Realign, Refocus, and Reclaim Your Year with a Goal Refresh

By the time summer hits, most of us are in one of three places: 

1. Crushing our goals and wondering what’s next. 
2. Somewhere in the messy middle. 
3. Or staring at our January list like, “Who even wrote this?” 

Whether you’re ahead, behind, or recalibrating as you go, now is the perfect time for a midyear goal refresh and reset. The calendar may say July, but there’s still six months of runway left to realign your energy, resources, and efforts—without burning yourself out or abandoning the vision. Of course, if your vision no longer aligns, that’s another story. 

To be clear: this isn’t about throwing away your goals and starting over. It’s about being honest with yourself, recognizing what’s changed, and making intentional decisions about how you move forward. Life evolves, your goals should too. 

 

Midyear Goal Check-Ins Are Imperative. Here’s Why… 

Goals are like those temporary tattoos. They’re not meant to be permanent. They’re more like GPS directions—you set them based on what you know at the time, but you better reroute if there’s construction, traffic, or your destination changes. 

Here’s why a midyear check-in and goal refresh is essential: 

1. Priorities Shift 

What was urgent in January may not be relevant in July. Maybe a new opportunity came up, or maybe reality hit and you realized that “deploy a new client portal” was cute but not aligned with your actual mission. 

2. Resources Evolve 

Maybe you’ve gained a team member, lost a budget line, or picked up a new project. Your time, energy, and capacity aren’t fixed—and your goals need to reflect that. 

3. You’ve Grown (or Hit a Wall) 

Sometimes you knock out a goal in Q1 and forget to replace it. Other times, you’ve been stuck on something that no longer fits where you’re headed. Both deserve a reset.  

4. Alignment = Efficiency 

When your goals stay aligned with your current reality, you make better decisions, delegate more effectively, and spend less time spinning your wheels.  

 

How to Activate Your Goal Refresh + Reset: Step-by-Step 

Think of this as a strategic planning session but make it personal. Grab your current goals, a blank sheet of paper (or digital doc), and let’s walk through it. 

Step 1: Review What You Said You Wanted 

Go back to your original goals—personal, professional, financial, health, all of them. Read them out loud and ask yourself: 

• What’s complete? 
• What’s in progress? 
• What’s stalled or forgotten? 
• Which ones no longer make sense? 
• What the hell was I thinking? (just making sure you’re really reading this) 

Pro tip: If a goal makes you cringe or roll your eyes, that’s your body telling you it’s time to let it go. But not that stretch goal! Love, I’m not talking about the stretch goal! 

Step 2: Ask What You Actually Want Now 

Now that you’ve lived a bit of the year, what matters most? What would make the rest of this year feel meaningful or successful? 

Ask yourself: 

• What’s important to me in this season? 
• Where do I want to be by year-end? 
• What’s no longer serving me? 

This is where you get real. You know I’m big on self-awareness and self-discovery. If the goal to “get promoted” was really about recognition, maybe it’s time to focus on building your brand or influence instead. Get beneath the surface. 

Step 3: Recommit, Rewrite, or Release 

Categorize each existing goal into one of three buckets: 

• Recommit: “Yes, this still matters, and I’m going for it.” 

• Rewrite: “The essence still matters, but the form or timeline needs to change.” 

• Release: “This no longer aligns. I’m letting it go, guilt-free.” 

This practice alone can mentally free you from so many things and give you permission to focus on what actually matters now. 

Step 4: Set New or Revised Milestones 

Once you’ve refined your goals, break them into bite-sized milestones for Q3 and Q4. 

For each goal, ask: 

• What’s the desired outcome? 
• What are the key actions needed? 
• What does success look like by Sept 30 and Dec 31? 

You don’t need 20 goals. In fact, I highly encourage you to keep it under 5. Three would be even better. You want a tight, realistic list of priorities that move the needle. 

Step 5: Build in Accountability 

Don’t stop with just rewriting your goals—decide how you’ll stay on track. Will you: 

• Add monthly check-ins to your calendar? 
• Share updates with a peer or coach? 
• Create visual reminders in your workspace? 

Whatever it is, consistency beats intensity. A weekly 15-minute check-in can keep your goals alive without adding pressure. 

