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Mid-Year Check-In on 22 in 2022 List

This essay initially appeared in the Monday morning newsletter on 7/25/22.

At the beginning of this year, I created a bucket list of 22 things I’d like to do. I’d done similar lists in 2021 and 2020 (after initially getting the idea from Gretchen Rubin) and found the experience to be really fun and enjoyable.
 
I’m all for New Year’s resolutions and goals, but sometimes what’s meant to be a well-intentioned activity can turn into something that’s stressful. AND at this point in the year, January (and that inherent resolution-making-energy) feels like a distant memory.
 
But a list feels different. Not as intense. And, it’s easy to reference and remind myself of things I wanted to do this year.
 
So today, I’m doing a mid-year check-in on my 22 in 2022 list for that very reason. A check-in is also a good opportunity to adjust my list as needed. Naturally, things and priorities change as circumstances change. Something I was really excited about might not be realistic anymore and vice versa.
 
Giving myself the permission to let something go is sometimes just the permission I need to open myself up to other possibilities. We still have five months left in this year, which is still a lot of time. I want to spend that time cultivating meaningful experiences and memories.   
 
So today, I’m sharing my 22 in 2022 check-in reflection in case it piques your interest or prompts you to check in on your list, make your own list for the second half of the year or just reflect on what matters most to you for these next couple of months.
 
Let’s get to it!: 
 
22 in 2022 List Check-In (Mid-Year):

  1. Subscribe to a Sunday paper. I DID subscribe to the New York Times, so I’m counting this as 50% complete. Next, I need to get into the habit of reading the Sunday paper.   
  2. Use one “screen” at a time. I do think having this ambition in the back of my mind has helped me limit mindless scrolling on my phone while watching TV, etc. (to an extent). Yay!
  3. Clean out my apartment quarterly. Yep, on track for this.
  4. Buy a new mattress. I almost pulled the trigger on Prime Day, but I got nervous. This feels like such an investment! I think I’d feel better if I focused on first setting aside the money, so I’m prepared to cash in when I see a good sale (maybe Labor Day or Black Friday??). We’ll see.
  5. Write 12 “monthly recaps” to remember all the little things that happen over the course of a month. On track for this and love doing it!
  6. Participate in the monthly activities included in my new “Best Year Yet” journal. OMG – I completely forgot about this. Going to pick this back up for the last 5 months of the year!
  7. Read a classic novel. Check! Read Persuasion and loved it. 
  8. Read for 10 minutes a day. I think I more or less do this, but I don’t hold myself to tracking it every day. Maybe I would revisit the idea if I was in a reading rut, but I feel set with my reading routine for now. 
  9. Read 50 books total. I’ve read 27 books so far. It’s fun to imagine and wonder about the other 23 books I’ll read this year 🙂 Favorites of the year so-far… Going There (specifically the audiobook), The Dutch House (again, needs to be the audiobook), Daisy Jones & The Six. 
  10. Plan a trip to Gainesville for a football weekend. THIS IS HAPPENING IN OCTOBER! Can’t wait. 
  11. Pay special attention to the “buffers” in my day. Feels like a good project for the second half of the year. 
  12. Run a long race. Ran an 8k in March and it was so fun!
  13. Once a month, send a card or letter to a friend who is on my mind. Wow, I completely forgot about this one. Going to pick this back up for the next 5 months for sure. 
  14. Indulge in a spa day with my mom. It was lovely 🙂
  15. Road trip somewhere nearby. Have been on two road trips so far this year! One to Indianapolis and another to my family in Pennsylvania. 
  16. Purchase a new perfume for the year. I’m currently using this one and have my eyes on this next. 
  17. Start a new tradition of doing something fun on Sunday evenings. “Sunday Scaries Walks” are now a thing and really do wonders for improving Sunday evenings. 
  18. Invest in a nicer speaker/sound system for my apartment. Have made 0 progress here – any suggestions? 
  19. Do something in honor of my grandma on what would be her 86th birthday in May. Yep. 🙂
  20. Visit Michigan State. Need to plan this one! Might get moved to the 2023 list but can’t wait to visit my cousin. 
  21. Go to three concerts. Been to two so far! It’s fun to go to concerts again.  
  22. Volunteer a total of 22 hours over the course of the year. Making progress here as well and have two organizations I’ve been working with consistently but would like to add a third to the mix. (Possibly something with the library near me?!)

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