Refocus, Recommit, Release: Mid-Year Reflections

Let's Do A Halfway Point Goals Check-In

Remember those things we set out to do at the start of the year? Some call them New Year's Resolutions, others Goals, Intentions, or just hopes scribbled onto a fresh calendar page. Whatever you called yours, I hope you chose something worth reaching for.

I like to think of mine as Goals. Not because I expect perfection, but because I want them to feel real and doable.

But goal-setting isn’t just for January. It’s something we can revisit and reshape as life changes. That’s why I’m doing this mid-year check-in — not just for myself, but as an invitation for you to join in too.

This isn’t about giving ourselves a harsh review. It’s like opening our journals to see what’s filled the pages so far, asking gently: How’s it going? What’s changed? What still matters?

It’s a small, deliberate act of paying attention. A chance to remember our hopes, see what’s working, what needs adjusting, and what we might be ready to let go of. So we can refocus, recommit, and release — our theme this month on The Possible Journal.

I’ll share my own mid-year review here, and I invite you to do the same in whatever way feels right. Grab a notebook, open a notes app, or simply take a quiet moment to reflect. Let’s see where we are and where we might want to go next.

My 2025 Goals: The List

At the start of the year, I wrote 12 goals in my journal. Some were big and bold; others were quieter, personal, even mundane (but important). Here they are:

1. Plan & enjoy our Japan family trip

2. Complete & submit my PhD research proposal

3. Get back to dance more consistently (20 in-person classes, record at least 5 videos)

4. Read 10 books

5. Learn 1 new thing

6. Journal daily (complete this journal and my Hobonichi)

7. Add more exercise to my routine (record number of times)

8. Complete another photography project

9. Add more products to my TpT store (or other sources of income)

10. Publish at least 1 post a month on Substack

11. Sort out phone storage space

12. Check on medical matters (GP, eyes, dental, skin, specialist)

Where Things Stand Now

As you can see from my journal, this is where things generally stand* six months in:

✅ 1. Japan Trip

This has been a definite highlight of the year so far. It was our first overseas family trip in almost nine years, and the first one I took the lead on planning myself (my husband usually organised our previous adventures as I didn’t have the confidence to do it). I’ve shared a few glimpses here on Substack Notes, as well as on Instagram Threads, and in a few shorts on my YouTube channel. It was truly a memorable trip — one I know we'll be talking about for years to come. I’m especially happy that this first goal is one I can confidently check off.

🟪 2. PhD Proposal

The good news is that progress is happening, even if it’s slower than I hoped. Research is a long game, and solid work takes time. The best part? My proposal is now with reviewers, and I’ll be presenting it by the end of July. If all goes well, I’ll confirm my candidature this half of the year and move on to ethics approval, participant recruitment, and planning my first experiments. It feels both daunting and energising — and I’m looking forward to seeing it all take shape.

🟨 3. Dance Consistency

This one’s been a bit of a mixed bag. I’ve managed to get to some classes, but I’m still well short of my 20-class goal and haven’t recorded as often as I planned (unless I also count the in-class video recordings). That said, I’ve genuinely loved every session, and I can see real progress in picking up choreography and refining my movement. For me, that’s more than enough reason to keep going and enjoying the process. I’m hoping to really up my dance game in the second half of the year, but I need to figure out if the in-person dance class goals and video recording are essential or should be re-adjusted.

🟪 4. Read 10 Books

I’m slightly behind the pace I was aiming for, but given how much my reading habit slowed down in the years after the pandemic, I’m just glad to be carving out time for it again. I used to be able to read 50+ books a year pre-pandemic, so 10 feels modest — but realistic. So far, I’ve finished four books this year (not counting the ten or so children’s books I’ve read for my uni teaching). I still think this goal is well within reach.

✅🟨 5. Learn 1 New Thing

This is a goal I set every year, and as a multi-passionate creative, it’s usually something I manage almost effortlessly. But this year, I’ve intentionally slowed down on taking on more, choosing instead to focus on getting better at what I’m already doing. There’s been plenty of informal learning along the way, but nothing I’d clearly count as “the one new thing.” Well, unless I count the fact that I’ve just started teaching at university level this year. That definitely wasn’t on my 2025 BINGO card, and it’s been its own learning curve.

✅🟪 6. Journal Daily

Confession: I’ve been journalling for decades, trying all kinds of daily practices along the way (daily sketching, daily dance, etc), but I’ve never truly managed to keep a daily journal going. I always tried — and somehow, it never stuck. This year, I really wanted to change that.

