Whether we admit it or not, most of us follow this custom: At the beginning of each year, we count the wrongs and the right, the things that please us and the things that displease us, the things that we wish for and the things that we try to change.

And we set new goals, from changing careers or homes, to improving fitness or a new hobby. Goals written down in a diary, a piece of paper or simply written in the mind.

And while we start the year with an appetite for action and change, in the course of time all this determination usually “deflates”. Everyday life drags us to its rhythms and somewhere we end up forgetting to change the world… or even ourselves.

That’s why we need something to get us moving again, another milestone, not at the beginning, but during the year: A mid-term review of goals. And what is the best time for it? But of course September, which lies in the west of summer, finds us happy and refreshed, ready to take action again.

Why is the mid-term goal review important?

The beginning of each year is quite far from the next, which is why a mid-term review is the key to monitor and evaluate your progress and adjust your movements, based on the needs that arise over time.

What you have to do

  • Reevaluate your goals to make sure they still have value to you

Take a look at that paper. How many goals have you already achieved? How many are in progress and which haven’t you been able to make progress on? Do they all still matter to you or do you need to change something?

  • Assess your progress honestly

For each goal, you should answer these questions:

What works? What habits have I created to move toward these goals?
What’s not working? What factors are preventing me from achieving my goals? Can I check some of them?
Are there thoughts holding me back?

  • Think about what you need to change in order to achieve your goals by the end of the year

Once you’ve clarified what’s going on in your path, the next step is to properly prepare for what’s next. What hasn’t worked so far and why? The answer to this will tell you what changes to focus on.

The recipe for success

  • Add your goals to your calendar and set special reminders to help you stay alert.
  • Put your own human in the game, who will take on the task of actively “monitoring” your path and motivating you whenever he judges that you are straying from your path
  • “Break” big goals into smaller pieces. That way, achieving them will become easier, come sooner, and provide you with the satisfaction you need to keep going.

Set aside time and space for reflection

Spend some time with yourself, taking stock. Think about where you are, where you’ve been and where you want to go. Write down your thoughts, so you can see more clearly which steps you should follow.

Celebrate your victories and identify what is to blame for your defeats

Allow yourself to derive joy and satisfaction from what you have already accomplished. You deserve to celebrate your victories, no matter how big or small. Then he focused on the losses. What obstacles do you see? Identify what’s holding you back and deal with it.

Keep things simple

If you have set too many goals, it can make it difficult for you to focus on something and achieve it. Edit your goals, like you do with your wardrobe: Rid yourself of unnecessary things and keep only what you are passionate about and satisfy. Then, set priorities: Start with the most important goals and leave the minor ones for later.

Enlist the support of your loved ones

Ask that person who has taken it upon themselves to monitor your attempt to have an open and honest conversation. How does he see you? What do you think you should change?

Take a minute and ask yourself:

  • What does happiness and success mean to you? Are you on the right track to secure them?
  • What do you need to do to get closer to that vision?

If there was one thing you could change to feel happier, what would it be?
And finally: What is the simplest step you can take today to move towards your goals?

And remember: At the end of the day, setting goals and trying to achieve them is an ongoing journey and not necessarily a linear one. By reassessing at regular intervals where you are on the journey, you will give yourself the necessary information to continue moving in the desired direction, creating, over time, a life full of joy and satisfaction.