A modified midyear reset

For my fellow humans limping through this midyear point in a fog

I pushed through June with grand plans for a midyear reset to reassess my goals, shuffle around some priorities and have some deep reflection time in July. I purchased the latest Reset journalling workbook from Amanda Viviers, which is part of my usual practice. I set aside a day in July to work through this and set up my next quarterly planner with renewed goals for the rest of the year. And then July came with unexpected challenges, as well as the many demands I already knew would be there.

The winter illness season has hit our household hard, wiping out weeks and still ongoing. The calisthenics competition season is upon us with all the extra training and days out that goes with it. Work has had its own challenges and deadlines complicated by many of us being off sick. And then the final blow came with the unexpected loss of a friend. My emotional and physical reserves are depleted.

So, this is for my fellow humans limping through this midyear point in a fog. How do we go forward into the rest of this year with intention when it feels like there is only enough strength to survive each day? I’m not sure I have all the answers but these are a few ways I am approaching life right now.

Firstly, I am aiming to have a bucketload of grace and compassion for myself. Expectations have been dropped. Rest has been a priority. So often the stress I experience in response to times like these is of my own making. Comparing my current days to when I am at full capacity is entirely unhelpful. Instead, I will celebrate the small wins in my day, focus on the essentials, and speak kindly to myself.

Additionally, I am returning to my usual routines, even if they are modified for current energy levels. These rhythms to my days and weeks help me cover the essentials and feel more stable. I cope better mentally with the structure these routines provide. It has shown me the fruit of the hard work I’ve put in over the year to establish what works for me and my family.

Next, I have taken a more low-key approach to goal setting for the rest of the year. I completed my quarterly preview in stages and decided to stick with the very few habit goals I had already been working on rather than aim for anything new. This is definitely related to lowering the expectations I have for myself. I don’t need a long, ambitious goal list to have lived this year well. Smaller, intentional steps forward are the way to go.

Lastly, I am making space for grief, leaning in rather than avoiding. Coaching through the School of Emotionally Healthy Leadership has shifted how I approach grief in subtle but profound ways. I sit in this space of heartache, allowing time for this uncomfortable process to unfold and enlarge my soul. My friend continues to inspire and encourage me forward even though she is no longer with us.

You may be someone whose midyear plans were derailed or maybe you don’t usually engage in a midyear reset practice. However your year is turning out, I hope you will feel encouraged to keep going. Maybe there is something from what I’ve shared that resonates with you or you want to try. I am cheering you on.