Mid-Year Check-In
Can you believe it? We’ve reached the halfway point of the year. July is the perfect time to take a moment and reflect on the goals we set at the beginning of the year. Whether they are professional or personal, there’s still plenty of time to make meaningful progress. Today I want to talk about some strategies that can help you stay on track and keep your motivation high.
Reflect and Reassess
The first step in this mid-year check-in is to reflect on what you’ve accomplished so far. Take some time to look back at the goals you set in January:
What have you achieved?
What progress have you made?
What challenges have you faced?
Reflecting on these questions can provide insights into your journey and help you reassess your goals. Pivoting and changing your goals shouldn't be interpreted as something negative. Life is dynamic, and our goals need to reflect that flexibility. If you find that certain objectives no longer serve you or align with your current situation, it’s perfectly okay to shift your focus. This adaptability can often lead to even greater personal and professional growth.
Set Realistic Goals
Now that you’ve reflected on the past six months, it’s time to set realistic goals for the remainder of the year. Here’s how you can do it:
Prioritize: Identify the most important goals that you want to focus on. It’s better to concentrate on a few key objectives rather than spreading yourself too thin.
Break It Down: Break your goals into smaller, manageable tasks. This makes them less daunting and easier to achieve.
Set Deadlines: Assign deadlines to each task to keep yourself accountable and on track.
Create a Mid-Year Vision Board
One fun and creative way to stay motivated is to create a mid-year vision board. A vision board is a visual representation of your goals and aspirations. It’s a great exercise to remind yourself of what you want to achieve and can be incredibly inspiring.
How to Create a Vision Board:
Gather Supplies: You’ll need a board (a poster board works well), magazines, scissors, glue, and markers.
Find Your Focus: Think about your goals for the rest of the year. What do you want to achieve professionally and personally?
Collect Images and Words: Look through magazines and cut out images and words that resonate with your goals. These could be pictures of places you want to visit, quotes that inspire you, or visuals that represent your aspirations.
Assemble Your Board: Arrange your cutouts on the board in a way that feels right to you. There’s no wrong way to do it! Be creative and have fun.
Display It: Place your vision board somewhere you’ll see it every day. This will keep your goals front and center and remind you of what you’re working towards.
Whether you look at it from a spiritual or scientific aspect, this world is a huge vision board. Everything that’s here is because it started as an image someone had in their mind. You want to call it a blueprint or a business plan? Fine. But first, they had to think about it and draft it. So, a vision board? It’s like selling our own ideas to ourselves. - Lucinda Cross
Review and Adjust
Your mid-year check-in doesn’t end with setting goals and creating a vision board. Regularly reviewing and adjusting your plans is crucial. Set aside time each month to revisit your goals:
What progress have you made?
What obstacles are you encountering?
Do you need to adjust your approach?
By staying flexible and open to change, you can ensure that your goals remain achievable and relevant.
Celebrate Your Achievements!!
Finally, don’t forget to celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Recognizing your progress boosts your motivation and confidence. Take pride in how far you’ve come and use that positive energy to propel you forward.
A conclusion and tip I’ve learned: Always try to stay flexible and open to change.
If you would like to work with me, let’s talk!
Book a call here.
Please consider sharing with your network!
Diane Darling is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur. See Diane in action and learn more about her topics here. McGraw-Hill published her books, The Networking Survival Guide and Networking for Career Success, now in 9 languages. She published, "She Said It: A collection of quotes by remarkable women."
Fill out this form to receive Diane’s 'How To Work A Room' diagram, other resources, and learn exactly what to do at your next event! https://social.dianedarling.org/C4Lp