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It’s quite popular to reject rigid resolutions during this season. After all, self-improvement shouldn’t be confined to one time of the year. However, the close of a year offers a unique opportunity for reflection. It’s a time to assess both our personal and professional progress, as well as our emotional and physical well-being. What we discover can shape our goals for the upcoming year.
As impact coach Katie Sandler mentions in Fast Company, “If we don’t look back, how do we move forward?” Sandler recommends initiating this process by reflecting on the following questions:
1. What were three to four highlights and three to four challenges? This is where you begin taking stock and raising awareness, she advises.
2. What factors or motivations helped you achieve those highs, and how did you navigate through the challenges?
3. What strategies succeeded, and what didn’t? In other words, what actions should you do more of, and which ones should you do less?
4. What was your biggest source of stress, and how might you handle it better next time?
5. And most importantly, what were you most thankful for in 2019, and how can you carry that gratitude into 2020?
Begin with reflecting on your “lows”
Each evening, my husband, son, and I gather around the dinner table and share our 'highs and lows' of the day. One positive moment and one challenging one. I prefer to begin with my 'low' so I can finish my turn on a brighter note. I recommend you do the same when reflecting on 2019.
Even if your year was largely great, there were likely a few bumps along the way. Think about any professional setbacks, significant disagreements with family or friends, or health issues you faced. If you overcame these challenges, how did you do it? Or how might you have handled those tough moments better? Take a moment to reflect on your response to adversity.
So, what were your highs?
On the other hand, even if your year was filled with difficulties, something surely went well. Consider the relationships that grew stronger. What achievements did you have at work? What positive habits did you manage to adopt this year? Perhaps you’ve been getting better sleep, drinking more water, or prioritizing self-care.
Write down the highlights of your year—why they mattered to you, what prompted those successes, and how you might replicate that success in other areas. Take some time to appreciate all the good you experienced throughout the year.
Acknowledge and celebrate the progress you’ve made
Perhaps 2019 was the year you dreamed of writing your first book, but instead, you ended up with only half of a rough draft. That's still progress! You’re halfway there, which is far more than where you began. Even if you haven't reached your goal yet, it's still a step forward.
Take a moment to reflect on the goals you set at the start of the year (it’s especially effective if you actually wrote them down). Celebrate the progress you've made and any actions you've taken toward those objectives. Think about the habits or practices that motivated you and how you can build on them next year to achieve even more.
The key insights from your year-end review should focus less on where you succeeded or failed. Instead, concentrate on what you’ve learned throughout the year. Understanding these lessons can help you set more practical and attainable goals for the new year, as well as devise a clear path to achieve them.
Editor’s note: As of now, the original link to the Fast Company article seems to be broken.
