We often start the year with a big vision, but it doesn't always work out the way you imagined. But it’s okay!
A mid-year reset could be just what you need to push you over the edge on many of your goals, even if it’s not what you thought it’d be like way back in January.
The benefit of reassessing your work, goals or priorities in the middle of the year is a good idea even if you think you’re on track.
Maybe what you thought you wanted wasn't what you expected at all or perhaps you’ve realized you can achieve even more than what you set out to do. A reset can give you a boost of energy or help you rediscover your motivation. The great thing about a mid-year reset is that anybody on any journey can benefit from it.
No two goals are the same and no two years are the same, so try to only base your progress on yourself and not others around you. Plus, there’s no amount of comparison that can make the external factors in your life or theirs any different. You just have to do what you can and measure success day over day. Just look at what you’ve done in six months!
So, what is a mid-year reset? Simply put, it’s a way to re-strategize, let go of what hasn’t been serving you, and pick up habits or plans that help you feel better about the second half of the year.
It’s easy for those start-of-the-year goals to fizzle by July. But it’s no reason to quit completely.
Start by identifying priorities
Even when making goals at the beginning of the year, we don’t often take into consideration what our priorities are. Sure, we may think about whether the goal is attainable, realistic or timely. But in the midst of everything we hope to achieve, other factors around us can easily become lost in the background.
Now is a good time to work with those priorities. You know how the rest of your life interacts with the goals you’ve already set. Or, perhaps you’ve had to take on new responsibilities elsewhere in your life that have impacted your trajectory. Instead of trying to tackle everything at the same time, make clear priorities. It isn’t always easy to step back in some areas of your life, but sometimes it’s necessary.
Examining priorities might look like writing down or re-visiting future deadlines, reviewing project outlines or descriptions or making a mindmap of everything you’re trying to juggle.
This can help you visualize where you’re putting your effort. Daily or weekly tasks have a way of weighing us down — and sometimes we don’t even realize it — so take a step back and figure out if the way you're spending your energy is working.
Revise your plan
After you’ve studied your priorities, it’s time to look at how to get to the finish line with the time you have left. In some cases a tighter deadline may be just the motivation you need to hustle. But in other cases you might have to be a bit more strategic.
A planner will become your best friend, and for an extra boost grab one that starts with August. That fresh-planner feeling is enough to kick anybody into high gear.
Start by breaking down your goal into more manageable pieces. Even if you already started the year with more manageable “mini” goals, take your reset as a time to see if they need any re-arranging.
Maybe go week-by-week to start, so you can more efficiently track your progress. If you’re attempting to finish a book or put more money in your savings, marking micro goals can help you visualize your goals each time you revisit your schedule, reminding you to stay on track.
Other goals might mean you set a 30-day challenge for yourself or reflect on your progress more often. Don’t be afraid to use your planner as a mini-journal! It’s a great place to jot down notes or feelings, especially when they are top of mind. This can help you better evolve your plan as the days and weeks roll by.
By mid-year, you probably have a good idea about what is and isn’t working well, so your planner can also become a good way to reflect on how to adjust moving forward. Study the deadlines you made in the first half of the year and learn from them.
Celebrate your wins
Hitting the middle of the year and realizing what work lies ahead can be daunting, but it’s just as important to give yourself some credit. You’ve made it this far! Don’t let what’s left to do blur what you’ve already accomplished.
A few ways to revisit your successes:
Write thank-you notes: This may be a letter to yourself, recounting all that you’ve done to get you to this point and it also might be to the people around you who are also pushing you ahead. Whether it’s your desk neighbor, your best friend or a mentor, pop in with a quick note to show your gratitude.
Journal: Six months can feel like a long time and a lot can happen. Take some time to write about what the first half of the year has been like, what you’ve overcome, and which milestones have meant the most. A simple list or a more in-depth passage are both good ways to revisit your work.
Study your original goal: You more than likely wrote out a plan when you set your goal, and it was probably detailed enough that you can know how far you’ve come. Sometimes it only takes a little bit to realize all the work you’ve already put in.
The middle of the year can be a difficult place to be. After all, “everything looks like failure in the middle.” This is when you start to find your way. The rest of the year can be even easier if you allow yourself to be flexible enough to keep gaining ground.
