Refocus, Reclaim, Realign: A Mid-Year Career Reset Guide
Wait, it's July already????
We’re officially in July, which means summer is halfway over—and so is the year. Maybe it’s my years in higher ed talking, but doesn’t fall always seem to signal a season of realignment?
You might be asking yourself:
“Where am I at with those goals I set in January?”
“How am I supposed to finish these projects by the end of the year?”
Or maybe even, “Why am I still in this job? I was supposed to be in a new one by now!”
If any of that sounds familiar, you're not alone—and you're definitely not behind. And if you haven’t stopped to reflect yet, this post is your invitation to do just that.
Let’s hit pause, check in, and figure out how to reflect, realign, and redesign the rest of your year—on your terms.
✅ Check-In Step 1: Revisit That January Vision
Let’s be real—we’re great at setting big, shiny goals and lofty habits every January when the "new year, new me" energy hits. And if you’re anything like me (or, frankly, most humans), at least a few of those goals have already ghosted your to-do list.
So let’s talk about that vision you had for the year. Where are you now? Is your momentum still going strong—or did you stall out somewhere between “I’ve got this” and “Wait, what was I doing again?”
And hey, ADHD crew—where you at? 🙋♀️ I’ve probably set more goals and ditched them than most people even think about setting. No shame. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take a beat and figure out what’s actually getting in the way of what we do want.
✍️ Let’s Try an Exercise
Grab your journal—or, if you're a fellow office-supply addict, crack open one of those five pristine notebooks you keep saving for “something special.”
Reflect on these questions:
What did you really want to accomplish this year?
What was the why behind it?
Is that goal or vision still relevant today? Still meaningful?
Was it actually achievable? (Be honest: “Go viral,” “make six figures in Year 1,” or “learn 52 new skills” might’ve been... a bit ambitious.)
Where did you think you’d be by now? What did you imagine you’d have completed, created, or conquered?
How did you hope you'd feel at this point in the year?
And if you're a New Year’s Resolution Rebel and didn’t set anything in January—congrats! You get to set your goals in July, with way more clarity.
Just answer those same questions in the present tense:
What do you want to accomplish now—and why?
What’s the vision or result you’re working toward?
How do you want to feel when you get there?
And what’s one tiny step to take this week?
🔍 Check-In Step 2: Assess Where You Are Now
You’ve reflected on what you thought this year would look like—now let’s get real about what’s actually happening. This next step is all about checking in with your present-day reality: your work, your energy, and whether you’re low-key crushing it or low-key unraveling.
Grab your journal—or a post-it note, napkin, or whatever’s closest—and start reflecting with these prompts:
💼 Career Satisfaction
Are you happy in your current job?
What do you genuinely love about it?
What skills or talents do you wish you could use more often? (What’s collecting dust on your metaphorical shelf?)
How’s your relationship with your boss? If you’re the boss, how’s your relationship with your team?
Do you feel valued for what you actually bring to the table—or just tolerated?
⚡️ Feeling Fried? Let’s Talk Burnout
Here’s where we get honest about your energy, emotional capacity, and if you're low-key dreaming of ghosting your inbox forever.
How are those Sunday Scaries treating you lately?
What’s your honest first thought when your alarm goes off?
How do you describe your job to other people? Is it joyful? Meh? Or more like “I’m silently screaming while typing ‘per my last email’”?
What’s the state of your inbox? Organized queen? Digital dumpster fire? Somewhere in between?
How’s your energy at the end of the day? Are you totally drained, rage-Googling dinner delivery options, or still feeling like a semi-functional human?
How often do you say, “I just need to get through this week”?
Do you feel like you’re doing everything and nothing all at once?
🧠 Skills + Growth
Are you learning or gaining new skills in your role?
Does your workplace support or encourage professional growth?
Have your job duties shifted away from the parts you actually enjoy?
Are there things you’re great at but never get to do anymore?
⚠️ Now What?
