The 5-Minute Desk Reset

Tiny Habits for a Clearer Mind at Work: Because even super-busy Sussex founders deserve a calmer day

Ever feel your brain fizzing even before the first coffee’s gone cold? You’re not alone. Whether you’re boot-strapping a start-up in a shared workspace or running a five-strong team from your kitchen table, the working day can turn into a blur of tabs, tasks and mental clutter.

The good news: you don’t need a sabbatical to reset – just five deliberate minutes and a handful of micro-habits. Below is a simple playbook you can run anywhere, from a JetSpace serviced office suite to a makeshift desk in your spare bedroom.

Why Micro-Resets Matter

Tim Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek nailed it: “Focus on being productive instead of busy.”

Five-minute resets aren’t about adding another item to your to-do list; they’re about removing friction so your brain can do its best work. Research shows that short, intentional breaks reduce cortisol levels and improve decision-making – exactly what you need before that investor call or client pitch. For hybrid teams, a quick reset also marks the mental boundary between “deep-work time” and “Zoom-all-afternoon time”.

Here are five quick desk reset ideas. So set a timer and give it a try (seriously, set a timer)

1. Change your desktop wallpaper
   Swap the generic skyline for a photo of Shoreham Beach at sunset. Instant mood lift, zero cost.
2. Two-minute digital declutter
   Close the 27 browser tabs you’ll never re-read, empty the downloads folder and watch your laptop fan stop sounding like a jet engine.
3. Micro-movement
   Stand up, roll your shoulders, do 10 chair squats. Blood flow = creative flow.
4. Refresh the to-do list
   Cross off the done items with a flourish and rewrite the next three priorities on a sticky note. David Allen, author of Getting Things Done calls this “cutting loose the debris that’s impeding forward motion.”
5. Add something pleasant
   Pop a tiny succulent, a Polaroid of last weekend’s dog walk or even a diffuser on your desk. Visual cues tell your brain, “This is a nice place to do great work.”

Make it Stick – Without the Guilt

• Piggy-back on an existing routine: reset right after lunch or just before your 3 pm coffee pick-me-up.
• Set a phone alarm or desktop calendar reminder labelled “5-Minute Reset” for the same time each day.
• Track it on a wall or desk calendar – tick every successful reset. Streaks beat willpower.
  Remember: consistency beats perfection. Miss a day? Simply start again tomorrow.

Try it Today

Pick one idea from the list, set a five-minute timer and notice how much lighter your head feels when the buzzer rings. Then carry that clarity into the rest of your afternoon – whether you’re negotiating deals in a frantic environment or debugging code in a solo space.

Need a change of scenery to make those resets even easier? JetSpace has flexible plug-and-play offices with super-fast Wi-Fi and all-inclusive billing at both 23 Grand Parade, Brighton and Hangar 4, Shoreham-by-Sea. Book a tour today on 01273 917977 or use the enquiry form – your clearer mind might just thank you for the upgrade.