How to Review Your Mid-Year Goals: Lessons Learned from Halfway Day

July 2 is Halfway Day. 

We’re halfway through the year, which is a good time to evaluate our progress–which will look different for everyone. For some people, it might mean checking off items on their “26 for 26 list” in their 2026 Happiness Trifecta. For others, it might mean progress toward a specific aim.

It’s important to celebrate our accomplishments—and also to notice what doesn’t work. Halfway Day is a great time to reflect on our aims and to adjust our approach.

Also, because we can all learn from each other, it’s helpful to consider other people’s observations about their progress.

Lessons for Halfway Day:

1. Be willing to let go of a goal

As I write about in my book Outer Order, Inner Calm, one way to complete an aim is to abandon it:

@organisingqueen: “I abandoned one (go outside 23 mins in 2023) because I was swept up in new-year energy. If you know me at all, you’ll know my body does not respond well to being outside (heat headaches and the like)”

2. Give yourself breaks and flexibility

To keep going, sometimes we have to allow ourselves to stop:

Bonnie B.: “My main goal was to paint every day, and to give myself grace if I couldn’t because then I got in a spiral, and it went on for days. So far, I’m doing great!”

3. Focus on the “ta-da” list as well as the to-do list

It’s easy to focus on the to-do and forget the ta-da. We should give ourselves credit for everything we’ve done:

@katenack: “I’ve finished 16 out of 23 on my list. I might have gone too easy on myself with my list this year but feels good to be that far along.”

4. Gamify a hard task, or make it more convenient

When we find ways to make tasks more fun, more convenient, or more pleasant—for instance, in ways that I explore in my book Life in Five Senses–we’re more likely to stick to them:

Bailee S.: “I realized I hadn’t been very engaged with my 23 for 23 list, so I reevaluated what I had on it and created a 2023 bingo card instead!”

How are you doing on your aims for 2026? I must confess, I’ve completed less than half of the items on my “26 in 26 list,” but hey, I’ve still got almost six months to go.

Frequently asked questions about Halfway Day

Here are answers to some of the questions readers and listeners most often ask me about Halfway Day.

What is Halfway Day?

Halfway Day falls on July 2 (or July 1 in a leap year) and marks the midpoint of the calendar year. It’s an ideal milestone to audit your personal aims, habits, and resolutions.

Is it ok to change your goals halfway through the year?

Yes! Sticking to a goal that doesn’t serve you won’t make you happier. Changing, pausing, or strategically quitting a goal frees you to put your energy toward aims that contribute to your happiness.

How do you get a failed resolution back on track?

To reset a goal mid-year, focus on convenience and enjoyment. Celebrate what you have already accomplished (your “ta-da” list), and look for ways to make it easier and more enjoyable to make progress.