Half Year Goals Progress Update
I felt it was time to let you have a goals progress update! Now that we are at the half-way point of the year, it feels like a good time to step back, reflect and maybe put in some plans for the rest of the year.
I often find that when I’m faced with doing a progress review that I feel some resistance to the task because it often feels like I haven’t made enough progress. And I guess that might be true (we’ll find out more below), but, if I don’t take the time to figure out where I’ve reached so far, I’m in danger of not achieving any of my goals by the end of the year!
So here we go, whether good or not so good, let’s find out what’s been going on.
Take trips to: London, Seville, Durham, France, Winchester & Bruges.
Progress Headline: Good
Of our six planned trips for 2023, two are now in the bag. We took a one-night trip to London in February taking in the Agatha Christie classic show “The Mousetrap” which is the longest-running show of its kind in the world and has been running since 1952! We both thoroughly enjoyed it and can see why it’s still running after all these years.
The next day we took a stroll along the Enbankment to The Borough Market to take in the sights, smells and atmosphere of this ancient market. There has been a market on this site for hundreds of years. It was loud and very busy with an amazing selection of artisan foods to drool over! Needless to say we came away with a bag full of goodies!
In April we took a two-night trip to the cathedral city of Winchester. I’ve wanted to go to Winchester since before lockdown, so it was good to finally make it to the city. When we arrived on the first day, we spent the afternoon exploring on foot, taking in the atmosphere and enjoying a glass of wine in the sunshine.
On day two we took a trip out to the Beaulieu Motor Museum, which was interesting. Amongst all the historical motor cars on show, it also houses a number of vehicles from the Big Screen including the Weasley’s Ford Anglian from Harry Potter (I remember having one of these as a child!).
Unfortunately, on our third day, my husband was unwell and we had to cut the trip short, which was such a shame as I’d planned a full day of looking around the historical landmarks, including the cathedral, where Jane Austen is buried. I guess that gives me a good excuse to go back one day!
To have more fun, using the definition: “providing entertainment, amusement and/or enjoyments”.
Progress Headline: Good
In writing this progress review, it’s been interesting to me to notice that although it’s not explicitly written that way, my goals pretty much all complement the goal of:
“To have more fun, using the definition: “providing entertainment, amusement and/or enjoyments”.
I don’t think I was consciously aware of this when I decided on and wrote up my goals earlier this year, but it feels good to notice now and to realise that working towards each of them has made a difference to how I’m feeling.
Last year I put this post up on Facebook page (about Covid taking away confidence etc) and I guess it was still prevalent in my mind as we came into 2023 and I knew (even if unconsciously) that I needed to do something about it.
In practical terms, whether I’m going on trips or planning and looking forward to them, meeting up with family and friends, spending time on my hobbies (reading, amongst others) or working towards the other goals on my list here, they are all contributing to my sense of fun, wellbeing and purpose. I think I can therefore say that this goal is moving in exactly the direction I want it to.
To get back down to 10 1/2 stone (147lbs) and to get fitter and take more exercise.
Progress Headline: Slow But Positive
I’m going to be very honest and tell you for at least the first 3 – 4 months of the year my weight continued to creep upwards. A combination of work commitments, poor weather and lack of motivation all contributed. And whilst I didn’t reach my previous heaviest weight ever, it was getting close.
But finally, I’ve been able to turn things around and the needle on the scales is going in the right direction!
I’ve made two changes that I believe have had the biggest impact:
1. I’ve joined the online Weightwatchers program so that I can monitor my foods.
2. I’ve joined up for a Conqueror Challenge to virtually walk the Cote D’Azur.
Doing both has given me some much-needed accountability and motivation. There’s also been the added pressure to lose at least a few lbs before we go on holiday in July.
To create regular opportunities to meet up with friends and family and to remember to celebrate important dates.
Progress Headline: Good
I think this goal is progressing ok. I’ve managed to catch up with my family and friends regularly and have a couple of catch ups already scheduled for the coming months.
It feels good to get this one back on to a regular footing after the years we lost due to lockdowns and Covid.
To declutter at home, to include clothes, nick-nacks, paper piles and electronic storage.
Progress Headline: No Measurable Progress
I haven’t found my pace with this one yet. I’ve decluttered clothes and reduced the amount of paperwork that’s hanging about waiting to be shredded, but not much else.
I’ve yet to make this a regular habit, which is where I would like to get to, because I think for most of us, there is a tendency for stuff to continually come into the home which can build up into something that then becomes overwhelming.
