How Are Your Goals Going?

“It is always our own self that we find at the end of the journey. The sooner we face that self, the better.” – Ella Maillart

Do you remember all of those noble goals you set during the new year? The middle of the year is almost upon us with the summer solstice occurring next week¹. As time flies by, it is easy to lose sight of objectives which were once crystal clear. We understand this, which is why it’s time to check in.

Technically, the exact “Second Half of the Year Day” is July 1st (the 182nd day) which gives us all time to mentally prepare for the check in². This can be seen as a positive or a negative depending on how focused you have been on your yearly goals. Unfortunately, studies predict the response will probably be negative, with only 7% of participants sticking to all their resolutions³. Equally depressing, research shows 23% of people quit their resolutions by the end of the first week of January, and 43% by the end of it⁴.

It’s easy to understand why personal goals fail. Life is hard. Focus shifts from resolutions back into the groove of life’s routine.  While this fact may elicit feelings of anxiety or fear of failure, there is still time to reset. There are many flashy approaches to achieving goals, but research shows it comes down to basics. In a study of 5 separate groups, 76% of one group accomplished all or most of their goals by doing the following: writing and ranking their goals, creating plans of action, sharing those goals with a friend, and performing check-ins with that friend⁵.

For those who are well on their way to achieving their goals, well done and keep going. For those who might not be progressing so well (or have given up entirely), forgive yourself the setback(s) and reset. We’re rooting for you.

Action: Reflect on your goals. Reset if required: write and rank goals, create plan of action, share with a friend, and perform check-ins.

Further Reading:

1. 15 Facts About the Summer Solstice
2. Second Second Half of the Year Day – July 1, 2023
3. Results for YouGov realtime (New Year S Resolutions)
4. Self-Regulatory Goal Motivational Processes in Sustained New Year Resolution Pursuit and Mental Wellbeing
5. Study focuses on strategies for achieving goals, resolutions