5 Simple(ish) Steps for Conducting a Mid-Year Reset
We’re already halfway through the year, and if you’re like most of us, you may have let your goals or intentions slide. Life happens — priorities shift, and suddenly, those January resolutions feel like distant memories. But here’s the truth: it’s never too late for a fresh start. A mid-year reset offers the perfect opportunity to refocus, adjust, and realign.
Let’s dive into 5 strategies to give your year a renewed sense of purpose and help you feel in control of your journey once again. Grab a notebook, take a deep breath, and let’s get back on track!
40 \\ Mid Year Reset: Reclaiming Your Goals and Intentions
Reflect on the Last Six Months
The first step to a mid-year reset is to reflect on what has (and hasn’t) worked over the past six months. Maybe you started the year with big goals, but life threw some unexpected changes your way. Take a few minutes to pause and look back on your year so far. What were the highlights? The challenges?
Try this powerful exercise I call the “camera brain dump of joy.” Scroll through your phone’s camera roll, go all the way back to January, and jot down the moments that brought you joy. This not only helps us recall positive memories but serves as a visual reminder of the good things in our lives. You can even create a dedicated photo album or book for these moments using an app like Chapbooks, which lets you print your favorite memories quarterly, bringing the moments to life. Each joyful memory you record will remind you that even if you haven’t ticked every goal off, you’ve experienced meaningful moments that are worth celebrating.
Action Step: Create a list of these joyful moments and see if any patterns emerge. You may find clues to what’s truly important to you — and what you may want to focus on in the second half of the year.
2. Reevaluate Your Goals
Life changes fast, and so do our goals and priorities. A goal that felt vital in January might not align with where you are today. So take this time to reevaluate and adjust your goals. Start by looking at the goals you set for the year — personal, professional, or financial. Are they still relevant? Do they need adjusting?
For example, maybe you set a personal goal to exercise every morning, but you’ve realized that evenings are a better fit. Adjust the goal to fit your current routine rather than trying to force it. Consider breaking your goals down into smaller, achievable steps to stay motivated without feeling overwhelmed.
Action Step: Rewrite your goals if needed, and break them down into quarterly or monthly targets to make them more achievable. This will keep you motivated as you move into the second half of the year.
3. Refresh Your Personal Habits and Routines
We’re creatures of habit, and a mid-year reset is an ideal time to shake up your routines. Look at your daily habits. Are they supporting your mental and physical health, or are they adding to your stress?
One habit I’m refocusing on is “unplugging” from my phone in the evenings. I’d set a goal to stay off my phone from 4-6 p.m. but noticed I’d slipped back into old habits. Now, I’m even considering buying a lockbox for my phone! Setting boundaries, whether around screen time, bedtime, or exercise, can bring calm to your day and boost productivity.
Action Step: Choose one habit that feels stale or isn’t serving you. Create a small goal around it for the next month — perhaps starting with “no screens 30 minutes before bed” or “15 minutes of movement daily.”
4. Reconnect with Your Finances
Money matters can feel daunting, but a mid-year reset is the perfect time to do a quick financial check-in. Revisit any financial goals you set at the start of the year, like budgeting, saving, or tackling debt. Are you on track, or do you need to make adjustments?
This is also a great time to review your spending habits. Set aside a few hours to go over your expenses, track any big-ticket items, and set new financial goals for the rest of the year. You may even find it helpful to schedule a monthly “money date” to check in on your progress and keep your finances aligned with your goals.
Action Step: Schedule a time to review your financials, even if it’s just a mini session. Get clear on your income, expenses, and any adjustments you need to make to feel more secure moving forward.
5. Plan Intentional Time for Relationships
Finally, a mid-year reset is about reconnecting with the people who matter most. Relationships often get overlooked when life gets busy, so be intentional about spending time with loved ones. This could mean scheduling date nights, family outings, or simply committing to screen-free time with your kids.
Reflect on how much time you’ve been dedicating to family, friends, or even networking if it aligns with your goals. If family time was on your list in January, evaluate if you’ve been prioritizing it. If not, make it a point to create specific plans for the coming months, even if it’s as simple as a weekly dinner with friends or a monthly family outing.
Action Step: Commit to one relationship goal. It might be something small, like making time for a weekly family game night or having a monthly dinner with close friends.
Moving Forward: Set a Check-In Date
Now that you’ve tackled this mid-year reset, make sure to schedule regular check-ins. Instead of waiting until next January, set a reminder to reevaluate your goals each quarter. This helps keep your progress in view and gives you the flexibility to make adjustments as needed.
A mid-year reset doesn’t mean you need to make drastic changes; it’s about pausing, reflecting, and intentionally moving forward. The beauty of this process is in its simplicity — small adjustments now can create a big impact on how you end the year.
Remember, you’re not alone on this journey to be better every day. Taking control and resetting at the halfway point is a powerful act of self-care and shows that you value the life you’re creating.
