5 Simple(ish) Strategies for a Mid-Year Reset
So it’s June and while many of you in other parts of the country may be experiencing something that looks close to “summer”, here in the Bay Area we often experience a thing called “June gloom” where a layer of fog settles over us and blocks out the sun for the next couple of months.
It’s a little disappointing when thinking about what we traditionally think of as summer but we locals are used to it and are able to adjust accordingly by wearing “layers” pretty much all the time. Well, OK currently it’s lovely outside but it’s also windy so you just never know.
*Note to tourists, come visit us in the fall if you want nicer weather. OR just bring a sweatshirt or two so you don’t have to buy an overpriced Alcatraz hoodie at the Warf.
OK but really, this is not a post on summer weather patterns (or the possible lack of sunshine) but rather on what happens when June gloom affects not just the weather but your LIFE.
I think you might know what I’m talking about. January starts off strong. The New Year brings with it all kinds of possibilities. We set goals, resolutions, find our “word of the year”, whatever your thing is; I’m sure you come up with some way of setting intentions for the year. And we decide that this is the year. The year we finally write that book, clean out our garage, do that whole30 thing everyone’s raving about, the year of gentleness or courage or whatever YOUR thing is.
And then spring comes and we’re still feeling pretty good about having most of the year still ahead to accomplish so many things. . .
But time passes and all of a sudden we realize that half the year is practically over already! And we’ve gotten slightly off course from all we had hoped for. We’ve taken on too many things, have gotten distracted, or we’ve let others make too many decisions for us and we wonder if it’s too late to get back to the excitement and promise January once offered.
Have no fear, I offer you 5 simple strategies for a mid-year reset. OK, really they’re semi-simple or simple(ish) because they are totally doable BUT as always results will depend on taking some action.
Revisit: You know those goals, resolutions, plans, words we talked about from the beginning of the year? Go back to them. What was going on in December of last year or early January when you were picking a focus, theme or setting goals for the year? They must have seemed important at the time or you wouldn’t have set the intention of working towards those goals. Pull out your journal, planner or list. Re-read your thoughts and ideas, take some time to sit with them for a while. Maybe life has just gotten really busy lately but those dreams are still tugging at your heart. A temporary pause is not the same as a full stop. Ask: What was my motivation for making this happen?
Reassess: It’s now June not January and you are literally in a different season than you were at the beginning of the year. Perhaps you’re also in a different season of life, at work, or with other commitments you’ve taken on. Consider if your goals from months ago are still relevant. Are there new goals that you should be focusing on or adjustments to the originals ones that would be more appropriate for your current season? Or is the problem maybe that the goals are still relevant but YOU have lost some momentum? Get a clear view about where you are today and what it would take for you to have a successful second half of the year. And give yourself permission to make adjustments to your original plans as needed. Ask: What season am I in right now and how does that impact my goals for the rest of the year?
Refresh: Maybe your original word of the year is still on point, or your resolutions still valid but they need a little update. Take your original word, goals, and resolutions and give them a little makeover. How can you make them more applicable to where you are today and the direction you want to be heading in for the remainder of the year? Consider building on your original goals or refocusing on your word or theme. Get creative. Perhaps posting visual reminders or coming up with new incentives can help you to refocus and see the opportunities in the months ahead. Ask: What would be most helpful right now to accomplish my goals?
Readjust: Perhaps your original goals just don’t seem realistic anymore. If that’s the case, take some time to make adjustments. What would work instead? Or are the goals are still attainable but maybe you need to rethink your strategy. What small changes can you make to reach your goals or stay in alignment with your desired plans for the rest of the year? Ask: What needs to change in order to get to where I want to be?
Recommit! It’s not too late to get back on track. If you’ve lost some momentum, don’t get discouraged. There is still plenty of time to reach your goals or set new ones. But DO one thing today, just one that will get you going and build on that. Just get moving so you don’t find yourself in the middle of FALL wondering where the year went and why you didn’t start making changes sooner. Ask: How will I feel at the end of this year if I continue to drift away rather than get closer to accomplishing my goals or living out my intentions?
Remember you are the boss of YOU. You can make your time work for you.
Don’t let June Gloom affect your summer. Consider this ACT 2 of your year; the best is still yet to come!!
#juneisthenewjanuary
