My Focus for The Second Half of 2025
My goals for the year do not hit me as the calendar flips. I often struggle to set goals in the first month of the year. Life is busy with work and the holidays, and I am burnt out. The best time for me to have a clear head and think is the summer. I wanted to share my focus and goals for the second half of 2025 with you. Perhaps you are starting to dream up your own goals and shift your focus as well.
In France, la rentrée marks the beginning of the school year and the return to work after summer vacation. It is a time to start fresh. Think of the next few months with a fresh set of eyes, what worked and didn’t work for you this year? Would you do more of something?
My Focus is on Three Words and A Fourth Bonus Word
Health is my overall focus for the next couple of months and going into the following year. I have broken it down into three words, and my trainer added in a fourth. The big goal is to have a healthy mind and body. I’m motivated to lose a few pounds, especially with the book launch on October 28th!
Sleep Goals
Sleep is when your body recovers the most, and it is essential for physical, mental, and emotional recovery. I have been wearing an Oura ring and tracking my sleep for over a year and a half. My husband just got on board and also purchased one recently. We can track our sleep and get back on track with a good routine. I love going to bed early and waking up early. Most of my day is spent before noon, dedicated to work and getting in a workout. As the day winds down, my motivation slows, and the shift focuses on prep for dinner and a bedtime routine. I would much rather have a morning workout or meeting vs the afternoon or evening.
My goal is to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night. One of my bad habits is reading on my phone before bed and when I wake up. The Oura ring tells me how much time I spend sleeping and how much time I spend in bed not sleeping. (This includes scrolling, watching TV, and reading something on my phone) I want to reduce this amount of time and work on reading with a cup of coffee or tea outside of bed. The Henri snuggles make this one difficult!
Before bed, I am enjoying a no social media rule (I set for myself) and falling asleep to a podcast or book.
Step Goals
My trainer gave me the big goal of 15,000 steps a day. This is a huge goal as the average number is usually around 10,000. We live in the city, and I am used to walking a lot, but 15,000 steps is still a challenge. For half of the steps (7500), I am wearing a weighted vest. For reference, I have the 8lbs vest. There have been a lot of questions about this via DMs on Instagram. I did my research and decided to go lighter and progressively work into a heavier vest when the time is right.
These are the sneakers I wear for our long walks. They are so comfortable and run true to size.
The walks typically happen early in the morning before the heat sets in. These will change come fall and winter when the weather shifts and it is still dark in the morning. I have enjoyed these walks with Henri, too, and he reminds me to stay off my phone. Walking with a friend or loved one is great motivation too. I have enjoyed switching up my routine and adding friends on my walking route. Getting the blood flowing and ideas bouncing is a great way to kick off the workday.
You may remember me mentioning a walking pad a few times. This is still on my list, but I was put off due to the spring/summer weather.
Stress Goals
While making some adjustments to my eating habits and adding in more protein, I have struggled to move the needle on the scale. It is harder in my 40s than in my 30s to shed weight. Stress is also a factor I needed to consider. Setting boundaries and saying no when I feel I’ve reached my limit is key. This is true in my personal life and at work. Social media has taken a toll on my mental health, and I have stepped back. I have enjoyed the extra walks and getting my body and blood flowing in the morning. Before bed, making a paper list of what is on my mind for the next day helps me be more productive the next morning.
Strength Goals
My trainer sent me a text a few weeks ago, and I told her I was working on my sleep, stress, and steps. She asked me what about my strength? This includes weight training; she has me on a program that I do on my own at the gym. Truth is, I don’t love going to the gym and enjoy Pilates so much more. I am working on a combination of both Pilates and weights a few times a week to increase my strength and help my body age well.
Home Gym Equipment
I have created a space at home with some of my favorite workout equipment, perfect for rainy days or when I’m short on time and want to squeeze in a workout. There is a yoga mat, ball, circle, and I have weights. These adjustable weights are great for when I am doing heavier lifting, and I have lighter handweights if I am doing a Melissa Wood Health strength class.
Workout Clothes I am Loving Right Now
Since I am wearing workout clothes daily for walks, I have added a few new pieces to my wardrobe. The Zella pants from Nordstrom are great and affordable. For Pilates, in the colder months, I wear a Varley zip-up and these socks from Bombas are a favorite.
*This post includes affiliate links. I make a small commission from items purchased from my links. Merci!
Bonjour, I’m Rebecca!
I’m a photographer, blogger, croissant-lover, and world traveler. I hope that Everyday Parisian inspires you by bringing a bit of France into your daily life and helps you plan the best trip to Paris with personalized recommendations for places to stay, explore, and eat.
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I struggled with weight as well…no matter what I did or how healthy I would eat, the scale would just not change. Three years ago I started weight training and it competely changed my body. I lost 50lbs just walking and eating heathy and lifting weights with a trainer 3-4 times a week. I am in my early 50’s so it has been a game changer for me and my health.