Mid-year reset and check in: revisiting my 2025 goals and course correcting for the rest of the year
No-buy wobbles, grey-scale phones, and missed meditations: a mid-year check on what’s shifted, what’s stuck, and what I’m course-correcting now
How did you approach the new year in early 2025? Did you goal set, create intentions or have a clear idea of what you wanted to achieve for the year ahead? Whether you condemn new years resolutions or embraced the new season with hope and intention, almost every single one of us is likely to have seen any initial momentum wane.
It’s a familiar scenario for me - get super clear on what I want out of the year and then, by April, forget what I had even included in that list. I even published a five step process to reflect, reset and refocus for 2025. It was a useful exercise at the time, but as the halfway mark rolled around, I decided that the map for 2025 was well worth a revisit.
So, herein lies an honest and current appraisal of how I am tracking in 2025, in no particular order, and in the hopes that it may inspire you to bring some January new-year energy to July.
Build a work week that I enjoy and find fulfilling to minimise stress, enjoy my days and remove fear and dread of work week.
Little did I know that this would eventuate in actually resigning from my role as CEO in my business in April. A process that felt lengthy but also absolutely aligned. It’s safe to say that, although I am not quite ready to think about what comes next, I most certainly am getting great fulfilment out of my spacious and restful weeks.
Delete social media (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook) to reclaim time and reduce comparison.
So far, mostly so good. I check instagram in my browser about once a week but have overcome the need to scroll mindlessly, which is definite progress. The same cannot be said for TikTok. Although it has mostly remained deleted, I sometimes redownload the app, seeking one specific piece of information, and find myself still in a vortex of doomscrolling two hours later. Currently - it is deleted - and my TikTok screentime has reduced significantly. I also do still use Substack as my social media hit but I find that I read long form essays rather than scrolling which doesn’t leave the same scroll hangover feeling as the others.
Use phone in greyscale mode to reduce overstimulation and phone usage.
This has been a game-changer for me and my nervous system. As a sensitive soul, I didn’t quite realise how overwhelming I find my phone. I have a three click shortcut set up so that when I press the sidebutton on my phone, I can toggle back into colour - necessary for taking and viewing photos - but 90% of the time, it sits in grey, encouraging me to put it down more easily and more often. This would be my #1 recommendation for the sensorily sensitive amongst us!
Commit to a no-buy year, to break the overconsumption cycle and support financial/nervous system health.
This one could really be its own post - it’s been a journey! In December 2024, I committed to a no-buy year in 2025 after successfully trialing a no-buy two weeks. This had been going so well - I notice that I have more money, I notice that I want for less but recently - around my birthday in June, I had a few wobbles - I treated myself to a few new things and even redownloaded Depop (my kryptonite). I saw the error in my ways, remembered the importance of this challenge to me and I am now back on the straight and narrow (albeit with a gorgeous pair of gold earrings a cozy new pair of winter leggings). I’ve taken this one step further this week by selling clothes on Depop and then transferring the earnings into an ETF trading fund - it’s a hack; I get dopamine from watching the markets and knowing my money will increase in value in time instead of from buying more stuff!
Restart a daily meditation practice to support mental clarity and nervous system regulation.
This has absolutely not been done. I haven’t even come close. But since revisiting this list, I have booked into a free TM meditation course near home and have meditated a few times, in an attempt to get back into it. I find this practice to be invaluable and so it is something that I plan to get back on track with.
Read more physical books, shifting away from Kindle for a more tactile and present reading experience.
I did do this, but I find I also miss my kindle - there is something about the absolute ease of turning off the lights, propping up my kindle and merely using a single finger to change pages when necessary. I will always love the experience of reading a real book, and I definitely remember what I’m reading a lot better when I carry a physical book around with me, but I think I may be a hybrid gal, rather than a purist one way or the other.
Create space for slow, nourishing mornings with meditation, movement, homemade food, and reflection.
Other than meditation? Yes to this one. In January, I did not yet know that I would be resigning - a lot has changed for me in how I fill my weeks and spend my time, but the intention to create slow and spacious mornings has definitely come to fruition. And how grateful I am for that. Even in this exact moment, I type this from my bed with a tea next to me that Ant brought me - delightful!
Embrace the words “peace” and “progress” as a focus for 2025.
Each year I name a word or two to anchor to for the year ahead. This year was ‘peace’ and ‘progress’. Thankfully, both words still feel very aligned and relevant today. Although I have written about this time of transition bringing up feelings of stagnation, I do feel as if this year has brought significant progress - we working with a fertility specialist who we trust and are making progress with, I have successfully exited my business and managed that transition, I have the opportunity to design and create a life that is fulfilling and spacious - I definitely feel on track with this one.
More organisation around food and eating/ cooking - create weekly meal plans to take the stress out of cooking every day.
This was an important goal for me in January but it was one that fell off almost instantly. I have a knack for being able to create a meal out of absolutely anything and so, meal times every day usually involve creative thinking, staring at the contents of the fridge for a while and last minute dashes to the shops to purchase missing ingredients - this isn’t well planned out and it doesn’t make the most of mine and Ant’s culinary skills! It’s also stressful when you’re reinventing the wheel every single day. Since checking in mid year on these goals, we have already implemented Sunday meal plans where we decide what we want to have for the week, what recipes Ant will make and what I need to buy. It’s only been a few weeks but we are instantly happier with the set up - with delicious meals to look forward to, new recipes to try and money saved from last minute panics.
Publish 52 Substack articles in 2025 in order to commit to a regular writing practice and build community
I am beyond proud of this one. When I first wrote this goal, I targeted myself at 20. And then I wrote a new article. And then I changed it to 52. It’s punchy, I thought, but I am loving flexing this newly discovered creative muscle that why not aim high? The result of this goal is that I adore writing my weekly posts - at times I struggle with fitting it in, I have missed a couple of weeks and my publishing day has not exactly been consistent (which also requires a practice of kind self-talk to manage), but it is greatly rewarding. As well as connecting with hundreds of like-minded people, all going through similar experiences, I am also well aware of the self-trust that this practice is building. I am so proud of myself for showing up, for doing something different, for being brave. It will no doubt be one of my highlights and best accomplishments of this year. (Thanks for being here!)
Overall, I’m feeling good. I am well aware that this life journey is not linear, but I do feel like things are headed in the right direction. These small changes and goals have contributed to my overall wellbeing and I am grateful to be able to design a life that makes me happy. I found the exercise of revisiting my January goals to be hugely helpful, and it really has course corrected me at this mid-year point. As points of reflection, consider these questions:
In which areas am I trying to do too much?
What one thing could I let go of in order to create more space for what actually matters?
What can I do to build trust in myself?
Where can I be kinder to myself?
What can I course correct now to feel like my year is back on track?
Thanks for reading!! If you’re new here, I write essays about slow success, life transitions, and finding meaning in the mess. As well as recommending some of my favourite things every week! ✨
