4 Steps for a Simple Mid-Year Check-in (Start to Finish)

I had just finished the most important exams of my career, and no one could celebrate with me. They already had plans. Yes, I’d just become a family doctor, but no, the world wasn’t going to stop because of it. I mean, if I hadn’t scheduled time to celebrate, why would anyone else have? 

As I changed into my pyjamas, mid-afternoon, I accepted that everyone was busy. People were either spending time with their family or getting ready for work the next day.

But it was almost half-way through the year, and all I had done was study. Have you ever looked up and wondered where your year went? Like, what happened to those goals you set on January 1st?

In this post, I’m walking you through one way to do a mid-year check-in so that you don’t end up like me, wondering, “Where is everyone?” and, “What’s been going on while I’ve been busy?” 

At the end of the post, I’ll also fill you in on how I did celebrate after my exams.

So, here’s how to do a mid-year check-in: 

Step 1: Reflect on…

What you wish you were doing more

Your long term goals list

What’s working and what’s not

The first thing to do is look back at these past few months and think about what you’re craving or missing the most. Think about what’s been fun and not-so-fun. Dust off your long term goals list. Essentially, spend some time evaluating what’s been working this year and what hasn’t been. 

For me:

• I’d really enjoyed spending time with my co-residents outside of work
• I had lots of fun whenever I visited my family on the weekends
• I was missing travel, and
• The 12-hour work/study days where I didn’t move my body weren’t working for me

Take a moment to think this through for yourself so that you can move on to Step 2. In the box below, you can leave your email address and I will send you the free PDF that walks you through all of these steps.

Step 2: Eliminate…

Activities that waste your time

Thoughts that waste your time

This is the most fun step because we get to cross things OFF your list. What do you no longer have time for this year? Think about this both in terms of activities and thoughts. As in, what should you stop doing, and what should you stop thinking to yourself? 

Maybe you’re going to stop going to a certain journal club or hanging out with certain people.  It’s easy to recognize what we don’t feel like doing anymore, but we often have not-so-helpful thoughts that we need to eliminate as well. And those can be sneaky.

What thoughts and behaviours have been holding you back this year? Are you constantly second-guessing yourself (Read: How to Work Past Self Doubt When You Have Big Goals)? Are you too hard on yourself? Or my personal hang up: are you worrying about things that haven’t even happened?

Check yourself. Have these thoughts helped you do more of what you’re passionate about? If not, then why not tweak them? What would happen if you consistently said “yes” to yourself and your dreams? You’ve got six months to find out!

Step 3: Schedule

5 fun things

Oh, boy. I feel like I just got real heavy there. So let’s talk about the third part of your mid-year check-in. I need you to schedule 5 things – and they’re all fun. Ready for ‘em? Pull out your calendar and map out some space within the next 6 months for: 

1. Something you’re passionate about but haven’t gotten around to doing
2. A break (or two or three). If you haven’t taken a good chunk of time off this year, now’s the time to prioritize that.
3. Your important relationships. Let’s make sure you’re working just as hard on those as you are on other things.
4. Some professional development (but you’re doing that already, aren’t you?), and
5. Some creative development. That’s right. Do something just because it’s fun! 

Step 4: Celebrate

So in the end, I did celebrate writing my licensing exams. I did it on my own, over warm garlic buns and seafood at Red Lobster. It was a table for one. 

Yes it was! I absolutely walked into the restaurant, smiled at the hostess, and confirmed that, no, no one would be joining me.

And at that table, I mentally reflected, eliminated, scheduled, and celebrated my year up until that point. I celebrated with seafood (the sea harbour bake with the scallops, shrimp, mussels and lobster to be exact). And my solo meal reminded me of this:

As productive as I’d been earlier in the year, that wasn’t going to last if I didn’t stop to reflect and make time for myself. If I didn’t schedule time with friends and family to celebrate, I was going to have a lot more solo restaurant meals. And if I wanted to be a great family doc, I was going to have to prioritize my self-care. 

I want you to do this too. Make sure you pencil in some time to celebrate in the second half of the year (subscribe for the PDF below to make sure it happens)! And listen: you have something to celebrate right now. This is not an achievement-based suggestion. This is a put it-in-your-calendar-because-I-know-you’re-doing-big-things-this-year suggestion.

And most importantly…

Move past guilt and shame! If you’re not where you thought you’d be, at least you’re reflecting on it. I can tell you, a lot of us refuse to look critically at what we’re doing and where we’re going. It’s easy to overlook things we know we could be doing better. And on the other hand, it’s really hard to sit down and be real with ourselves about it. So good job. I am so proud of you for walking through this mid-year check-in because now you can course correct. 

Summary

Doing a mid-year check-in does not have to be complicated. It sounds daunting, but it’s one of the single most powerful things you can do this time of year to make sure you go after what you’re passionate about. Also, you can do this in as little or as much time as you want. I usually tell you to write things down, but in this case, if you can’t, thinking over things over food will work, too. This is really about caring for yourself and your passions in four simple steps. You’re going to:

• Reflect 
• Eliminate 
• Schedule, and 
• Celebrate

And you’re going to do this through the lens of “how can I prioritize my self-care for the rest of the year?” rather than through a lens of guilt about what you have and have not done yet. Because, let’s face it, a lot can change in six months.

Don’t forget to subscribe for the free Mid-Year Check-In PDF that goes with this post so you can actually do this for yourself and enjoy the rest of the year!

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