And six months in? I’m genuinely thrilled to say I’m finally making it work. Not just in one, but two journals: my daily Hobonichi (my first ever!) and my long-form journal. It hasn’t been perfect — I’ve definitely done my share of ‘back journalling’ and creative catch-ups — but I’m actually showing up for it, most days.

It feels good to be able to say: I have a daily journalling practice now. Here’s hoping I can keep the streak alive for the rest of the year.

🟨 7. Exercise Routine

This is one of those goals that’s been tricky to quantify. I kept it vague on purpose, knowing I might struggle with something specific like “Go to the gym 20 times.” In hindsight, I know it would help to make it more measurable.

I did start recording my exercise, but it got harder to track once I began weaving more movement into my days, like stretching sessions and lifting weights at home whenever I could. Nothing too formal, but definitely more active overall. So in a way, I have met this goal, but I know I need to get clearer about what I want it to look like for the rest of the year.

🟥 8. Photography Project

When I set this goal at the start of the year, I was still riding the excitement of joining my first Street Photography Group Exhibition, planned late last year and officially launched early this year. I wanted to replicate that experience with another similar project.

But I’ve been thinking a lot about focus lately, and I’m considering letting this goal go. I’ll keep it on the list for now, but I’m also prepared to release it if it doesn’t fit with where my energy needs to be this year.

✅🟨 9. Online Store / Income Streams

For years, I more or less ignored my online store, even though it continued to bring in regular passive income. I kept telling myself I’d add more products, but just never got around to it. This year, I managed to launch around three new products. It’s not a huge number, but it’s more than I’ve done in a long time, and I consider that a win.

One thing that definitely wasn’t in the plan for 2025 was leaving a job I loved and had held for almost four years, and then finding a new one. Thankfully, the transition from my old role into casual academic teaching wasn’t too big a leap. It was one I needed at the time. More recently, I also started a new part-time job and I’m still able to continue teaching.

I’ve been wanting to return to a portfolio career for a while, and this year I’ve finally managed to make that shift. Even though it wasn’t what I originally planned, I’m genuinely pleased with how it’s all turned out.

🟨 10. Substack Publishing

If you’ve been following along here, you’ll know this goal has been hit-and-miss. I love writing on Substack and really want to build a more steady rhythm. Weekly proved too ambitious, and even every two weeks was tough.

So I set a once-a-month target for this year. I’ve missed a few months (March, April, May), but I did manage two posts in June, which felt like a win. I’m hopeful I can keep up the “at least once a month” pace for the rest of 2025. It’s all about finding a rhythm that works, and I’m giving myself permission to keep trying.

✅🟪 11. Phone Storage

There’s been some progress here — I did quite a bit of clearing and organising, especially motivated by our Japan trip. I managed to get it down to around 60% storage in April, but it’s crept back up to over 85% post-trip. So it’s definitely still unfinished business.

The good news is I’ve developed a better system for storing and organising files through this process. I also decided to invest in a new camera to serve as my main video camera, since large video files have been the biggest culprit in filling up my phone.

If anyone has any great tips or advice for managing phone storage, I’d love to hear them!

🟨 12. Medical Check-Ups

I’ve managed to make and keep a few appointments so far this year, and I’m doing my best to stay on top of health matters. I’ve seen some improvements in certain areas, but there’s definitely more work to do in others. It’s an ongoing priority I want to keep in focus for the rest of the year.

*Notes

✅- Completed/Happy with progress.

🟪- Recommit - To renew dedication or resolve to a goal or practice.

🟨- Refocus - Need to clarify or adjust where and how to achieve this goal; a gentle re-alignment.

🟥 - Release - To let go or change this goal.

Reflections at the Halfway Point

Looking at this list, I’m reminded that “done” is not the only measure of success. Progress counts. So does reflection.

Some goals have felt easier or more natural. Others have fallen away in the daily busyness, or proved more complicated than I expected.

Mostly, I’m grateful for the chance to see this clearly — to notice where I want to lean in, and where I might want to release expectations or redefine what success means.

“Reset. Readjust. Restart. Refocus. As many times as you need to. Just don’t quit.” - Unknown

Looking Ahead

For the rest of the year, my intention is to:

⭐ Finish what feels important

⭐ Let go of anything that no longer resonates

⭐ Approach all of it with more gentleness

I want to treat the second half of 2025 as both a continuation and a fresh start.

A Prompt for You

If you’re reading this, I’d love for you to join me in this mid-year pause. Take a moment to reflect:

• What goals or intentions did you set at the start of the year?

• Where are you now?

• What do you hope the next six months will hold?

I’d truly love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to share them in the comments, reply to this post, or even just let me know you’re taking time to reflect too.

Here’s to the second half of the year— may it be thoughtful, creative, and kind.