Mid-Year Reflection:
Let’s Check In on Your Goals

We are saying goodbye (for now) to Mental Health Awareness Month and transitioning into one of my absolute favorite months. June bridges us from the reawakening of spring to the vibrance of summer. 

I hope you’re taking time to enjoy the weather – with walks in the sunshine, swims at the beach, and outdoor dining with friends on a patio somewhere. But now that we’re about halfway through the year, it’s also a good time to check in on those goals we set for ourselves way back in January. 

It’s far too easy to get caught up in the day-to-day of our busy lives. Long-term vision gives way to immediate needs, and we spend more time on our ‘today’ to-do list than our ‘someday’ list, often out of sheer necessity. But it’s important to step back, check in, and devote some dedicated attention to the big G’s (GOALS)! 

Get Clarity 

By intentionally revisiting our objectives – even if it requires scheduling time on your Outlook calendar – we can refocus our energies and gain some momentum while ensuring our mental and emotional health remains a priority. 

However, you can’t know how far you’ve come unless you have established some mile markers. A well-thought-out plan has a clear objective and specific milestones that can be tracked and measured. Whatever you want to accomplish, first, you need to know exactly what success looks like and then chart a course to achieve it. 

If you went through this goal-setting exercise with me a few months ago, you should have a vision already established, a north star that gives direction and purpose to the other decisions you make. Are those goals and that vision still relevant? Have there been changes or evolutions? (Or have you already knocked them out of the park and set new ones?!?) 

An assessment of where you were then versus where you are today should provide some clarity. Are these goals still meaningful to you, or do you need to set new ones to better align with the June 2024 version of you?

Little Bites 

If you’re struggling with reaching those milestones, it might be a good idea to break each milestone into smaller, more easily achieved objectives. Grab a pen and paper and write down the big goal and the medium milestones. Then, under each one, outline 3-5 tactics or tasks needed to check them off.

Breaking your goals into smaller, more manageable items can be the difference between losing hope and feeling empowered. When our aspirations are at their peak, it can feel overwhelming to look at the top of the mountain – and we might start to think we’ll never make it. So why even try?

That’s when we look at the ground at our feet, the next ten steps, the next signpost. Bit by bit, we climb. Soon, there’s more behind us than there is before us! Celebrate every milestone along the way, no matter how small, because each one matters and energizes you to tackle the next one. 

Be Kind 

If you aren’t as far along as you’d hoped to be by this point in the year, please give yourself some grace. The road to success is rarely a straight line and obstacles are part of the process. Try shifting your mindset from disappointment to curiosity. Look for the growth opportunity in every setback and flex your situational adaptability muscles.

The way you talk to yourself also matters. By practicing self-compassion and embracing resilience, you’ll find it easier to move forward than if you dwell on the negatives. Progress, no matter how small, is still progress. 

Check Yourself 

If your sight is set on completing a goal this year, or if you want to accelerate your pace, schedule regular check-ins. That can be a game change. Put them on your calendar, find an accountability partner for monthly meetings, or call your friendly, neighborhood executive coach. 

During these monthly or quarterly reviews, evaluate how far you’ve come, what’s working well, and where you may need to pivot. These check-ins are an opportunity to reflect on your progress, refine your plan as needed, and realign your goals to your ever-evolving priorities. 

Never forget that the power to reshape your life is in your own hands. When you bring your passion, power, and commitment to a single purpose, you will soar.