Reflecting on 2019 and Moving Forward
For many people, the end of the year is a time of reflection. It’s a time to look back on how we’ve changed, learned, and grown. We like to think about what we’ve accomplished this year and what we can improve upon in the year to come. We all have areas of our lives that we would like to enhance, whether it be our health, our relationships, our careers, or how we spend our time. By being self-aware and checking in with ourselves, we can make a plan to be an even better version of ourselves in the year ahead.
Take the first step towards self-improvement by asking yourself thoughtful questions. It’s helpful to focus on the one or two areas of your life that you most want to improve instead of taking on everything at once. Here are some helpful prompting questions to get you started…
Prioritize your health:
You can’t reach your goals or help others do the same if you’re not feeling well. Make your physical and mental health a priority by reflecting on your health-related efforts. Ask yourself:
How do you feel about your current health?
In what ways have you lived a healthy lifestyle this year?
In what ways could you live an even healthier life?
Do you feel healthy? Why or why not?
What is one exercise (physical or mental) that you could incorporate into your daily routine in 2020?
Cultivate healthy relationships:
It’s important to have a variety of healthy relationships in your life. When you maintain positive relationships—whether it be with a partner, family, or friends—you feel better as a result. Ask yourself:
Which relationships have you valued the most this year?
Which relationships would you consider positive, and which relationships need improvement?
Are you satisfied with your current relationships? How do your relationships make you feel?
How can you improve your relationships next year? (communicating better, devoting more time, setting boundaries)
Is there anyone who you would like to reach out to or spend more time with?
Take charge of your career:
You spend a third of your life working, so you might as well be satisfied with your career. Reflect on your career thus far and think about how you could enjoy a more fulfilling work experience. Ask yourself:
What have you accomplished in your career this year?
Are you comfortable with the direction you’re headed in? Why or why not?
What have you learned this year? What do you want to learn more about?
Do you feel like you’re doing something meaningful? Why or why not?
How could you bring more joy into your work?
Manage your time better:
Every day is a new opportunity. You get to choose how you spend your time and what you would like to focus on. Be mindful of how you’ve been spending your time, and consider making changes if you’re not satisfied. Ask yourself:
Do you feel that you’ve made the most of your time this year? Why or why not?
If you had an extra hour every day, what would you do?
Do you feel like you’re rushing all of the time? What can you do to slow down and enjoy more moments?
Have you wasted your time with anything this year? If so, are you willing to let go of it?
How can you make more time for yourself, or for people that you care about?
These are just a few questions that you can ask yourself as 2019 comes to a close. While you have the time off, take advantage of the opportunity to reflect on yourself. Think about how you've changed, and what you would like to continue working on moving forward. Then, you can set realistic and achievable goals for the year ahead. Wishing you a healthy, happy, and meaningful 2020!