Halfway through the year: time for a review?
The year's midway point is a great time to reflect and plan for the second half
It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through the year.
This is a good time to pause and take stock, whether you are reflecting on progress against the goals you set in January or simply thinking about how things are going.
Why reflect?
When life gets busy, it’s easy to move from one week to the next without much thought.
A mid-year review gives you the chance to recognise progress, identify what’s working, and spot areas where you might want to make a change.
Looking back
Start by thinking about the first half of the year as a whole.
Take a few minutes to reflect on questions such as:
What are you most proud of so far this year?
What has gone better than expected?
What has been more challenging than expected?
What have you learned about yourself?
What moments or experiences stand out most when you think about the last six months?
Then think about some specific areas.
Your work and career
Work takes up a large part of our lives, yet many of us spend more time thinking about what we want next than reflecting on what we’re learning right now.
Has your work been giving you energy, or draining it? Are you developing skills that move you towards where you want to be? Have your priorities changed since the beginning of the year?
Consider:
What have you enjoyed most about your work this year?
What tasks, projects or responsibilities have given you the most energy?
What have you enjoyed the least?
Have your career goals or priorities changed?
What skills, knowledge or experiences have you gained that you didn’t have six months ago?
Purpose and contribution
Many people measure their year by what they’ve achieved personally. Promotions, qualifications, financial goals and fitness milestones all have their place, but they aren’t the whole picture.
It’s also worth thinking about the impact you’ve had on others.
This might be through volunteering, supporting a colleague, mentoring someone, helping a friend, contributing to your community, or simply showing up for people when they needed you.
Reflect on questions such as:
How have you helped someone else this year?
What activities have given you the greatest sense of purpose?
Have you contributed to a cause, community, team or organisation that matters to you?
Are there ways you’d like to contribute more during the second half of the year?
What needs to change?
As you think about the next six months, look for patterns in your answers.
Is there something that’s taking up a lot of time and energy without giving much back? Is there a goal that no longer feels relevant? Is there something you’ve been meaning to start but keep putting off?
Rather than creating a long list of new goals, focus on a small number of changes.
A simple exercise is to write down:
One thing you’ll continue doing.
One thing you’ll start doing.
One thing you’ll stop doing.
Keep your answers somewhere visible and revisit them in a month.
The year isn’t over, and it’s not too late to make changes. Even simple things can make a difference.