Mid-Year Stagnation: How To Reset Your Goals And Re-energise

We’ve passed the midway point of the year, and many of us will be taking a break over the next few weeks before the fresh demands of September arrive. It’s a natural time to reflect on the progress we’ve made so far, and our goals for the rest of the year. For some, this will bring a sense of satisfaction and achievement as your plans are falling into place. 

For others, it might bring a more uneasy feeling of stagnation, disappointment, or even burnout. If you are feeling demotivated or as if your life is passing you by without a clear direction, don’t be too hard on yourself. This type of emotional flatness is common at the midpoint in the year, and often it just needs a simple reset to put you back on track. 

Why it’s common to feel stuck midyear

Modern life encourages us to be constantly optimising our lives, striving and achieving. Most of us will start the year by looking forwards with hopes and plans, maybe setting goals. However, as time goes on, we inevitably settle into routines and the freshness of the new start wears off. 

This will not always be the case: if the goals you set for yourself were truly aligned with your deeper emotional needs and values, it’s possible that you’ve already started to appreciate positive changes in your life. This evidence of improvement is enough motivation to keep you feeling energised and optimistic for the rest of the year and beyond.

However, if you’ve set unrealistic or unsustainable goals, or those that are not truly connected to your real needs, then it’s likely that you’ve started to drift. You may not be in a crisis, but you feel inexplicably restless, numb, or quietly frustrated. 

When we are surrounded by social media messages of people ‘living their best life’ and so on, this can create a sense of shame or inadequacy. We might talk critically to ourselves or feel like a failure. 

How to move away from self-blame and reset

The first instinct when we catch ourselves drifting might be to pile on the pressure and double down on our efforts to change. However, your emotions are trying to tell you something, and if you push them away and attempt to power through without stopping to listen, you could end up compounding your existing problems. 

Reflect on the year so far 

First of all, pause and acknowledge the way you feel: we are all human, and these emotions are experienced by almost everyone at some stage in their lives. Don’t rush to find answers: simply reflect with a clear sighted review of what has happened and what you’ve achieved so far. 

Reframe your progress

What challenges have you faced and overcome? Write them down to bring clarity and detail to your reflections, and don’t forget to include small wins: they all matter. Some areas of your life might be quietly working well, and you deserve more credit for it. 

If you’ve had a few setbacks, examine them in a neutral light and explore what you would do differently next time. It can draw attention to parts of your life that might need some gentle realigning. 

Reconnecting with your deeper self

If your goals have run out of steam or you feel as though you are dragging a heavy burden, it could be a sign that you are pursuing them because you feel like you should, rather than because they genuinely matter to you. Think about what truly makes you feel energised and inspired, and what aligns with your values. 

When your goals are in harmony with an inner sense of purpose, your motivation will be intrinsic. In other words, it will come from within and you won’t need to consciously summon up the effort to work towards them. You will also find your accomplishments more rewarding, because they validate your identity and beliefs.   

Remember that your progress doesn’t necessarily need to be significant or dramatic. Even micro-actions, such as committing to five minutes of intense exercise or uninterrupted reading a day can add up to a difference over a week. 

When it’s more complicated

Sometimes, it’s not easy to get out of emotional quagmires by ourselves, particularly if you’ve got years of unaddressed issues that are clouding your judgment. Working with a therapist at our Harley Street clinic can provide you with a safe space to unpack and develop the tools to reframe your life.