Have you ever reached the middle of the year and thought, “where did the time go?”
If so, you’re not alone. As we move past the first few months of a new year, it becomes easier to lose a sense of time except we remain intentional and focused on our goals. This is why a half-year audit is such a powerful tool. I like to call it a mid-year reset button.
The idea of an audit is probably something you’ve heard about. It is defined as a “methodical examination and review” of something.
But how often do we do it?
How often do we check our progress and goals?
I have learnt over time that success is not always a sufficient indication of progress.
Because you can be succeeding in the wrong thing. Having a moment of reset gives us a chance to reflect, realign, and refocus before the second half of the year flies by.
What exactly is a Half-Year Audit?
This is a structured check-in you do halfway through the year (usually in the month of June or early July). The idea is to use the time to evaluate your progress by looking at your goals, your habits, and overall wellbeing.
Think of it as a personal performance review that builds intentionality and structured progress.
It’s not just about work or achievements but a chance to ask critical questions like:
“Am I living the way I want to live?”
“What is working or not working?”
“What needs to shift?”
Why Half-Year Audits are especially Relevant to Women.
As women, we tend to take on much more than we should and there are different reasons for this. Many of us are juggling careers, relationships, side hustles, family responsibility and even other group commitments, while not forgetting our personal development.
With all these things, it is easy to lose sight of our needs. I believe a mid-year life check-in is so important to help us stay centered and to re-prioritize without shame or guilt.
Whether you’re seeking clarity or trying to avoid burnout, a half-year audit can help you:
- Set or reset healthy boundaries.
- Clarify your next step.
- Boost your motivation and productivity.
- Reignite your purpose.
- Achieve your personal growth goals.
What should be in Your Half-Year Audit
There are six key areas you should include in your mid-year audit; these are some of the areas you may have created goals in at the beginning of year. This list is by no means exhaustive; however, I believe that the fewer areas you focus on the better your audit process will be, this is to avoid the risk of getting bogged down with the process if you select too many areas.
Health and Wellness
Are you feeling rested and nourished? Do you need to tweak or restart your exercise regimen? How about your food intake, what can you shift to better suit your needs?
Emotional Needs
This is about checking your mental and emotional state. Be honest with yourself about how you’re really doing. This has been a big one for me as I prepare for my own half-year audit. It’s so easy to get caught in all we’re doing and fail to reflect on how we are feeling.
Relationships
Can you identify which of your friendships or connections need more attention? Perhaps, you need to make more time for your partner, your parents, siblings, or close friends. Don’t try to do them all at once, but pace yourself.
Finances
How is your bank account looking? Lol. Are you on track with your money goals? Do you need to start, stop, or reshape your side hustles? Are you saving and investing or spending much more than you should?
Career
Are you meeting your career goals? Have you seen an improvement in your work output and leadership? Is it time to perhaps change roles, jobs, or industries? Are you also thinking about your legacy and how to leave a meaningful impact with the work you do?
Personal Growth
What have you learned so far and what areas do you need to develop in the second half of the year? How are you working on your personal growth to ensure you actually hit your growth targets?
Three ways to Conduct a Mid-Year Audit.
Conducting an effective mid-year life review requires a step-by-step process from the point of evaluation to implementation.
1. Reflect on Your Progress.
The very first step in an effective half-year audit is to evaluate your progress. This calls for a period of reflection and remember to note down your results.
You check your progress to determine the following (life check-in questions):
- What you did right
- What didn’t quite pan out,
- What you need to change, refine, or stop, etc.
2. Tweak or Update Your Plan.
Now that you have an idea of what worked or didn’t work, you can go ahead to revisit your annual plan (if you don’t have one then you can create it). The annual plan will usually include what you wish to achieve in the 6 areas we mentioned above.
Update your plan in line with the outcome of your reflection and evaluation process. This may mean amending or adjusting certain goals, instituting new habits and stopping others.
3. Implement Your Ideas
A mid-year review is incomplete without implementation. You need to take action on the changes you wish to inculcate. So today, and for the rest of this week, I would like you review your year, so far. See what changes you can implement right now.
How does that sound?
Give Yourself Permission to Pause
A half-year audit isn’t about perfection or guilt, but about presence and progress. It is a much-needed reminder that you get to choose how you show up this year and the things that matter to you.
Take this opportunity to reset your goals, refresh your mindset, and reconnect with the version of yourself you wish to become.
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