We are more than halfway through the year, which makes now a good time to evaluate your progress on those goals you set at the start of the year.
If you are on target to reach your goals by the end of the year, then kudos to you! If, however, it looks unlikely that you will reach your goals, let’s take a minute to ask a few questions to see if we can turn this around.
Was the goal realistic?
It is not uncommon for people to set unrealistic goals, become frustrated, then give up when they don’t achieve those goals. Take some time to think through the goal and write out a plan to determine if it is achievable.
Was the goal too large?
Facing large goals can be intimidating but setting smaller goals along the way to your ultimate goal can
keep you focused and motivated. Trying to lose fifty pounds in a year is doable but it can feel like forever to get to that fifty-pound loss. Setting smaller goals to celebrate along the way will help keep you engaged and not feel so defeated.
Did you have adequate support in place?
I don’t know about you, but I need someone in on my big goals to keep me encouraged. I need them to be cheerleaders, and I need them to hold me accountable when I start to fall off. Having the right team of people behind you can make all the difference.
Is your goal specific enough?
Goals that aren’t measurable and specific lead to frustration. Making a goal of “getting healthy” is so vague that it is impossible to ever achieve. Making a more measurable goal of losing twenty-five pounds in
a year gives you something that you can achieve.
Why did you set this goal?
If you aren’t passionate about the goal or fully invested in making this change, it won’t happen. Take some time to reevaluate why you felt this was necessary in the first place.
Remembering your why can keep you going when frustration sets in.
Taking time to evaluate your goals for the year at the midway point is a good way to determine if any changes need to be made to the initial plan. Instead of thinking of it as a failure, think of it as an opportunity and let’s finish off the second half of the year strong!
Dr. Nicole Washington is a board-certified psychiatrist, speaker, author and host of The C-Suite Confidant, a biweekly podcast covering topics pertinent to mental wellness for the high performer. She enjoys discussing and providing education on all things mental wellness in hopes of decreasing the stigma associated with mental health issues.
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