Starting over can be scary, especially if you’re starting from zero (which I’ve done on more than one occasion).

How can you leave everything behind? I’ll admit I always feel torn, because while I love fresh starts I also love routine and consistency. But how do I find the courage to do it?

It’s simple: I think of it like hitting the reset button. Sometimes it’s a soft reset, where I keep most of my life (friend groups, job, etc.) the same, but sometimes it’s like a hard reset where I have to rebuild my life from the ground up.

Hitting the reset button on your life is incredibly liberating. If you’re just feeling a little bored and looking to shake things up a bit, there are plenty of small changes you can make. Or, if you’ve longed for the opportunity to be someone different, to break old habits, and have an adventure, then maybe you’re ready for a hard reset.

Let’s get into some of your options.

Soft resets

Get a new ‘do

This has always been my go-to way to make a change without risking serious financial and emotional stability. Dye your hair a new color, or try that edgy cut you’ve always been curious about.

If you hate it, you can wear a hat for a few months until it goes back to normal.

Photo by "Jessie Dee" Dabrowski www.jessiedee.net on Unsplash

I started experimenting with my hair color in college, first going black (yes, an emo phase) then opting for strawberry blonde and dark brown before going back to my natural color. Later I got bolder and tried light pink balayage, then bright fuschia and dark purple, and even rainbow (very similar to the photo above)! It was always fun to see how I looked with different colors, and that’s how I discovered I’m a pretty natural pink.

Learn a new skill

Have you always wanted to pick up knitting, speak another language, or coding? You can start learning now.

There are plenty of free apps and websites such as Duolingo, Codecademy, or YouTube channels where you can learn on your own.

Or, if you prefer a more formal approach, you can take classes with a school or tutor, or join a tech bootcamp to get dedicated support in learning your new skill.

This small change can lead to something exciting like starting a side hustle, which can soften the transition into a new career later on if that’s your ultimate goal.

Find more social hobbies

The time to try your local sip n’ paint event, check out a stand-up comedy night, or test your trivial knowledge at a pub quiz is now. Not only will you be enjoying a fun new activity, but you’ll be able to meet new people while doing it.

This counts as networking! Through these connections, you may forge new friendships or meet the love of your life.

Photo by Victor Clime on Unsplash

I met some of my best friends in life by joining weekly events and tour groups.

Go on vacation

This is something you can do no matter what your budget is.

If money is tight or you have other priorities, then you can explore a new neighborhood in your city. You could also have a “staycation” at a local hotel or even your own home. Simply changing up your regular routine counts as a vacation from regular life.

Once, I bought myself a collapsible plastic bathtub for my staycations. That bathtub, a bathbomb, a candle and a glass of wine was all I needed to get carried away to a place where the worries of work and life couldn’t reach me.

Photo by Roberto Nickson on Unsplash

If a getaway is in your budget, then try a different city for a long weekend, or go big and go abroad for a week or more.

The only thing standing between you and an adventure is your front door.

Hard resets

Change careers

I know, I know–easier said than done. But it can be done. It just takes time and planning.

I’ve reinvented myself professionally a few times over the years, moving from education to publishing to coaching. If you feel unsatisfied in your career, start to try out new things. Get a side hustle, or volunteer, or talk to people working in other fields to get an idea of what you might like.

Or, it may be the perfect time to strike out on your own and start your own company or freelance business.

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

I’ve reinvented myself professionally more than a couple of times, learning more about myself and my passions along the way.

Move to a new country or continent

This one is equal parts exciting and terrifying. If you’ve always been an explorer, then maybe it’s time for you to go all in.

This one also involves a lot of planning and effort, but you have more options. You can join a foreign language program or volunteer if you want to test the waters. Or if you want to dive in head first, you can look into finding a new job, or take time off to travel and learn a new language or skill if your finances allow it.

Photo by Vladislav Klapin on Unsplash

I’ve lived on three different continents in my life: the first 22 years of my life in the US, the following 11 years in China, and now the past 18 months in Europe. To me, there’s no feeling in the world like immersing yourself in a totally new culture and being surrounded by people speaking other languages.

Move to a new city

While less daunting than moving to a new country or changing careers, this is still a big step.

If you don’t have the luxury of working remotely, then you may need to find a new job (which is a whole job by itself!). But you will get to experience exploring a new place without the same emotional and financial investment of moving to a new country.

Photo by Nico Smit on Unsplash

When I was a kid, we moved around a few times (from MS, to AL, to IL, and then back to MS) and then when I went off to college I moved twice. While it was scary, the best thing I got from these experiences was embracing a change of scenery and I’m pretty sure that’s how I got bitten by the travel bug.

At the end of the day, only you know what you can handle. I recommend starting small if you’re apprehensive or typically risk-averse. Get used to change and then add more until you feel comfortable with the big things. Or if you are the “go big or go home” type like myself, then you can dive in headfirst with a major reset.