortisol to fire us up – that means our mind and body are constantly stressed,” says Mark. “Instead, we need to think of life as a marathon, with an occasional burst of sprint – we need to learn to take things easy and pace ourselves.”

Reduce your stress levels by taking proactive steps to stick to a slower pace of life. “Start by managing your diary and prioritising nourishing things like exercise and friendships,” explains Mark. “Think about what keeps you calm, then book these things and any other ‘time out’ activities in your diary at the same time for the next two months. They will become a priority in your mind and slow things down.”

HAVE A FAMILY FORUM

The new school term is the ideal opportunity to give your relationship with your children some TLC. “Between homeschooling and the long summer holidays, this year has been very intense for families,” says parenting expert Dr Maryhan Baker (drmaryhan.com). “As our routines change again, this is a good moment to look at strengthening our connections.”

To do this, Dr Maryhan recommends checking in weekly as a family. “You could do this over Sunday lunch,” she says. “Ask

how everyone is, what’s been good about their week and what’s been bad. Chat through the practicalities of the week ahead, too, and find out if anyone is facing any challenges – talking about things like school clubs often leads to discussions around emotions. For example, your older child might feel aggrieved at the thought of sitting through their younger sibling’s swimming class again. By airing feelings early in a calm forum, you have the chance to do something about it.”

MOT YOUR LOVE LIFE

Set aside time to reboot your romantic relationship, too. “Life’s speed means it’s all too easy to drift apart from your partner, especially if you’re juggling family commitments and commuting again,” says psychotherapist Judith Lask, an expert behind relationship app Paired (getpaired.com). “Make time to socialise and relax together. Decide when you’ll do the ‘housework’ of your relationship. That means having a regular catch up to discuss plans, allocate tasks and talk through any disagreements.”

SPOT SPENDING TRIGGERS

With furlough ending at the end of the month, it might be a good time to examine your expenditure. “Spending is often an emotional response to being bored, frustrated, unhappy or tired,” says Lisa Wynn, a Master Certified Coach (lisawynn. com). “Identify your triggers by keeping a tally of what you spend and why. For example, are you buying takeaway because you love it, or because you are too exhausted to cook? Once you understand the root cause, you can avoid using money as a way to numb discomfort.”

Keep off the spending treadmill, too – adding a coffee and croissant to your daily commute costs over £1,000 a year. “Lunchtime trips to a shop or cafe can mean you spend huge amounts without noticing,” says Lisa. “Make yourself think twice, by tracking your spend. Use a notebook with two columns – include actual expenditure and cash saved when you don’t spend!”

CHALLENGE UNHELPFUL HABITS

As our routines shift, this gives us the perfect opening to reflect on the small and unhelpful habits we’ve fallen into.

“Be honest with yourself,” says Michael.

“It will help shake out those things that are not useful. For example, spend a moment thinking about what you would rather do on a Friday evening versus what you actually do. Or, is the food you’d rather eat at home different to the food you actually do? Challenge yourself, then make changes.”