 

Don’t Forget Your Personal Goals—They Matter Too 

More real talk for you. I see too many high-performing professionals treat personal goals like side quests, when in reality, they fuel your leadership. You are multi-dimensional, with many layers. Your well-being, relationships, and life satisfaction are not separate from your professional success—they’re foundational to it. 

So, if you’re doing a midyear goal refresh and reset, don’t just focus on the KPIs and deliverables. Ask yourself: 

• What kind of rest do I need this year? 
• What relationships deserve more of my time? 
• What would bring me joy, energy, or clarity outside of work? 

Maybe it’s recommitting to your fitness, carving out solo time weekly, or finally booking that retreat. Whatever it is, give it the same weight as your business goals. 

Because burnout doesn’t just come from doing too much—it comes from neglecting what fills you up. 

 

Communicating Your Refresh with Your Boss, Team, and Stakeholders 

You may be saying “All this is great, but how do I tell my boss that I’m changing my goals”? I get it. Many goals are a direct flow down from the organization or have been entered into some HR system that we feel like we can’t change.  

Once you’ve refreshed your goals, the next step is getting everyone aligned especially if you’re in a leadership or team-based role.  

Here’s how to do it with intention, influence—and confidence. 

1. With Your Boss: Keep It Strategic 

Frame the conversation around impact, clarity, and alignment. You might say: 

“As we hit midyear, I’ve reviewed my goals and made some strategic adjustments to ensure I’m focused on what drives the most value. I’d love to walk you through what I’m prioritizing and get your thoughts.” 

Focus on how your revised goals support broader team or org objectives. Show initiative. Be open to feedback. But most of all, be confident in your revisions and how they are a win for all. 

2. With Your Team: Be Transparent and Empowering 

Use your refresh as a leadership moment. You could say: 

“Half the year is behind us, and I’ve done some reflection on where we’re headed. I’ve updated some of my goals to better support our work and where we need to go. I encourage each of you to do the same—let’s talk through how we can reset together.” 

Model the behavior you want to see. Invite them to take ownership of their goals and priorities, too. 

3. With Stakeholders: Focus on Progress and Partnership 

This is especially key if you’re client-facing, project-based, or cross-functional. Share your refresh through a progress lens: 

“As part of our midyear planning, we’ve refined our goals to sharpen focus on delivery and outcomes. Here’s what that means for our partnership moving forward…” 

Keep the emphasis on shared wins and outcomes. If anything has changed significantly, explain the “why” and reinforce your commitment. 

 

What to Avoid in Your Midyear Reset 

Let’s quickly cover some traps to avoid, because the goal (pun intended) is achievement not being stuck: 

🚫 Making it a massive overhaul 

This isn’t about changing the whole recipe unless the recipe is completely disgusting. Small tweaks can create major momentum. 

🚫 Treating it as a solo project 

Especially if you lead others—your clarity (or lack of it) affects your team. Invite them into the process. 

🚫 Ignoring your energy 

A goal that drains you every time you look at it is uninspiring and unsustainable. Choose goals that energize and challenge you, not deplete you. 

 

Your Midyear Goal Refresh Checklist 

Here’s a quick-hit checklist to run your own refresh: 

✔ Review current goals 
✔ Identify what’s complete, in progress, or off-track 
✔ Ask: What do I want now? 
✔ Recommit, rewrite, or release each goal 
✔ Create milestones for Q3 and Q4 
✔ Add accountability systems 
✔ Communicate your changes with key players 
✔ Revisit your personal goals 
✔ Take action—imperfect progress > perfect planning 

 

Guess What? You’re Allowed to Pivot 

Here’s your permission slip: You’re approved to change your mind. You can shift gears. You can rewrite goals that no longer align with where you are and who you’re becoming.  

A midyear goal refresh isn’t a sign you messed up. It’s a sign you’re evolving. 

So feel free to pause. Reflect. Refocus. And then move forward with intention. 

 

Ready for Your Reset? 

Need help clarifying your goals or deciding what to keep and what to let go? I can help. 👉🏽 Book your Leadership Clarity Session and walk away with a customized roadmap for the rest of the year.  

The year’s not over. Your goals aren’t dead. And you’re not behind. Let’s get back in alignment and finish strong.