Some Days Are Like That… Even in Australia. Mindset Reset Strategies for When You Want to Run Away From Your Life

Did you ever daydream about running away as a kid? It turns out, even as adults, we sometimes need mindset reset strategies to help us navigate those same feelings—just with grown-up challenges.

Maybe your parents had too many rules.

Maybe Mary’s house down the street just had to be more fun.

Maybe you even packed a bag and imagined a better life—just six years old and ready for a new zip code.

The great escape plan, complete with pajamas and dreams of a better life just down the street.

When You Want to Escape Your Life: A Mindset Reset Strategy from Childhood

And yet here we are, grown-up…

Still daydreaming of escape.

Now it’s not your parents’ rules—it’s the ones you’ve placed on yourself.

Or the ones silently agreed upon with your partner.

It’s the job that doesn’t light you up.

The extra weight you can’t seem to shed.

The neighborhood, the town, the everything that just feels… off.

So you scroll real estate listings in Australia (or wherever your fantasy life resides) and think, “If I just lived there, everything would be better.”

I get it. I’m a mom of three. I taught first grade on military bases in Panama and Puerto Rico for nine years. I’ve read more children’s books than I can count, but one has stayed with me longer than any textbook or adult lesson ever did:

“Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.”

I’ve read it to my students, my kids, even my partner Billy and my adult children. (Yes, really!) In the story, everything goes wrong—gum in the hair, no dessert in the lunch bag, and on and on. And Alexander’s solution? He just wants to move to Australia.

But of course, the moral of the story is this:

Some days are just like that. Even in Australia.

The good news? You don’t have to change your country—you just need a few simple mindset reset strategies that bring you back to center.

Some Days Start Terrible—Here’s How to Reset Your Mindset

And here’s what I believe—

The day doesn’t have to stay bad.

We have the power to pause, reframe, and reset.

Yes, you can let the day unravel.

You can throw the covers back over your head or carry that grumpy energy into every room you walk into.

Or— and here's the mindset reset that matters - you can make a hard, intentional stop.

But let's be honest...sometimes it's easy to slip into the "Screw it all" mindset.

You want to give up on the day, hide from the world, or let your mood bleed into every interaction.

That's when you pause.

Simple Mindset Reset Strategies to Pause and Regain Control

Pull over.

Step outside.

Put yourself in time out.

And breathe.

Just one minute of slow, intentional breath—

In for 5. Hold for 5. Out for 5.

That alone can shift your blood pressure and your mood.

It’s one of the easiest mindset reset strategies you can use—no equipment, no cost, just your breath and a moment of intention.

Then ask yourself:

What part of this day is actually in my control?

→ Did I start in a frenzy because I hit snooze three times?

→ Am I snapping at my partner because of dishes... or because I haven’t spoken my needs out loud?

→ Is my body crashing from caffeine and sugar and calling out for something more nourishing?

These moments matter.

And when you start to see one good thing—just one—it’s wild how quickly you begin to see more.

These micro-shifts are the heart of effective mindset reset strategies—they don’t require a life overhaul, just a conscious pause.

The Power of One Positive Moment

Laugh.

Shake it off.

Find the sunshine.

Smell something that brings you joy.

Light a candle.

Turn on a favorite song.

Stretch.

Sip water slowly.

Take back the wheel of your day—even if just for a few moments.

Because here’s the truth:

You don’t need a passport to change your life.

You just need a pause. A breath.

And a choice to move forward with a little more intention than before.

Looking for More Mindset Reset Strategies?

This is the kind of mindful reset I explore in my blog and in my coaching—real-life mindset reset strategies that help you shift out of overwhelm and back into alignment.

If you're craving more tools to help you feel better—not just someday, but starting now—come take a peek at what I’m sharing this week.

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✍️ Catherine Richey

Coach & Chef for a Life You’ll Never Regret

Ready to reset more than just your day?

I work with people who are done settling and ready to fall in love with their life again.

👇 Peek behind the scenes and learn how I help clients reignite their spark:

🔗 www.modernmindsetcoaching.com