Although January has long been regarded as the month to start afresh, it couldn’t come at a more difficult time. It’s dark and dreary, the Christmas lights have all been switched off and joy is hard to find. Everyone is suffering from a ‘too much fun’ hangover. 

To be advised that January is the month to make resolutions, try something new and rid yourself of the bad is ludicrous. It is a time to simply be, preferably wrapped up in a thick blanket with a cup of tea while watching Stepmom and crying. 

We have now reached month six of 12 and, for a lot of us, those goals we tried to set at the start of the year have gone awry. Many of us stopped saying “we’ll try again on Monday” by the first day of February. 

However, now may be just the time to try for a fresh start. You heard us, people, June is the new January, and it is better in so many ways. Firstly, it’s warm. Secondly, it doesn’t get dark at lunchtime. And thirdly, we have more energy and spark and vitamin D.

The life experts call it a ‘mid-year reset’. In other words, this month is an opportunity to take stock of where you are in the year, readjust, amend, remove and rectify. It’s a time to cull the things that aren’t working and strive for new goals. 

Simply, it’s a second chance at a fresh start.

And while this doesn’t mean that your life must begin and end based on the months and the seasons, it does mean that you have a start and a finish point. 

So, how does one go about resetting existence? To begin, you must re-examine your year thus far. 

“By the time we get to June, you very often have a feel for how the year is progressing,” says life coach Natalie Trice. “Therefore, this is a great time to sit down and evaluate your achievements and challenges. What has worked? What hasn’t worked? What are you enjoying and what isn’t giving you joy? Adjusting your goals from that point is easier than having a blank sheet. 

“I think we can have a tendency to focus on what we haven’t yet done, but I would urge people to go through each month of 2023 so far and pick out what’s been good, what you have done and where you have made strides. 

“This could be with your career, a relationship, maybe your feelings about your body – whatever it is, find the good in where you are. Now, I am not saying you need a SWOT analysis, but go back to your journal for January or look at the pledge you made on Facebook. Some reflection can really help show you what doesn’t fit anymore, what goals weren’t meant for you and where to go now.”

Next, it is time to look forward and start planning for the next six months. When you realise what goals set off a spark within you, and when you decide on the path you want to take, the groundwork must be laid. 

Noona Nafousi, founder of Neo Noor Coaching, says deadlines are a good motivation. “On one hand, you have six months ahead of you,” she explains. “On the other hand we are six months into the year, so that should spur you on to make the most of the time left in 2023. Deadlines are extremely motivational within reason – make sure you set realistic dates or check-in points for yourself and go make them happen. 

“Deadlines also make you think more specifically and strategically – this in itself wires your brain to laser focus on what’s possible, and again, what ‘June you’ truly wants versus the January version of yourself.”

Nafousi notes that there is power in habit. “Whatever your goals are, you will have to establish the habits that will make them happen,” she adds. “Whether fitness, financial, career or family, success comes from the formation of habitual action. It’s time to assess what ‘habits’ you need to make your specific goals happen and plan what you need to do to achieve them.

“Remember to break them down. Small steps are easier to digest, but add up to something bigger.”

While realising that your goals didn’t work out may be a discouraging thought, life isn’t all bad. To fully allow yourself to embrace the next step, psychotherapist Eloise Skinner says you must be grateful for what has transpired and what you currently have. 

“On a sheet of paper, write a list of all the things you’re most grateful for this year so far,” she advises. “You can make your list as inclusive and wide as you want. Take a moment to review your list and see if there are any consistent themes or ideas that come up, because this could be an indication of where to place your energy for the remainder of the year.”

Eloise also says we must hold ourselves accountable. “Schedule goal check-ins for the rest of the year,’ she adds. “Many of us might feel that summer can slip by incredibly quickly and before we know it, the year is coming towards an end. 

“To avoid this sense of time passing away, schedule a couple of check-ins for August, October and December. In these moments, you can revisit the goal realignment process and make sure you’re still on a journey that feels meaningful, significant and fulfilling for you.”

Finally, all three experts agree that we must not be too hard on ourselves. Life is funny and filled with wrong turns and surprises. Sometimes, you have to let it flow, but do keep those goals locked somewhere in your mind. 

“Remember to ‘own your awesomeness’,” Noona says. “Your very own combination of unique skills, experiences, and talents are golden and belong to you only. Every single day is progress. Let any setbacks fuel you; you can flip the script and turn failures into stepping stones to reflect, grow and level up.

“It’s also vital to seek the company of people who lift you higher and believe in you. Buddy up with friends, mentors and colleagues who really get you.

“And when thinking about the previous six months, turn the spotlight onto life’s positives. Shift to a thankful mode for the things that definitely went right for you, no matter how small they were.”

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