2024 Goal Setting: A Mid-Year Check-In

31 days from now, we’ll have officially lived 50% of the year 2024. This means we have a month to do a mid-year reset to get ready for the second half. I like to think of a year like a game of football (soccer if you’re American). You play the first half (January-June) then you take a break. During the half-time, the teams review their first half with the coach. They might get instructions on what to do better in order to maintain their score or improve it. Then they go out in that second half (July-December) and try their best until the end.

I find it helpful to approach my goal-setting in a systematic and analytical way. In this post, I’ll share with you my method for a mid-year check-in, to help you evaluate your progress, identify areas for improvement, and set new goals for the second half of the year.

Review your first-half goals

Take a look at the goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the year. How many have you achieved? Which ones are still in progress? Which ones have you abandoned or changed? Be honest with yourself and take note of what worked and what didn’t.

Just like a soccer team, you need to know where you stand in order to make informed decisions about what to do next. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you haven’t achieved all of your goals. Remember, the year is not over yet, and there’s still time to make progress.

Evaluate your performance

Now that you have a clear picture of your goal progress, it’s time to evaluate your performance. Ask yourself the following questions:

What have I done well?
What have I done poorly?
What have I learned?
What could I have done differently?

Be specific and use data to support your answers. One of my goals was to complete 10 comfort zone challenges. I have completed 6 so far and I am happy with my progress. I have found that scheduling at least one challenge a month helps me remember and stick to my plan.

Identify areas for improvement

Based on your evaluation, identify the areas where you need to improve. These could be specific skills, habits, or mindset shifts. For example, if you realize that you procrastinate too much, you might need to work on your time management skills. If you find that you lack motivation, you might need to find ways to increase your drive and determination.

Once you’ve identified your areas for improvement, make a plan to address them. This could include taking a course, hiring a coach, or setting new goals.

Set new goals for the second half

Now that you know what you need to work on, it’s time to set new goals for the second half of the year. Make sure your goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). This will help you stay focused and motivated.

For example, instead of setting a vague goal like “I want to be healthier,” set a SMART goal like “I want to lose 10 pounds by the end of the year by exercising for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, and following a healthy meal plan.”

Personally, I will not be setting new goals, but I will be modifying my goals and focusing on the few that are most important to me.

Create a plan of action

Once you’ve set your new goals, create a plan of action to achieve them. Break down your goals into smaller, manageable tasks and schedule them into your calendar. This will help you stay on track and make progress towards your goals.

For example, if your goal is to learn a new language, your plan of action might include taking a class, practicing for 30 minutes a day, and finding a language exchange partner.

Rest

The halftime is not just about review. It’s also about taking a break and resetting. If you’ve been working hard this first half of the year, you need to rest. Take a vacation or staycation. I am planning on taking a few family days this summer and giving myself time to rest. It’s very much necessary.

Just like a football team, you need to review your performance, identify areas for improvement, and set new goals to win (=do your best). By following these steps, you’ll be able to make the most of the second half. Remember that coaches sometimes call a timeout for any number of reasons so you should too whether you feel a burnout coming or you’re overwhelmed. In this game, you are both the coach and the team. Be a player, but more importantly, be a good coach to yourself.

Suzie Key Tima