Audit Your Commitments: The Quick Reset Exercise
One of the fastest ways to make space for what matters is to clear out the commitments that no longer do.
This is what I call a Practice article. It’s one of the four types you’ll see regularly in Resimplification. Practice articles focus on actionable steps you can take right now to return to what matters.
Going forward, you’ll also find Field Notes (observations from real-world situations), Signals (how to know when it’s time to reset), and Principles (core concepts that anchor the whole idea of Resimplification).
The Reality of Commitment Creep
Most of our overwhelm doesn’t come from the big, obvious commitments. It comes from the smaller, quieter ones we rarely stop to question.
We often agree to things that are easily renewed every month or year. We keep projects alive because they’ve always been there. We say yes without fully checking if it’s still the right yes. Sometimes it’s just something we believe that we’ll actually use someday.
Over time, these build up. And before we know it, we’re carrying a load we never consciously agreed to. Most of us have done that. Some more than others. I certainly have. That’s how I came up with this process.
Why This Makes a Difference
Resimplification is about returning to what matters. But you can’t return to what matters if you’re still holding onto everything that doesn’t.
A quick audit of your commitments is one of the fastest ways to reclaim clarity and create space for what you actually want to move forward.
The Quick Reset Exercise
You don’t need a week-long retreat for this. Set aside 20–30 minutes.
List All Commitments
Write them all down. Personal, professional, recurring, seasonal. If it takes time, energy, or attention, it counts.Label Each Commitment
Tag each one as:Essential – Directly supports your current goals or values
Nice-to-Have – Beneficial, but not critical
Legacy – Something you’ve kept by habit, not because it still serves you
Ask the Filter Question
For each commitment, ask: Does this still serve my current priorities?Decide: Keep, Adjust, or Release
Keep the essentials.
Adjust the nice-to-haves (change frequency, hand off tasks, etc.).
Release the legacy commitments that no longer fit.
One Clear “No” Creates Space for Better “Yeses”
Resimplification doesn’t mean throwing everything out. It means removing what no longer fits so there’s room for what does.
Sometimes all it takes is saying no to one thing to create the bandwidth for three better opportunities.
Try It This Week
Do the Audit. See what falls away. Notice what comes back into focus.
And if you find a surprising “release” — share it. You might inspire someone else to lighten their own load.