We’ve reached the half of the year, and with it, is the inevitable urge to audit our lives. But what if we resisted the pressure to turn the mid-year mark into a checklist of accomplishments?
Instead of asking, “What have I achieved so far?” try asking: “How am I feeling right now?”
One important thing to recognize is whether you’re feeling stressed or already experiencing burnout
Lanz Paolo Olegario, a registered psychologist and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-informed psychotherapist, said stress is often temporary, while burnout is more persistent and can leave people emotionally exhausted and detached
“Stress often feels like having too much to carry. Burnout can feel like having nothing left to give,” he said
Olegario, who tackled similar themes in his book, I Am Still Struggling But I Choose a Life of Purpose Anyway, also reminded people that recovery isn’t always as polished as social media makes it seem
He added that self-care goes beyond vacations or expensive experiences. For others, “it means having an honest conversation, allowing yourself to rest without earning it, or letting go of unrealistic expectations,” while recovery, he said, is about reconnecting with what matters most
Habits that slowly drain you
Just as self-care is found in the small moments, burnout often starts there, too. It’s the small, everyday habits we barely notice that drain our energy. Olegario noticed that routines we think as harmless—like overcommitting and losing sleep to constantly checking notifications and feeling pressured to say yes all the time—can gradually take a toll on mental and physical well-being
“During recovery, it can help to stop asking, ‘How can I do more?’ and begin asking, ‘What truly matters, and what is no longer sustainable?'” he said
Naya Punto, founder of professional organizer services Klozet Kemist, added that clutter in the home can also be mentally draining. “One of the biggest ones is making the same decisions over and over again. Looking for lost items, deciding what to wear, digging through cluttered drawers, moving piles from one place to another, or constantly putting off small tasks,” she told L!fe
“They don’t seem significant on their own, but they quietly consume a surprising amount of mental energy,” she added
If you’re thinking of doing a “reset” to make the most of the rest of the year, here are tips on how to “declutter” your daily routine
Make recovery part of your daily routine
Olegario recognizes that not everyone can afford to take long breaks, so recovery may need to come through small but consistent changes
He recommended creating brief moments of genuine rest, protecting sleep, reducing unnecessary responsibilities, and setting clearer work boundaries, which include prioritizing which tasks need your best effort and which can be done well enough. He added that making time for meaningful activities outside work, whether through movement, prayer, creativity, or quiet reflection, can contribute to recovery
“The goal is not to remove all stress—it is to build enough space to recover while continuing to live according to what matters,” he said
Punto echoed this, stressing the importance of making fewer decisions, even in household tasks
“Keep frequently used items in consistent homes. Lay out tomorrow’s clothes the night before. Meal plan a few days ahead. Keep one calendar instead of several. Batch similar errands together instead of making multiple trips,” she said. “Small systems save far more time than people realize,” she added
Build habits you can actually sustain
Healthy habits are also more likely to stick when they’re rooted in personal meaning rather than pressure, fear, or guilt.
“A person is more likely to continue exercising when it represents caring for their health rather than punishing their body. Rest becomes easier to protect when it is viewed as part of a meaningful life rather than a reward for exhaustion,” Olegario said
Both experts encouraged starting with realistic, manageable changes instead of dramatic overhauls
“Sustainable habits are simple enough to repeat, even on busy or stressful days. If your routine only works when life is perfect, it probably won’t last,” Punto said
“Focus on consistency over perfection. Small habits done repeatedly create bigger results than ambitious routines that only last a week,” she added
If you do not feel like doing anything one day, that’s okay! Olegario also reminds that setbacks, like skipping a day of exercise, are part of the process—not a reason to give up
Create a space that supports your routine
Household routines are just as much a part of daily life as work responsibilities. A tidy home won’t solve everything, but it can make daily life feel more manageable. Punto recommends these simple habits to help keep clutter from building up:
- Stop postponing decisions. Instead of saying, “I’ll deal with it later,” Punto recommends following the one-minute rule: do quick tasks immediately, and decide on the spot whether to keep, donate, recycle, or throw something away instead of letting items pile up.
- Let go of guilt-driven clutter. The professional organizer says people should stop keeping gifts, expensive purchases, or “maybe someday” items out of guilt, as they can weigh on your mind just as much as they take up physical space.
- Create habits that make tidying easier. Punto recommends giving everything a designated “home.” She added that you can start practicing spending five to ten minutes resetting your space before bed.
- Focus on owning less, not organizing more. Rather than setting aside an entire weekend to declutter, work on one small space each day. Owning less also makes it much easier to keep your home organized.
- Be intentional about what comes into your home. Don’t bring in new items unless you already know where they’ll live.
“A mid-year reset doesn’t have to mean changing your entire life. Often, it’s about removing enough friction from your day that life starts feeling lighter and more manageable,” Punto stressed
Meanwhile, Olegario said that you can also seek professional help if you have been struggling to keep up with daily tasks, experiencing changes in your sleep and appetite, or noticing effects on your relationships. He also advised watching out for signs of hopelessness, severe anxiety, or emotional numbness
“Seeking help is not a sign that someone has failed to cope. It can be an important step toward understanding what they are carrying and finding a healthier way forward,” he added
TAGS:Mental healthdeclutteringmid-year reset
About the author
Melanie Uson
Melanie Uson is a content producer and a fur mom. When she’s not drowning in deadlines, she is most likely watching sitcoms, crocheting, or thrift-flipping clothes
