In case you haven’t noticed, old television shows are coming back in prime time, but with a new flair.  Will & Grace, Murphy Brown, Magnum P.I., and Miami Vice are on the list. It’s inspired me to think about the whole concept of a reboot.

First, let’s define the term beyond the obvious restarting of a computer.  According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, “reboot” can also mean “to start something again or do something again in a way that is new and interesting.”

Now, take that concept and apply it to something other than your computer or to television programming.  How about, oh, I don’t know . . . YOUR LIFE?  Moving to a new city, starting a new job, getting divorced, getting remarried, going back to school, losing weight, the list goes on and on.  Those are some of my own major reboots, and I’m guessing they may also be some of yours.

But for now, I’d like to explore the smaller reboots.  What can we do when we’re generally restless, not quite as optimistic as we’d like to be, or feeling in a rut?

Let’s take a look at your workday as though it was the t.v. guide channel.  What if your personal prime time isn’t the same as network television?  Are you more productive in the morning?  Or do you need four cups of coffee before you start thinking clearly?  Do you run out of steam mid-afternoon?  Or do you come alive when the sun sets?  Maybe you can schedule your own prime time programming by rearranging your work tasks in a manner that better suits you.

What does your office environment look like?  A mini-reboot of your desk might be in order.  Replace the old photos with newer ones.  Clean out your pencil cup.  Buy yourself some multi-colored paper clips.  And while you’re at it, go to lunch.  If you’re accustomed to eating at your desk, give yourself permission to take a break away from the office and with someone other than a co-worker.

How about a mini-reboot of your kitchen?  A bunch of flowers ($3.99 at Trader Joe’s) might be a good place to start.  Try rebooting your pantry by getting rid of the pumpkin pie spice that’s been sitting there for five years.  When’s the last time you cleaned out your junk drawer?

On the other hand, major rebooting of your life isn’t ever easy.  If you’re in a relationship that no longer brings you joy, or a job that you know is wrong for you, only you can decide when to take a step in a different direction.  While you’re contemplating a big issue, I can offer up a few more smaller reboot ideas.  Take a walk.  Listen to an uplifting podcast.  Go to bed a half hour earlier than normal.  Meditate or pray.  Take a bubble bath with the door locked.

See where I’m going with this?  To start your own reboot, begin with a baby step.