If most of your answers leaned toward frustration, exhaustion, or “please send help,” there’s a good chance burnout is creeping in—or already setting up camp. That might be because:
You’re overloaded and overwhelmed
Your strengths aren’t being used
Your boss is a micromanager with trust issues
Or maybe... you’ve just outgrown the role
No matter the why, this is your chance to pause and reflect: What’s working, what’s not, and what needs to change? (Record your answer in the journal!)
If burnout is the red flag waving in your face, setting a better goal might be your first act of resistance—and recovery. That’s where Step 3 comes in.
🎯 Check-In Step 3: Refocus
Now that you've looked back and taken stock of where you are, this is the perfect time to figure out what you actually want moving forward.
Maybe you’re still aligned with those January goals and visions—or maybe you’ve got an entirely new direction that fits who you are now. Either way, let’s set goals that work for you, not against you.
You’ve probably heard of SMART goals before. I like them in theory, but I’ve added my own ADHD-friendly twist to make them actually usable in real life.
🧠 The Traditional SMART Framework:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Time-bound
Great in theory. But even with all five boxes checked, we sometimes still set vague goals with no real path forward.
✨ My Real-Life SMART(ish) Goal Method:
Instead of filling in boxes, I ask myself a series of guiding questions to give the goal structure, clarity, and an actual plan. Let me walk you through an example using one of my real 2025 goals:
💬 My Goal Example:
Get my initial counseling license this year. After years in mental health-adjacent roles, I want to get my LPCA license and start earning hours toward full licensure.
Notice: My goal isn’t “get licensed someday.” It’s:
“Complete application and receive approval for my LPCA license by the end of the year.”
🔍 Goal Breakdown:
🔹 What is the goal—specifically? Details matter. This isn’t just “get licensed.” It's: Take the certification exam, secure a supervisor, and submit a complete LPCA application to the board.
🔹 Is it actionable and achievable? Yes. I have the degree, the skills, and I understand the process.
🔹 How will I know it’s complete? I’ll have:
A license number in my state
A signed supervision contract
My first therapy clients through a part-time contract role (while building my coaching biz!)
🔹 What are the phases of this goal? Break it into steps:
Study for exam
Register for exam
Take and pass exam
Find a supervisor
Complete and submit application
🔹 What do I need to complete the goal?
Study materials
Exam + application fees
Time to study
A supervisor
Completed paperwork
🔹 What are the check-in points or milestones?
Study 3 hours a week until October
Register for the exam by end of August
Take the exam in October
Find a supervisor by end of October
Submit my full application by Halloween 🎃
Start seeing clients by December
🪄 The Point?
Don’t just set a goal. Break it down into phases, needs, and check-in points so it actually happens—not just sits in your brain gathering dust and stress.
Your turn: What’s one goal you want to refocus on for the rest of the year? Use this method and make it real.
Check out the link at the end of the blog to get your own SMART(ish) goal worksheet with these questions!
🚶♀️ Behind? Never. You’re Walking Your Own Path.
Let’s get one thing straight: You’re not behind. You’re on your own timeline, your own path—and that path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.
It’s totally normal to stumble, stall out, or switch directions. What matters is that you get back up, find a better process, and keep moving forward. And honestly? This mid-year reset might be exactly the momentum shift you need to turn that vision into reality before the year’s up.
Maybe through this check-in, you realized you’re totally burnt out in your current job. Now’s the time to set a new goal.
That could look like:
A new role at the same company
A similar role at a different company
Or a full-on career pivot into something that lights you up again
Whatever it is—use those SMART(ish) goal questions we covered and create your next step. Whether it’s a new skill, a new job, or a brand new career path, you’ve got this.
✨ Ready to Reset?
You’ve done the hard part—reflecting. Now it’s time to take one brave, messy, imperfect step toward the version of your career (and life) that actually fits you.
Download the [SMART(ish) Goal Planner], map your next move, and remember: you don’t need a full plan to move forward. Just a direction—and a little belief that it’s okay to begin again.
