> Not sure how to make it feel less morbid than it is
That requires some extra "UX design", but I think it's possible. It's like that classic piece of advice "you're not designing a computer system, you're designing a system in which a computer and a human interact".
So, I would recommend making this half-yearly "fire-drill" part of a day you set aside and fill with other more positive things, like having a fancy meal with your family, relaxed in the knowledge that you've done your half-yearly duty, and focused on making the most of every day you have.
I guess it might still feel a bit weird at the start, but after the first 20 times you do it, you won't even be thinking about the technical details (and why you are doing them), you'll be looking forward to enjoying the rest of the day as the reward for that quick little chore.