Reset Yourself: New Year At The Mid-Year
I know at the beginning of each year there is a lot written about new year, new you. I have written about that very thing. But I’ll say it again here: it doesn’t have to happen at the start of a new year. Yes, many see that as a fresh start. It is such a natural breaking point, an end, and a beginning. The reality is, any day, any month, and time you want can be your starting point. However, if those natural points are important to you, July is another practical option to give yourself a fresh start for the second half of the year.
In a previous article, Take An Innovative Mindset Approach Assessing Your Goals Mid-Year, I spoke about the steps you can take to reframe your goals for the year. The next critical step is about the actions you must take to bring those to life.
What has worked well so far?
The best way to begin is to look at what is working well, and what can you continue doing. Maybe you have built good routines that are helping to start your day off right. How can you build on that, or other actions that are positively making a difference? I would recommend just capturing those ‘good’ things first, not ‘buts’ or other qualifications. Just list out everything that has gone well so far.
What would you change?
Same here, just start a list of things you would like to change. No qualification, no justifications. You do not owe yourself any justification at this point. Capturing the desired change elements allows you to acknowledge where you know things should be different, not why they aren’t. You can figure out the why and how later in your process.
What needs to be true to achieve the goals you’ve set for the rest of the year?
I have mentioned this thought process before, and I come back to it because I think it is a really great way to look at how to get to something better. What would need to be true to achieve the new outcome? As in the two steps above, leave the qualifications behind and just capture the notes on what would have to change or happen, even if they seem unrealistic right now to achieve the results you are hoping for. These may become the basis for a multi-year plan that will ultimately lead to the desired state.
Making connections to values and vision
It can be easy to capture ideas and plans on paper or in your app of choice, but you need to stay connected to what anchors you to what is most important. Getting things done at all costs is a recipe for disaster. It is not fair to you or those around you. Always check your plans and actions to your values (does this feel right), and your vision (does this fit in)? Those should be the most important questions you ask yourself as you are building your plan and evaluating the outcomes. You should not compromise in those areas. Keep searching for alternatives if you feel like you are making choices that do not align in those key areas.
Ultimately, at the end of the year (or whenever you decide) you will determine if you have accomplished what you wanted to. You’ll also know whether that was the best you could do, or if you left opportunity on the table. As always, be honest with yourself, and not too harsh. We all think we should be able to do more than we actually can. When we factor in the realities of life, the time we really do have to get things done, and the need to find balance in life, being realistic with our expectations and evaluation is paramount. You don’t want to give yourself a ‘pass’ when you need to push, and you cannot beat yourself up when you know you’re giving everything you have. Being honest is just that, take all the facts, then build the right plan to get where you can realistically.
What else will you look at to give yourself a fresh start for the second half of the year?
Quick Summary
Embrace Any Starting Point: Emphasize that any day, month, or time can serve as a fresh start, not just the beginning of the year, with July being a practical mid-year reset option.
Identify What Works Well: Start by listing out everything that has gone well so far without any qualifications or justifications, focusing on positive actions and routines.
Recognize Areas for Change: Create a list of elements you wish to change without justification, acknowledging areas where improvements are needed without delving into the reasons.
Define Necessary Conditions for Goals: Determine what needs to be true to achieve your set goals for the rest of the year, even if these conditions seem unrealistic initially, to create a path toward desired outcomes.
Align Actions with Values and Vision: Ensure that your plans and actions align with your core values and vision, avoiding compromises that don't feel right or fit in, to maintain a balanced and realistic approach to achieving your goals.
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