Mid-Year Check-In: How Are Your Goals Holding Up?

Hello there. Molweni, Molweni:)

With it being the last day of June, we’re officially halfway through the year; a good time to take stock, maybe even gather somewhere to scream a little😂 and rethink the game plan.

Reviewing our goals can feel daunting, especially if, like me, the past six months have been a whirlwind. It’s felt like a constant battle, with each month throwing something new my way. Just adulting, right? In seasons like this, it’s easy to avoid checking in on our goals. When progress feels slow or we’re not winning in the ways we expected, facing ourselves can be uncomfortable. But avoiding reflection also robs us of the chance to regroup, adjust, and turn things around.

Maybe the first half of the year didn’t go as planned. That’s okay. If you start working on a new strategy now, the next six months can still look very different. The bright-eyed, high-spirited version of you who set those goals might feel a little lost in the chaos of real life and that's understandable. But, I urge you to sit down with yourself anyway. Feel the emotions, process them, and then get to work.

When I sat down with my goals, I had mixed feelings. Overall, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. As I mentioned, it’s been a whirlwind, but I’m proud of how I’ve navigated certain challenges, and, in the spirit of honesty, a little disappointed that I haven’t had the capacity for some of my goals.

This mid-year reflection felt different. I was proud that, even as I acknowledged what didn’t go well, I was also able to pause and appreciate what did. This hasn’t always come easily for me as I tend to be quite critical of myself. So, I’m genuinely proud of the growth I’ve seen. As part of my check-in, I spent some time reflecting on a few specific goals and looking at what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what I want to approach differently moving forward. I’ll share some of those reflections below, not just to offer insight, but to encourage you to do the same.

Take a moment to think about your own goals: What’s gone well? What needs adjusting? Where do you need to show yourself more grace, and where might it be time to push a little harder?

The goal that carries the most weight for me this year is improving my work-life integration. This one’s big because blending my personal and professional life is something I’ve always struggled with. I use the word integration intentionally because for me, there’s no such thing as balance (but that’s a conversation for another post, please hold me to it 😅).

My actionable steps are clear, and truthfully, I’ve always known what I needed to do. But this time, the shift has been in becoming more disciplined and finding ways to hold myself accountable. This goal matters so much because, in this season of my life, it’s the one that supports the kind of life I’m trying to build, and the kind of future I want. It’s the goal that makes space for everything else. It creates capacity for creativity, relationships, rest, and joy.

I want a regulated nervous system. I want to feel less anxious and emotionally safe in the life I’m living. Sometimes, we unintentionally trap ourselves in a version of life that feels like constant combat : always fighting, always thinking, always working, and then wonder why we don’t feel at peace.

So, more simply put: this goal is really about peace. It’s about creating a healthy rhythm between work, play, and rest. My starting point was limiting the amount of work I take home and cutting back on weekend work. The key has been staying disciplined enough to actually follow through. When I catch myself slipping and taking on more work home or working over weekends; I know it’s a sign that I’ve lacked discipline with my daily and weekly tasks.

This goal is teaching me that it takes just as much discipline to rest as it does to work. It’s still a work in progress, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I’m hopeful about where this continued effort will lead.

Another big one for me this year has been bringing The Career Roadmap to life and actually starting to build the vision. This has been in the making for almost three years. Your positive feedback on the blog has been validating, reassuring, and incredibly encouraging. But, the blog is just one piece of a much bigger vision. There’s been a lot happening behind the scenes : discipline, trial and error, and plenty of figuring things out as I go.

I’m proud of myself, even though I’m not quite where I want to be yet. I haven’t had the capacity I’d hoped for with this goal but small steps, right? I’m also convinced that as I continue to improve my work-life integration, my capacity to grow this vision will expand too.

That said, I know I also need to push a little more here, so the work continues...

The biggest challenge with this goal has been coming to terms with the reality that I won’t just miraculously find time, I actually have to make it.

In an effort to not take up all your time, let me share one last reflection. This one is on Financial Safety. For me, this goal is about striking the balance between responsibility and comfort. It’s about creating a sense of security around my finances and reducing the anxiety that often comes with money.

This goal has been particularly challenging because we plan, and then life (read: adulting) laughs. There’s a running joke on social media about how as professionals asinamali (we don’t have money)😂. It’s usually said jokingly, and yes, it makes us laugh but behind the humour is a real issue: many professionals are quietly struggling with their finances or just want to do better.

The bigger conversation here is about taking responsibility for our money, not avoiding it. Because neglecting this area only adds to the stress we’re already carrying. For me, this goal is about making money work for me. It’s about creating a sense of financial safety so I’m not backed into decisions that compromise my mental and emotional well-being.

I’ve had to be honest with myself about what’s not working, and I’ve shifted my strategy accordingly. It's still evolving but the clarity alone has been a game-changer.

If you’ve made it this far, I hope it’s encouraged you to sit with your own goals without judgment, but with honesty and compassion. Mid-year check-ins aren’t about beating ourselves up for what hasn’t worked. They’re about reconnecting with what matters, reworking what needs adjusting, and reminding ourselves that progress doesn’t have to be perfect.

When reviewing your goals, don’t just focus on what didn’t work. It’s equally important, maybe even more so, to take note of what has worked. The things that work can be improved upon, applied in other areas of your life, and ultimately form part of your personal productivity process. I touched on this in an earlier blog post titled This is How You Get Consistent Results (take time to read it if you haven’t already). If you pay attention and get this right, you’ll start to pick up strategies or methods that you can apply across different facets of your life. And there’s also strength in admitting when certain strategies aren’t working. That’s the point where you pivot. You shift the method, not the goal.

We still have six more months left in the year. That’s half a year to reset, realign, and take intentional steps forward. Don’t underestimate what can shift in that time.

If you’re unsure where to start with your own check-in, here are a few simple prompts:

• What’s one goal that’s gone well so far, and what helped make that possible?

• What’s one area that needs a reset, and what small action can you take this week to shift it?

• Where do you need to show yourself more grace?

• What habits, mindsets, or routines might help you finish the year with more intention?

Wherever you are in your journey, just know this: you’re allowed to start again. And again. And again. Progress isn’t linear, and growth often happens in the in-between moments. So take a deep breath, reflect with kindness, and then get back to it.

Have an intentional and blessed week.

Lots of love,

Zizo