Vanessa Riley's Research and Shopping Blog

Congratulations. You’re still here. More than half the year is behind you, and that alone is worth celebrating. But it’s time to kick things into gear. Let’s stop surviving…and start thriving.

55% Gone. Now What?

More than 200 days out of 365, 55% of the year is done. Scratched them off the calendar.

Every December, I start thinking about New Year’s resolutions. By the time January 1 rolls around, I’ve got my list together. I tell myself I’m going to be bold, audacious, and dream out loud. This is the year. These are the goals.

Then the middle of July arrives.

And with it comes a stark realization that wakes me out of my dream state. Over 55% of the year is gone. More than 200 days have passed. And if I’m being honest, of all my big, hairy, audacious goals…

I’ve accomplished one.

I’ve survived.

Now don’t get me wrong. Sometimes survival is the victory.

So today, I want to do three things.

First, I want to congratulate you for making it this far.

We’re often too hard on ourselves. Sometimes just getting out of bed in your right mind is an accomplishment. If you’re awake and listening to this podcast, congratulations. You’re a survivor.

But survivors want to become thrivers.

And to thrive, we can’t sit still.

So I’m giving you permission to go back and look at that list you made for 2026. Instead of staring at everything you haven’t done, narrow the list down to one more thing. Pick one goal you want to accomplish in this latter half of the year.

Then go after it.

“But Vanessa, how do I do that?”

First: Reconnect with Your Why

Before diving back into your list, check in with your why. What’s your raison d’être? What is the thing you believe you’re meant to do on this earth?

Now, depending on the season of life you’re in, that answer may change. That’s okay.

But right now, where’s your head? Where’s your heart?

Take a moment to realign. Choose a goal that matches your personal values and your interests.

Some of us still have corporate day jobs. Some of us signed contracts that sounded great at the time. Some of us are out of contract and still wondering, What the hell happened?

I’m just going to chalk this year up to the fact that we’re living in strange times.

Sometimes you’ve got to put your head down and focus, focus, focus on what’s important.

Your why is important.

And you’re going to use that energy to accomplish your one thing before this year is over.

Psychologists Kennon Sheldon and Andrew Elliot, who developed the Self-Concordance Model, found that people pursuing goals aligned with their personal values put forth more sustained effort and are more likely to achieve those goals.

Second: Maybe Your Goal Was Too Big

My mama used to say, “Your eyes are bigger than your stomach.”

Sometimes our egos are bigger than reality.

We only have so many hours in a day. I’ve tested this. It really is twenty-four hours. And somewhere in there you’re going to need to sleep…and yes, use the restroom.

You cannot do everything.

So take that big goal and break it into smaller pieces. Reward yourself every time you get to check something off the list.

For the writers in the house, don’t make the goal, “Finish my novel.”

Make the goal, “Write 300 words today without stopping.”

Will you have to do that more than once?

Absolutely.

But novels aren’t written in giant leaps. They’re written through consistent effort.

For the savers in the house, maybe the goal isn’t having $5,000 saved by the end of the year.

Maybe it’s saving $25 a week.

Maybe it’s skipping one unnecessary Amazon purchase every week.

I’m not here to judge.

I’m just here to say: break the goal into pieces.

Researchers Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer, in The Progress Principle, found that making meaningful progress on small tasks is one of the strongest drivers of motivation, engagement, and satisfaction.

Small wins matter.

Third: Stop Waiting to Feel Like It

Now this one is going to hurt some folks.

Stick to “doing.”

I have a lot of friends who are mood writers. They’ll only write when they’re “feeling it.”

The same thing happens with people who want to cook instead of eating out. Or exercise consistently. They’re waiting for the mood to strike.

Moods are tricky things.

Sure, there are days I write better when I’m angry.

Or after I’ve had a delicious caramel torte.

But I can’t wait for the vibe to be right.

A blank page can’t be edited.

Genius—true genius—happens during the editing process.

Now, for that magical one percent who can spit out a perfectly textured paragraph on the first try…

All I’ve got to say is:

“Jesus wept.” (John 11:35.) That is the shortest paragraph and complete statement in the Bible.

The rest of us need a plan.

Psychologist Peter Gollwitzer’s research on implementation intentions found that people who decide in advance when, where, and how they’re going to act are significantly more likely to accomplish their goals.

In other words, don’t just hope you’ll do it.

Schedule it.

Win the Rest of the Year

Do these three things, and you’ll already be ahead of the game.

Reconnect with your why.

Break the goal into smaller pieces.

Stop waiting for the perfect mood and make a plan.

This last half of the year can still be productive.

You can still accomplish what you desperately want.

And if you don’t know what that desperate thing is…

Go back to step one.

Why?

Why?

Why?

We’ve already made it this far.

We can make it to the end.

Hang in there.

Make the plan.

Start implementing.

And go win the rest of the year.

This week’s book list.

Atomic Habits by James Clear — A practical guide to building better habits through small, consistent changes that compound into remarkable results.

The Progress Principle by Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer — Drawing on years of research, the authors show how making meaningful progress on small daily tasks is one of the strongest drivers of motivation and success.

The ONE Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan — A productivity classic that argues extraordinary results come from identifying and relentlessly focusing on the single most important task.

And if you want to see where my vibe has been for the past two and a half years, check out: A Deal at Dawn – Katherine’s lies have been exposed, but the duke has a plan.

And it’s still Pirate Season. Check out the women pirates in Fire Sword and Sea.

Get these books from The Book Worm Bookstore . They have a few signed copies of Fire Sword and Sea and A Deal at Dawn.

You can also try one of my partners in the fight, bookstores large and small, who are in the trenches with me.

You can find my notes on Substack or on my website, VanessaRiley.com, under the podcast link in the About tab.

Hey. Let’s keep rising and creating together. I need you. That is the truth. Like, share, subscribe, and stay connected to Write of Passage.

Thank you for being here.

I want you to come again. This is Vanessa Riley.

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