As we get into the middle of the year, many of us might feel a familiar loss of focus.
This lack of focus happens when we lose track of the goals we set at the beginning of the year and find ourselves back in the drudgery of the day-to-day grind.
Thankfully there is a powerful psychological phenomenon you can use to get back on track called the Fresh Start Effect.
The Fresh Start Effect describes the surge in motivation and focus that often accompanies new beginnings. It’s why gyms see a spike in memberships in January and spring-cleaning feels so invigorating. We can leverage this same psychology in business by strategically using the mid-year as a fresh start for our goals.
Here’s why revisiting your goals and updating your plans halfway through the year is so beneficial:
- Reassess your progress: Take stock of what’s working and what’s not. Are you on track with your initial targets? Do you need to set new targets?
- Adapt to change: Markets shift, opportunities arise, and challenges emerge. Adjusting your plan allows you to be nimble and capitalize on new situations.
- Fresh ideas: When you take time to step back and look at the big picture, especially with your team or with peers, it can stimulate new ways of thinking.
- Reignite motivation: Mid-year can be a time for renewal. Refine your goals, create fresh strategies, and recapture the energy you had at the year’s beginning.
The reinvigoration that comes with The Fresh Start Effect fades over time. Use this burst of enthusiasm to establish new habits and processes that will help you sustain your energy and focus for the long term.
How can you leverage the Fresh Start Effect?
You can try to do it on your own, but if you are looking for a proven process to harness your focus and create a solid plan for the second half of the year, join our next quarterly planning workshop for business owners. Our powerful planning system, productivity strategies, and accountability will get you focused and re-energized.
Whenever you and/or your team are in a slump, remember to take advantage of the Fresh Start Effect to get back on track!
Author: Mark McNulty, Business Coach