The Mid-Year Reset: How are You Really Doing?

Angel Windows, Red River Gorge, Kentucky. Photo courtesy of Sylvia McCormack

Can you believe 2026 is halfway over? Before we tumble into the second half, I want to ask you something most people won't:

How are you really doing?

Recently, I conducted a two-hour workshop on chronic stress and burnout for a local college's academic leaders. They had just wrapped up the semester and needed a reprieve from the weight of balancing high workloads with their personal lives.

When I asked them to rate their typical weekly stress levels on a scale of 1–10, most responded with an 8 to 10. When I asked how long it took to recover from the semester, the answers ranged from two to four weeks. And when I asked what helped them break the stress cycle, some laughed and said: candy and a good glass of wine.

I've heard versions of that answer more times than I can count — because when we're running on empty, we reach for whatever is quick and easy. It reminded me of my own story.

For years, my motto was to work hard and more. Highly perfectionistic, I’d work late into the night (even while volunteering), relying on that “more is best” philosophy. But my body had been telling me something was wrong long before I was ready to listen. Chronic exercise injuries, unrelenting colds and chest infections, a stressed-out mindset, unrelenting exhaustion, and high cholesterol were all screaming loudly. What I thought was control was actually my body responding to chaos.

It took persistence, a willingness to work with several healthcare providers (and a great mindfulness teacher), and a few years — but I got there.

I share this because what I experienced is not unusual. In fact, it's becoming the norm.

The truth is, stress levels for the average American are rising. According to a recent Allianz Life Study, 48% of Americans say they are more stressed heading into 2026 — up from 43% at the end of 2025. Financial pressure is the biggest driver, affecting 8 in 10 Americans this year. And the United States consistently ranks among the most stressed nations in the world — a number that has been steadily climbing.

Some stress is healthy — it sharpens focus and drives us forward. But when stress becomes chronic and unmanaged, it quietly reshapes our habits and our health:

•        Increased reliance on sugar and caffeine that amplifies anxiety rather than relieving it

•        Disrupted sleep and persistent fatigue

•        Food choices that affect blood pressure, weight, cholesterol, and heart health over time

•        Mood swings that follow from exhaustion and poor nourishment

•        Strain on the relationships that matter most to you

Add to that the constant effort of balancing professional and personal demands, and it's no wonder so many of us end up feeling overwhelmed, sluggish, irritable — and stuck.

Here's what I want you to hear: that is not a personal failing. It's a signal.

Success looks different from the inside than it does on paper. It's not just quarterly goals or a clean inbox. It's waking up with energy. Feeling balanced, like yourself. Knowing that your life — not just your schedule — is moving in a direction that matters to you.

So what would it take to get there?

That's exactly where health and well-being coaching begins. You lead the process — and I'll be your accountability partner, helping you identify what matters most, untangle what's getting in the way, and find the path back to your own well-being.

Unlike me, you don't have to try to figure it out on your own. As your health and well-being coach and accountability partner, it won't take years to get there — you can get back on track in a matter of weeks.

The second half of 2026 is still yours to shape.

If any of this resonates, I'd love to talk. A free 20-minute discovery call is a good place to start — no commitment, just an honest conversation about where you are and where you want to be.