I like the idea from this video from But First, Coffee of choosing one small area every day to declutter so that it’s a small daily habit rather than an overwhelming chore that needs chunks of time thrown at it (the whole video is interesting, but the specific tip is from about 11.10 minutes in).
To develop my YT presence.
Progress Headline: Slow, Needs More Attention
If you subscribe to my Newsletter or my Youtube channel then you will already know that I’ve made a tentative start on re-awakening my presence on Youtube. Since setting this goal I’ve published two videos, which isn’t where I’d hoped to be, but at least it’s progress.
I’m currently working on getting my next video recorded and published.
To write regularly – say 1,500 words/week.
Progress Headline: Inconsistent
This goal has been a challenge to get going on. I have been writing for my blog, my newsletter and for my social media posts, but I have yet to reach a point where writing is a consistent daily habit.
I think part of this is because I haven’t properly articulated why I want to write every day. Maybe in the future I would like to write a book, but that’s not a pressing idea right now and I am mostly keeping up with my writing needs for my current commitments, so part of me is thinking ‘what’s the point?’.
I’ll need to re-think this goal to answer the questions I’ve posed above to see if it’s something I want to pursue as a goal for the second half of the year. I’ll update you on my thoughts and decision next time.
To read more books and to record the books I’ve read in 2023.
Progress Headline: Good
List of books:
1 Into The Magic Shop by James R Doty (Kindle) – 5 stars
2 On Form: Managing Energy… by Jim Loehr (Kindle) – 2 stars
3 Walk Away The Pounds by Leslie Samsone (Audible) – in progress
4 Ultralearning by Sean Young (Kindle) – in progress
5 The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley by Sean Lusk (Audible) – 5 stars
6 Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (Audible) – TBR pile
7 A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller (Audible) – 5 stars
8 The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak (Paperback) – in progress
9 The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney et al. (Paperback) – 5 stars
10 Learning How To Learn by Barbara Oakley (Kindle) – in progress
11 The Book of Afformations by Noah St John (Kindle) – 3 stars
12 The Man I Think I Know by Mike Gayle (Paperback) – 5 stars
13 Lifelong Writing Habit by Chris Fox (Paperback) – 5 stars
14 Can You Really Think and Grow Rich? By Ramy El-Batrawi (Audible) – 3 stars
15 Half A World Away by Mike Gayle (Audible) – 5 stars
From the list you can see my ratings for the ten books I’ve finished (1 to 5 stars), the books I’ve started but not finished or am currently reading and there’s still one not started, which I’m planning to listen to when we’re on various flights next month.
To record anything else that seems relevant, important, or inspiring to me.
This final “goal” isn’t strictly a goal but more of an effort to capture those things that would fall through the cracks in terms of being recorded (and therefore remembered) if I didn’t note them down somewhere. Plus, they all, in one way or another, influence my main goals above.
So here are the final items that didn’t make it to the main goals list, but are relevant, important or inspiring to me in some way:
Re-Modelling our En-Suite Bathroom – We’ve wanted to get the en-suite re-modelled for a number of years, but other projects and commitments have always taken precedence. But, finally, it’s now being done…and I’ll be glad when it’s finished! You can read more about it and find out why on my previous blog post “The Messy Middle of Achieving Goals”!
Writing out my goals every day – Grant Cardone, serial entrepreneur, author, speaker and coach (and multi-millionaire to boot) is clear on the idea that you should write your goals down every day if you want to achieve them.
So, I thought, why not give it a try?
I’ve only be doing it for a short amount of time (I’ve shoehorned it into my morning routine for the most part) and can already see the difference it’s making, for instance:
1. Writing out my goals keeps them ‘top of mind’, which for me is very important as I tend to get sucked into the day and forget about my goals.
2. I’ve had more ideas for things I can do to help move my goals forward.
3. It’s helped to keep my focus on what I want, rather than what I don’t want, the latter, unfortunately being my default a lot of the time.
4. It’s making me re-asses if I’m shooting too low with my current goals and whether I can up the ante in 2023!
Using The Five Minute Journal – This is a relatively new exercise for me which aims to positively impact my emotional wellbeing. I’ve started to write a daily entry into “The Five Minute Journal” to capture things I’m grateful for, something to look forward to each day and an affirmation. There’s also an end-of-day thoughts capture on what went well. So far I’m finding it worth the small time commitment.
So there it is, my half year goals progress update! I’m glad I’ve taken the time to do this review because it’s given me so much clarity of where I am and what needs more attention.
What about you? Did you sent any goals at the beginning of 2023 and have you carried out a goals progress update too? I’d love to read/watch anything about your goals, so do please leave a comment and a link so I can check yours out too!
What to do next…
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