july 2nd was exactly half way through the year, and with that i think i naturally feel this pull to reset and reassess my life and my goals. while it’s not a loud and joyous celebration like new years, the middle of the year leaves a question in my mind: “am i where i thought i’d be?”. that pull toward reassessment makes sense because the halfway point works almost like a checkpoint your brain sets without you consciously deciding to. 6 months behind us, 6 ahead. half of the year already made, the other half yours to be shaped.
i’m treating this whole month as kind of a reset. it isn’t something i’m rushing to try to perfect and optimize, but rather to enjoy resetting leisurely while i soak up the summer. by the halfway point, some habits and routines from early in the year have fallen to the wayside, especially with the start of the summer. i’m not going into this reset with the rigidity of january, but rather tailoring it to fit the vibes of summer and what my life is asking of me right now. i love the energy of a true lock-in, and i’ll definitely be there mentally more in september, for q4 of the year i’m sure. but for now, for the summer, my reset looks a little more gentle. think soft guidelines instead of firm borders, routines and practices that fit in pockets of my life, rather than my life fitting into a routine.
journal practice and goal check in
i’m be following my mid-year journal practice, but in case you aren’t but still want a few ideas and things to journal about/ check in with yourself on:revisit the goals you set in janaury for the year. how are they going?
what goal or vision no longer fits? it’s okay to release things we thought we wanted. if a dream or goal no longer feels like yours, letting it go is not a failure. make room for more of what lights you up.
where do you want to re align your focus for the rest of the year?
put together a mood board or vision board for the rest of the year
in case you missed it, here is the guided journal guide i made for a mid-year reset and check in:
create a new summer routine — sustainable, leaning into the ease and lax of summer
i think resetting our routines for the seasons only makes sense. life looked much different in january than it does in july. planning your mid-year routine comes down to loosening your grip a bit before you start adding everything back in. here’s how i suggest nailing down your new routine:start by noticing where your current routine is costing you. it’s not always in big, glaring ways. pay attention to what parts of your day feel forced, or draining, or overstimulating with too much going on. then look at the parts of your day you’d keep even without pressure to be productive.
plan loosely. instead of having each hour filled with a plan or habit, try just giving each day a little shape. calm mornings, productive afternoons, evenings free for unexpected plans and walks by the water. the more flexibility the better, because it gives each section of your day breathing room to move things around as needed.
ask yourself what a good routine looks like and holds in the summer. what you need (and want) probably feels a bit different this time of year than it did in the winter, fall, or even in the spring.
build your plan around your energy. figure out when you have the most focus and motivation during the day. i try to get my cleaning done earlier in the mornings now before the mid-afternoon heat fully settles in. and i write a lot longer into the evening with the light being up so much longer. let the day be shaped a bit by nature and our instinct to follow it.
give yourself lots of ‘flex’ time, because unexpected plans are more important than perfectly tidy countertops.
a small home refresh
nothing major, this doesn’t have to be back breaking, gruelling work. i find my cleaning routines this time of year focus mainly on maintenance, so it’s helpful to carve out a little bit of time towards a full reset and deep clean. think of it less as “spring cleaning” and more of a mid year check-in for your space. a chance to catch the stuff that's been quietly piling up while you've been in maintenance mode. if you've got a free weekend coming up, it's the perfect time to actually dig in.have a deep cleaning weekend — take two days to make a plan and spread out your cleaning, factoring in some coffee breaks and moments to step outside. really get into the nitty gritty here, rather than just the surface level clean.
take a day to organize a few spaces that clutter tends to collect in — for me its my kitchen island and coffee table. they’re begging for a reset.
do a one bag declutter — fill one bag with things from around the house you no longer need that you can get rid of.
a little yard maintenance — try to reserve a little bit of time for outside of your four walls as well.
summer projects — things that need to be done before fall/winter
make a list and a plan of all the work that needs to be done before fall and winter. i know, i know, who wants to think about snow in july. but before we know it, the cold will return, and the ground will be frozen. so let’s not let those projects have to sit and wait until next year. maybe your deck or front steps need a little TLC? maybe it’s keeping up with yard work, or tackling any outdoor projects? think: washing the windows, cleaning the gutters, finally power washing the siding on the house like you’ve said you’d do for a year (guilty…).schedule the projects!!! set dates, rent equipment if you need to, be prepared to bribe friends with pizza and beer if it’s more of a group effort. make it fun!
one fun project, just for me
while it’s great to focus in on goals and projects that need to be tackled over the summer or the last half of the year, i think it’s just as important to do something just for you. maybe a craft, art project, writing, or a DIY, etc. not something you have to get done, but something you just want to dedicate some time and energy to. let it be a project that feels cozy and nice, perfect for rainy days or taking outside to keep your hands busy while you soak up the sun.
a few ideas if you’re not sure where to start:
pick up a low-stakes craft you can dip in and out of, like embroidery, crochet, or watercolour painting
start a journal or scrapbook for the second half of the year, nothing structured, just a place to dump thoughts, photos, ticket stubs, whatever
try a small DIY around the house, repainting an old frame, up-cycling a piece of furniture
write, even if it’s just for yourself. a short story, poetry, letters you never send
learn a small, impractical skill purely for fun. like whittling, pressing flowers, making friendship bracelets.
i hope this post can serve as some motivation and inspiration to do a little mid-year reset and check in with yourself. it doesn't have to be some big, formal event, or have all the energy and productivity of a january resolution. it's really just permission to pause and actually look at where you are before the second half of the year runs away from you. take stock of what's working, let go of what isn't, and don't be afraid to adjust the goals you set back in january, they were written by a version of you with a lot less information than you have now. the beauty of hitting this halfway point is that you still have time to shift course, but enough distance behind you to know what actually needs shifting. so take it slow, keep it low-pressure, and let this reset feel more like a soft recalibration than a total overhaul.
with love, kyla
ps. if you feel called to share, what goal from january are you taking with you, and what are you leaving behind?
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