Reset & Reclaim: How I’m Finding Freedom This July
June came and went in the blink of an eye—and suddenly, July is here, shining hot and full of possibility. We’re deep into summer now, and if you haven’t yet hit pause to reflect on your goals, there’s still plenty of time to reset your intentions. This is your mid-summer check-in. What do you want July to feel like? What do you want to leave behind? What needs to change?
☀️ My July Bucket List
Here’s what I’m setting out to do this month—not just to make memories, but to create more meaning and ease in my summer days.
Swim in a natural body of water – lake, ocean, river, anything.
Take a tech-free (Apple Watch included!) weekend – or even just a full day.
Read one fiction book just for fun.
Enjoy a family evening outdoors with a picnic dinner, yard games, and a bonfire.
Try one new thing that feels out of routine – a new recipe, a local event, or even a spontaneous trip.
Build a summer morning routine that includes exercise, time outdoors, and a mindful activity.
🧹 What I Want to Do Less Of
It’s not just about adding goals; it’s also about subtracting the stuff that’s stealing our time and energy. July is a great moment to notice what isn’t serving us.
Here’s what I want less of:
Doom-scrolling and digital rabbit holes.
Over-scheduling myself into exhaustion.
Mindless multitasking.
Saying yes out of guilt.
Reacting instead of intentionally responding.
⏱️ Time Drains I’m Calling Out
We all have them—those sneaky little habits that eat away the minutes and leave us wondering where the day went.
My biggest time drains right now:
Checking my phone first thing in the morning.
Endless email checking without purpose.
Scrolling social media when I’m bored or tired.
So how do we actually stop engaging in those things?
🔁 The 5-Step Model to Ditch Time Drains
Here’s a simple framework I’m using to get my time and energy back:
1. Name It
Be brutally honest. What’s draining you? Don’t sugarcoat it. Is it the endless “just one more reel”? Is it the group chat that pings 24/7?
Example: “I spend over an hour a day on Instagram and I don’t even enjoy it anymore.”
2. Track It
Awareness is power. Spend 1–2 days tracking where your time actually goes. You can use an app, a timer, or even just a notebook.
You might be shocked at what adds up (30 minutes here, 15 there... gone).
3. Replace It
You can’t just delete a habit—you need to swap it with something better. Ask yourself: “What do I actually want to feel instead?”
If you scroll Instagram or TikTok to unwind, maybe replace that with a 10-minute walk or music break.
4. Set a Mini-Boundary
Start small. Set a rule you know you can keep. One no-phone hour in the evening. No checking email before 10am. Screen time limit on Instagram. Set your phone to Do Not Disturb.
The key is to make it doable, not dramatic. Tiny changes stick better.
5. Review Weekly
Every Sunday (or whenever works for you), take 5 minutes to ask:
What did I do less of?
What made me feel better?
Where did time slip away again?
This creates accountability—and keeps you from falling back into autopilot.
🌿 Final Thought
This summer doesn’t need to be "productive" to be meaningful. It doesn’t need to be packed to feel full. Let July be about clarity, connection, and conscious choices—starting with what you say yes (and no) to.
So what’s on your July bucket list?
And more importantly—what are you letting go of?
Let’s make the most of July and feel proud of how we spent our time.
And if you’re looking for executive function support for you or a loved one this summer or heading into the fall, I’d love to help.
📅 Schedule a free consultation here → https://jessica-hackmann.clientsecure.me