How to get your life back on track
It’s June 2026!! Oh my goodness. I genuinely thought 2026 was going to drag, but it’s crazy to think 6 months has gone by already. The days are getting shorter now (we have passed the summer solstice) and we are officially closer to 2027, than we are to the start of 2026. I remember January 2026 going really fast for me, but I thought the year would slow down to counteract that anomaly, but it has kept going.
Time flies even when I’m not having fun too
This year I can’t say it’s been going that well globally (and that’s an understatement for sure). But lately I have been talking to my friends about how fast the time has gone this year, and it was kind of sad how most of them were like “Oh I haven’t achieved anything this year”. Which is so not true, because my friends have achieved various things in their lives in 2026, but they weren’t thinking about it. So, if you are looking back on 2026 (or any year that you are reading this, for that matter) and feel like you have not achieved anything, here is a post to help you get your life back on track. (though I do firmly believe you have achieved something, you just aren’t putting as much meaning on that achievement as I would)
Step 1: Really think about what has happened so far
And I really mean think about it. Because our brains have this thing of focussing on what we haven’t achieved or the negatives in life, and not shed a little light on the positives. Trust me on this, it will help you on your journey to get your life back on track. But ask yourself what have I achieved so far this year? And the key part is to not rule out anything. Like literally count anything no matter the size, the impact or the ‘value’ – write it down.
For example, here is a list of 6 things I have achieved so far this year (and I have purposely kept it short, since I know I have achieved a lot):
I was a head bridesmaid for my friend’s wedding which I essentially helped plan
I experienced girls trips twice this year
I made sure I had spinach in at least one-quarter of my meals every month (to help with my iron levels)
I have written in my journal every night since December 27th, outlining my different moods, experiences and reflections on my daily self.
I managed to keep my plants alive to see the summer sun.
I have made sure people really know that I love Nando’s and Raye.
Obviously, you might look at these and pin a stronger weight on which ones were ‘more important/big’ achievements compared to others. But the thing is, they are achievements none the less, because an achievement is a positive outcome that comes out of the work you input. The positive outcomes for each point above is different, but it’s still a positive outcome so why should they be compared as being more or less meaningful between each other?
The “big” things are not the only achievements you can have in life
Step 2: How do these achievements compare/differ from your intended goals/resolutions
I assume the reason that some of your achievements might not be classed as achievements are because they don’t necessarily align to your initial resolutions at the start of the year. And that’s perfectly fine! You started the year with 0 idea on how it would play out, and what would happen that could change your trajectory. Why would you punish yourself for not knowing how the future would affect you?
Looking at how each achievement aligns (or doesn’t) with your initial goals, is a great way to evaluate whether your initial resolutions are also what you want to keep doing for the remainder of the year. You need to check if the achievements are helping you get closer to your resolutions and if not, that’s fine it’s still an achievement, just a side quest one.
Step 3: Operation get your life back on track
By this statement, I don’t mean that there is a designated path you are meant to follow, but maybe for you, it comforts you to know that there is some trajectory you are following. So, it’s a metaphorical track, that is based purely on your wants, dreams and ambitions, and not the useless stuff that is stuffed down our throats that we are told to want (because you can want whatever you want for yourself, it’s your life at the end of the day).
You have identified which resolutions are staying for the remainder of the year, and seen how the first 6 months contributed to that (and even if it didn’t directly contribute to the path, it contributed to your life in general and that still means something). Now, establish what steps are missing (or next) and now that you know what has happened in the first half of 2026, you can make a better guess about what future obstacles are to come. It still won’t be perfect, but it’s a way more informed decision compared to the start of the year.
In the end…
The joy (in my opinion) of adulting is that you can change your mind on where the ‘track’ goes. So, even though you want to get back on track at this moment, if anything changes within you, you are entitled to change that path to suit your new view. You just have to remember that any achievement, (no matter how big or small in your view), is still an achievement.
TL;DR
This post is for you if you look back on the year so far and think “Oh I haven’t achieved anything this year”
An achievement is a positive outcome that comes out of the work you input
Why would you punish yourself for not knowing how the future would affect you?
You can want whatever you want for yourself, it’s your life at the end of the day
