Start Over Mid-Year—Because You Can
P.S. If your current planner isn’t cutting it, join my CEO Planner Bootcamp. I’ll help you build one that actually fits your life.
There’s something about mid-year that whispers, "You should be further along by now."
Six months in, and maybe your planner pages look a little emptier than you’d hoped. Your routines slipped. Your goals got dusty. Life got busy (or weird, or loud). And now you’re sitting here wondering if it’s even worth trying to start over at this point.
Spoiler: It absolutely is.
Let’s Call It What It Is
You didn’t fall behind.
You lived.
You adjusted.
You did your best with the capacity you had, and that’s not failure. That’s adaptability.
The good news? You don’t need a new year, a new month, a perfect system, a fresh planner, or a blank slate to begin again. You just need now.
Why Mid-Year Is Actually the Best Time to Begin Again
Here's the thing about January... January is full of pressure, perfectionism, and usually some pretty unrealistic expectations. Your eyes end up bigger than your stomach, if you know what I mean.
But July?
July is wiser.
It's messier.
It has perspective— It's seen some things.
It’s not trying to impress anyone.
"July-you" knows what's worked and what hasn't, and she's just ready to make things work better.
Starting over mid-year means starting smarter.
It means choosing what matters based on what you know now, not what sounded good six months ago.
You're not giving up on your goals. You're refining them. And that's just good sense.
This is why we offer "July Start" calendars. Because you aren't the same person you were last January. Shop our planner inserts here and pick a layout that feels like the current you.
So, how do you start over without the drama?
Here’s a quick reset ritual that works:
1. Brain Dump (Without Judging Yourself)
Everything swirling in your head?
Get it out. Half-thoughts, unfinished projects, overdue stuff. All of it.
You’re not behind—you’re just overloaded.
Be messy if you need to, but be honest. Put it all down. Write down what's swirling around in your head, what you should be doing, and what's stressing you out.
Don't organize it yet—just empty that mental box.
Need a guide? Here's a helpful blog post that will walk you through it.
2. Pick 3 Priorities
That’s it. Three.
(Not ten. Not fifteen. I see you.)
- What would make the biggest difference in how I feel this month?
- What would I be proud to have checked off next month?
- What would move the needle in my life or work right now?
Then: Plan them out.
Project pages, task lists, focus notes. Whatever it takes.
And give them due dates. Please.
Don't toss your brain dump. When you finish those three, you can come back and pick a couple more.
3. Use a System That Fits Real Life
Your planner should not feel like a chore. Read that again.
Use tools that support the way you actually live, not a fantasy version of you with unlimited time and perfect mornings.
If your planner has more layouts and sections than you'll use, it might be causing analysis paralysis. Too many choices = no choices.
Keep it simple. Keep it effective.
Store the pages you're not using.
Use what works right now. You can always add the extras back later.
(Need help building that kind of system? Keep reading.)
4. Make Space for Joy
My mom loves to remind me: "All work and no play makes Jane a dull girl."
So, please— add something to your planner that makes you happy. I'm begging you.
A playlist. A walk. A trip to Target. A morning with no plans. Block out time to read or sit in silence.
Starting over doesn’t have to feel like punishment. It can feel like relief.
5. Write It Down and Move On
No overthinking. No perfection. Just presence.
Write it in your planner, plan it out. Then go live it.
Plans are only as good as the actions you take afterwards. It's summer.— go have fun.
You Don’t Need Permission—But Here It Is Anyway
You’re allowed to start over.
Mid-year. Mid-week. Mid-coffee. It doesn't matter.
You don’t need a full plan, a perfect mood, or a fresh notebook. You just need a small moment of clarity and the courage to take one next step.
Ready to really reset?
If your current planning system isn’t working, it’s not because you’re lazy.
It’s probably because it wasn’t built for you.
That’s exactly what we are doing inside The CEO Planner Bootcamp—we build your custom system from the ground up.
3 days. $47. A planner that works.
Join us. We start on July 9th.
You’re not behind.
You’re just starting again—with more wisdom, more clarity, and a whole lot more grit.