Sundaze 277: The mid-year reset

Happy Sundaze, my loves!

Can you believe we’re pretty much six months into the year already? I can barely get my head around it and I hate always leaning into cliché writing about the passage of time, but here we are. I truly can’t believe it, and much of it is because I feel like the whole six months has felt stagnant and almost obsolete. Since I started the year on a high, in the exciting process of buying my first solo-owned apartment, and then it all came crumbling down only weeks later, I suppose it was only expected that I’d feel flat for a while.

Like I said only last week, it’s been a time of wobbles for me. A little optimism shines through now and then, and it’s catalysed a sort of reflective period in me. My world feels incredibly still, small and strange, and it’s the perfect ecosystem for growth and a mid-year reset. From reassessing my 2024 goals to checking in on how I’m feeling day-to-day, this mid-year reset is already proving invaluable.

The mid-year reset

A mid-year reset offers the perfect space to revisit lofty goals that we set in the depths of winter. The older I get, the more I realise that our personal years can start whenever they want. 1 January is really one of the least inspiring times of the year to be formulating any sort of plans or goals. Often I’m simply settling into a new rhythm after the euphoria of Christmas and before the pomp and circumstance of Lunar New Year. By the time my winter brain fog has cleared, I’ve already forgotten what I’d vaguely decided I wanted from the year, and I find myself sitting down in early spring rewriting my goals and ultimately feeling disappointed in myself for having ‘wasted’ a few months already.

This year, the winter wobbles extended for a whole six months. It’s been endlessly frustrating, as a naturally positive person, but I’m trying to be kind to myself. Slumps like these are just part of this weird ol’ experience we call life after all. Anyway, while spending my evenings holed up with a stack of books and my journal, I’ve come across a few frank realisations:

There’s no point in hyper-focusing on things beyond my control. Like I’ve mentioned a few times already, the biggest blocker for me at the moment is the fact that I still don’t have my own place after seven years of solidly saving for one. Without over-explaining myself (something I’m still unlearning), things like the infamous 2022 Mini Budget, a nationwide housing crisis and lack of homes, and the hurdles you have to jump when you’re a solo buyer have joined forces to halt my grand plans for Maison Mish. And that’s… fine. *repeats to self* There is simply no point in hyper-focusing on the things that are beyond my control – it’s just wasted energy.

I don’t need a permission slip for life. Because I’m an Eldest Daughter, I often live my life backing everything up with a reason. But we don’t need a reason – or, worse, an excuse – to do the things that are clearly already on our minds. Whether it’s sacking off a morning workout in favour of a sometimes-essential lie-in or spending an evening watching endless YouTube videos instead of cleaning the kitchen, it’s completely fine. I don’t need a reason. The reason can be ‘just because’.

The bigger things always end up falling into place. I’m queen of the small joys, but lately it’s felt harder to remember that the bigger things can and will fall into place in their own time. It’s funny because I am typically pretty good at threading the invisible string between the little joys and moments, and finding it does amount to something big, but while I’m waiting, it certainly feels hard. And, I’m noticing, slowly, that I don’t want a LOT in life – I crave a little life full of the simple things like romanticised at-home dinners, nature walks, being around my loved ones and days crammed with love, good conversation and laughter.

Take each moment for what it is, not what it could’ve been or was. I suppose this ties into the other thoughts I’ve shared thus far in that I need a focus shift towards what things are, and not what they could’ve or should’ve been. The right time is always now, and there’s no point in stressing about what I should’ve down when I was a different age or in a different circumstance. What does matter is how I handle things in the moment and learning to just start – now is better than never.

I think I’ll find it hard to keep a positive mindset, even given my newly formed thoughts, but here’s to a smoother time in my brain for the remainder of 2024.

Links I’ve Loved

There’s nothing better than good nature news and this story of wild horses returning to Kazakhstan made me so happy!
I’ve been subscribed to Stacey Halls’ Substack ever since her latest novel The Household was released. She’s one of my favourite authors and I’m really enjoying seeing behind-the-scenes glimpses into her writing process, and exclusive looks at the original chapters she wrote before she edited everything for publishing.
Recently I’ve been focusing on working towards my objectives at work, so I loved reading this post on The Everygirl about setting mid-year career goals.
Back in my vegan Caesar salad rolls era, and this post about Caesar salad recipes came at the perfect time.
I’ve added lots of titles from Michelle’s May reading wrap-up to my TBR.
My friends and I are trying to get more into the habit of talking about money, and I found this article about money dysphoria really fascinating.
Another Substack to add to your… stack – Jessie’s end matters has been a wonderful accompaniment to my evenings.