As the calendar flips past the halfway mark, many of us find ourselves at a crossroads. However, this mid-year point offers an opportunity to recalibrate, refocus, and reignite our aspirations. It’s an ideal time to conduct a thorough stocktake of our finances, health, home, and other crucial aspects of life. By doing so, we can identify areas for improvement and set clear, actionable goals for the months ahead.
Let’s explore the transformative power of a mid-year reset and delve into practical ways of reassessing goals, rejuvenating your mindset and implementing plans that can guide you towards a successful and rewarding conclusion to the year. Whether you are striving for personal development, professional milestones or overall wellness, the mid-year reset can serve as your driver, for renewed energy and enduring accomplishments.
Harness this moment to unlock your potential and make the remainder of the year your best.
Planning your retirement future
Now is the perfect time to be planning your future financial wellbeing. Taking stock of your savings earlier rather than later ensures that wealth planning meets your retirement goals.
According to the sixth edition of the recently released 10X Investments Retirement Reality Report 2023/2024, only 6% of the country’s population is on track to retire comfortably.
The 10X Investments Retirement Reality Report 2023 found that the majority of South Africans have not formally planned for retirement, and of those who have planned are not confident that they are on track to be able to support themselves for the long-term considering inflationary pressures and the economic climate.
Tobie van Heerden, Chief Executive Officer for 10X Investments, said that in comparison to 2022’s survey, the 2023/24 report found an increase in the number of people recognising the importance of having a retirement plan in place.
“The difference between what South Africans expect their retirement to look like and the realities faced by those in retirement and approaching it, cannot be underestimated. Knowledge and information are key to closing the expectation-reality gap – in their long-term interests South Africans need to be better informed on the importance of saving, the power of compound interest, the consequences of not saving, the additional disadvantages that women need to overcome, and the impact of costs,” said van Heerden.
Relooking the ease of switching insurers
Switching insurance providers often feels like an overwhelming task, marked by lengthy phone calls, tedious paperwork, and the fear of gaps in coverage. However, breaking free from the conventional hassle is simpler than you might think, and there are many practical ways to alleviate the headache associated with switching insurers.
While the allure of cost savings is undeniable, making decisions solely based on price can lead to gaps in coverage. Mishaya Chettiar, Executive Head at Everything.Insure, suggests looking for smarter approaches to give yourself that mid-year boost. This could include getting a detailed comparative quote.
Digital marketplaces such as the Everything.Insure platform, now enable consumers to compare multiple quotes based not only on price but also on coverage details, excess payments, and insurer ratings. This ensures a clearer understanding of policy features and benefits. Taking the time to explore beyond premiums empowers consumers to find insurance that not only fits their budget but also meets their specific needs.
Clean spaces, clear minds
A clean, ordered and organised environment can go a long way in giving one that mid-year boost that’s needed to make it through the year.
Whether in your home or workspace, an area that is uncluttered and neat can greatly improve contentment and productivity, and even reduce stress levels and enhance wellness. A clean space promotes clarity of thought, making it easier to refocus on your objectives and goals for the remainder of the year.
SweepStars, the efficient domestic workers who, via the SweepSouth app, are booked to clean thousands of homes every week, know a thing or two about sprucing up a space. Start by clearing away the clutter. Clutter has a nasty way of making a space look disheveled and dirty when the real problem is simply that things are out of place.
Next, tackle the space bit by bit, cleaning from top to bottom. Whether it involves decluttering your desk, cleaning carpets or arranging storage areas, this fresh start is sure to boost productivity. Take this opportunity to assess your cleaning requirements, spruce up your surroundings and establish cleaning practices that will guide you towards a successful end to the year.
Or, if you simply lack the will, energy or time to do this yourself, that’s fine too, because services like SweepSouth specialise in exactly this – home cleaning when you need it. A SweepStar can quickly and efficiently be booked on the app to take care of all this on your behalf at a time that suits you best.
By investing effort in maintaining a structured environment you pave the way for renewed energy for the second half of the year.
Have a good support system in place
The mid-year blues is something that always catches us off-guard. One moment we are doing fine, and the next moment we have the realisation that half the year has already passed. Panic starts to set in and we start to stress about getting things done, having missed goals, and just being fatigued. Mental health is an ongoing topic of importance, and rightfully so as we need to take care of our mental health in an ever-changing world that shows no signs of slowing down.
Sometimes, the fatigue is too much, and so having a good support system in place to lean on and knowing which resources are available to you is important. Relate bracelets have partnerships with specific organisations that focus on providing opportunities for underprivileged communities, and in turn, purpose turns into better mental health. Such organisations include The Amy Foundation and Ikamva Labantu, where the youth and the elderly are given a chance to shine.
“Having a support system in place makes a huge difference”, says Dalit Shekel, CEO of Relate. It is important that when you are feeling low, you know there are people that will help list you back up, continues Shekel. Talk to your family and friends, and do research on which organisations provide support. The mid-year slump is only temporary, but remember to give yourself a break, and take some time off if you need to.
*The content herein is provided as general information. It is not intended as nor does it constitute financial, tax, legal, investment, or other advice. 10X Investments is an authorised FSP # 28250 and S13B Pension Fund Administrator #24/444.