The ultimate summer reset: How to refresh your home, habits, and health

Decluttering your space

As the pace of life slows during the summer, it’s the ideal moment to declutter your surroundings. If you don’t know where to start, certified KonMari Consultant Christine Dychiao said that the most important thing to have first is the mindset and determination to declutter.

“This is the biggest hurdle, but once you’ve decided that you want to declutter for yourself and your sanity, and you’ve set aside the day and time to do it, you will be 90% successful in decluttering,” she said.

Then, choose which area in your home stresses you out the most, whether that’s your closet, work desk, bedroom, or kitchen. 

“The place that will help regulate your nervous system the most should be your top priority,” Dychiao said. “Once you have focused on an area, decide on decluttering by category. Get a grasp of everything in that area and focus on the most impactful in terms of causing you anxiety."

The goal, Dychiao said, is to work on making one space "a calm oasis" to inspire you to work on the rest of the house. Just set realistic expectations as “this is not a magical before-and-after show where things instantly become tidy.”

Going on a digital detox

One of the best ways to realign your habits is to step back from the constant buzz of notifications, endless scrolling, and the pressure to always be online. In committing to a digital detox, well-being coach and psychometrician Kenjie Podador said that you don’t have to go completely gadget-free. According to him, a digital detox becomes more effective when it is “intentional and sustainable rather than extreme.”

“One helpful starting point is setting specific ‘offline windows’ during the day, such as the first hour after waking up or the last hour before sleeping, because these are moments when our minds are most sensitive to stimulation and emotional input,” Podador said. “Protecting these hours helps the brain regulate attention and mood more naturally.”

Another strategy is to “identify emotional triggers connected to digital use,” such as feeling bored, lonely, overwhelmed, or tired. Becoming aware of these patterns allows you to respond with healthier alternatives instead of automatic scrolling. 

“I also encourage people to reorganize their digital environment by removing nonessential notifications or moving distracting apps away from the home screen. Small environmental changes can quietly reshape behavior without relying on constant self-control,” Podador said.

It’s also helpful to replace screen time with something “sensory and grounding,” such as walking, journaling, preparing coffee slowly, or spending time outdoors.

“The brain responds positively when digital stimulation is replaced with real-world experiences rather than simply removed,” Podador explained. He also added that it might also be helpful if you share this experience with friends or family members to "create accountability and transform the process into something supportive rather than restrictive.”

Investing in skincare

If there’s a better time to invest in your skin, it’s during summer when the heat and humidity can easily take a toll on your complexion. Sunscreen serves as your bodyguard during the hottest months, but dermatologist Emmerson Vista stressed that you shouldn’t get just any product off the shelf.

“It's better to keep the broad spectrum that covers UVA, which causes aging, and UVB, which causes burning, because this will give better or higher protection from sun rays,” he said.

But sunscreens aren’t the only protection you can use as Vista shared that some clothes are now modified to have ultra sun protection factors. However, he advised that it’s better to wear loose clothing made of cotton and avoid tight clothes as it will cause more heat or sweat, which could lead to heat rashes.

“Some people can develop more serious skin conditions like fungal infection because of excessive heat and sweating, which makes them prone to develop fungal conditions and skin infection. So, also apply powder to avoid more sweating and lessen the friction that could cause irritation,” Vista highlighted.

Staying hydrated is also essential for healthy skin, as it directly influences both your skin's appearance and texture.

“Dehydrated skin is different from dry skin. Dehydrated, you lack water. Dry skin is more related to lack of sebum in your skin, so it's important to hydrate yourself. Drink eight to 10 glasses of water every day,” he advised.

Building a home workout routine

For those hoping to work on their fitness and confidence but don’t have the budget for a gym membership, you can still build an effective workout routine with no equipment at all. For running coach and fitness enthusiast Rb Mercader, start easy and focus on the exercise reps.

“Try doing squats with a three to five second descent. It’s called time under tension, even basic movements can be more challenging without adding weight,” he said.

He added that instead of counting reps, it’s better to set a timer for around 10 to 15 minutes and aim to complete as many rounds as possible. This is to “trick your brain in a way that it’s easier to do a 10-minute workout than to do 10 reps of push-ups for five sets.”

You can also do an isometric hold, which is a strength training technique that involves maintaining a position for a set period of time to keep your muscles under constant tension.

“Holding positions like the bottom of a squat, a plank, or a wall sit builds strength and stability. This type of workout also improves joints, which are often overlooked in bodyweight training,” Mercader noted.

If the environment is safe and clean, Mercader recommended training barefoot as this “can improve foot strength, balance, and overall movement awareness. Strong feet contribute to better performance and injury prevention, especially in lower body exercises.”

Making habits stick

While it’s easy to feel motivated about a summer reset, turning intentions into daily habits requires more than just willpower. Psychologist Alexandria Blake Real suggests that consistency starts with prioritizing physical health. 

“Start it with prioritizing your physical health like recovering from sleep,” she said. “Your brain and body need sufficient energy for them to function—and sleep can actually help you regenerate energy and restore mental function.” 

Real also emphasizes starting with small, sustainable steps rather than expensive changes. "Our choices should be, at minimum, based on our capacity and resources.”

Whether it’s visiting a local park to get grounded or simply moving more, she urges everyone to act with intentionality. 

“[Ensure] that plans align with your ‘self,’ that you are not doing this for others, but for you to regain yourself,” she said.