Halfway There: How to Conduct a Mid-Year Review That Sparks Joy

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It’s hard to believe that we’re already halfway through the year. Time seems to be flying by so quickly. However, this is the perfect time to reflect on the progress we’ve made so far this year.

In this blog post, I’ll be sharing my personal experience with doing a mid-year review and how it helped me gain clarity and focus for the rest of the year. I’ve also created a free template to help you structure and think through your own mid-year review.

Why do this?

Taking the time to do this process will help to make the most out of the remaining year.

The Importance of Reflection

Reflection is a vital part of life. It helps us take a step back and evaluate our progress, achievements, and challenges. At the beginning of the year, I set some goals and intentions for myself (you can get the specifics in the podcast version of this post).

Now, at the mid-year point, it’s a good time to check in and see where I’m at. Am I on track? Am I ahead of schedule, or behind? Taking the time to reflect on my progress helps me stay focused and motivated towards achieving those goals.

My Mid-Year Review Process

My review process is always something I look forward to because I make it a fun experience. I light a candle, put on some fun music and grab a glass of wine. I never see this as a shame-review, no matter how off I am on my goals. Take a positive, compassionate view of what’s happened so far, and focus more on what went right (rather than what didn’t go right).

You can access my mid-year review template here, but generally I ask myself questions such as….

• What has gone well in the first half of the year?
• What were the challenges I faced?
• What did I learn and what can I do better in the next six months?

I also rate each area of my life on a scale of 1 to 10, to help me see where I am doing well, and where I needed to focus more attention.

Celebrating Mid-Year Wins and Learning from Challenges

One of the things I enjoyed most about this review process was celebrating my wins. It’s easy to get caught up in what we haven’t done, but taking the time to acknowledge what we have achieved can be really motivating. I was proud of myself for making progress in my personal growth journey, even if it was just small steps.

I also learned a lot from the challenges I faced. For example, I realized that I needed to be more intentional about my work schedule, especially when it came to travel. I had to adjust my expectations and routines to fit my new lifestyle, and that was a valuable lesson for me.

Planning for the Next Six Months

After reflecting on my progress so far this year, I was able to identify the projects and action steps I needed to take in the next six months. I found that focusing on projects, rather than just goals, helped me break down bigger aspirations into manageable tasks. It felt more achievable and less overwhelming.

Final Thoughts

Doing a mid-year review is a great way to check in and feel more focused and motivated for the rest of the year. It’s easy to get lost in the day-to-day and forget the bigger picture. I encourage you to take some time to reflect on your own progress and celebrate your wins, no matter how small they may seem. Trust me, it’s worth it.

If you’re interested in doing a mid-year review for yourself, here are some tips to get started:

1. Set aside some uninterrupted time for reflection.
2. Identify the different areas of your life that are important to you.
3. Ask yourself questions about what’s gone well and what challenges you’ve faced.
4. Rate each area of your life on a scale of 1 to 10 to see where you need to focus your attention.
5. Celebrate your wins and learn from your challenges.
6. Plan for the next six months by identifying projects and action steps.

Thanks for reading! I hope this blog post has inspired you to take some time to reflect on your progress this year and set yourself up for success in the next six months.