Friday, July 1, 2011

July 1st ~ Time for A Mid-Year Review


Does it feel like this year is flying by? I don't know about you, but I want summer to slow down a bit so I can savor it. The days might be longer, but they are whizzing by a rapid pass.

Did you make personal, financial or professional goals or plans back in January for 2011? When was the last time you reviewed those lists?

The half way mark of the year is a great time to reflect back on yearly goals and plans to check your progress and make any adjustments, changes or additions.

What goals or projects can you cross off? What goals need to be adjusted or changed? Maybe a goal wasn't clear enough and it really needs to be modified. Did you blow away a particular goal? Push yourself harder and plan your next step.

What new ideas, projects or goals have sprung up over the last 6 months that need to added to your list?

Have you created and updated your Family Balance Sheet? My offer of a FREE spreadsheet is still valid. Get yourself a copy and update it regularly. This will help you track your financial goals.

One of my goals this year is to run a half-marathon. I signed up to run one in October.

This is one goal that I am having the most success with so far. Why? It was a clear, specific goal. It was also a reasonable goal for me. I used to run a lot of 5ks quite a bit before I had kids, but this distance is a new challenge. I found a race and created a training plan for the year. The plan and a blank calendar are posted on my refrigerator to track my workouts. It is in my face every day.

So far, I have been faithful with running 3-4 days a week and have a plan to increase the mileage slowly over the upcoming weeks. I'm sure I'll be a bundle of nerves right before the race, but I feel strongly that I'll be conditioned enough to complete it.

I have some other goals that I haven't been as diligent with and I need to use the following race analogy to finish the year strong in other areas of my life.

Develop a clear, specific, and reasonable plan. Run a half-marathon.

Designate a dead line. Date is set for October 16.

Work backwards to develop a time line and your steps to achieve your goal. I took a blank calendar and counted the weeks backwards from the race date. On Sunday, July 3, I'll have 15 weeks until my race. I am planning my workouts accordingly.

Break it down into steps. Each week, I am looking at my schedule and planning the mileage that I need to achieve.

Keep your plan/goal visible. My race plan is on our refrigerator. I see it every day.

Find an accountability partner. Whether it is a spouse, friend or family member, talk to them about your goal and ask for their encouragement.

Give yourself a reward. I'm thinking after running 13.1 miles, a big banana split will have my name on it.

How are you doing with the plans/goals that you made for yourself or your family back in January? Have you reviewed them lately? Let us know in the comments.

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Image: renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

2 comments:

  1. Goals and plans rarely show to work backwards to achieve the goals. I always start with the outcome and work backwards. It helps to create milestones so you know how you are doing.

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  2. I think after running 13 miles, a banana split every day for a month is deserved!

    My goal is to be on task more. I'm starting to utilize check lists more, and rewarding myself daily with different things if I get my check list done for the day. My husband has been great about it, too, since he's the one who gets to watch the kids as a result!

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