Edition #18: The Mid-Year Check

Reflect. Refocus. Build the back half.

Author

Hack Morning
June 30, 2025

In partnership with

Good morning,

So... the year's half over. Wild, right?

If you're looking at your goals from January and thinking "well, that didn't go as planned," you're in good company. Most people quietly gave up on their resolutions sometime around Valentine's Day.

But you're still here, reading productivity newsletters like a psychopath. That counts for something.

This isn't about beating yourself up for being behind. It's about figuring out what's actually working and what's just taking up space in your life.

 Here's What's Up:

  • Why "catching up" is the wrong mindset

  • A 3-question audit to clean up your mornings

  • How Ryan Holiday resets without adding more stuff

  • Your halftime game plan

 You're Not Behind, You're Just Carrying Too Much

Here's the thing: most people think mid-year means "panic and add more systems." Wrong move.

The real edge? Subtracting the stuff that's not working instead of piling on more productivity hacks.

You don't need to catch up. You need to course-correct.

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The 3-Question Morning Audit

Your morning routine probably has some dead weight. Time for an honest audit:

1. What's actually helping you start strong?
2. What's just noise or feels like busywork?
3. What's missing that would make mornings easier?

Now the hard part:

  • Kill one thing that's just filler (yes, even if you paid for the app)

  • Double down on whatever's genuinely helping

  • Try one small change this week, even if it seems too simple to matter

How Ryan Holiday Resets (Without Adding More Stuff)

At the end of each season, the guy who wrote "The Obstacle Is The Way" does something smart: he cleans house instead of adding to it.

His process:

  • Reviews what worked and what bombed

  • Identifies the clutter that snuck back in

  • Gets clear on what actually matters next

  • Writes one line on an index card: "What matters now?"

The key insight: He's not resetting to do more. He's resetting to do less, better.

Your Halftime Checklist

This week:

  • Cut one habit or tool that's not earning its keep

  • Reinforce something that's clearly working

  • Recommit to one goal that still matters to you

  • Drop one goal that you're only keeping out of stubbornness

  • Block one hour this week and protect it like your life depends on it

You've got six months left. That's plenty of time to make this year count.

The question isn't "How do I catch up?" It's "What actually deserves my attention?"

What's one thing you're ready to stop doing? Hit reply and tell us what's getting the boot.

#HackMorning