11 Ways You Can Reflect On Your Life Before The End Of The Year
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2022 is rounding off, which means we're about to take our first steps into 2023. This is a great time. We tend to finish up projects for the year and spend more time with our friends and family. It's also a perfect time for reflection. You can take this as an opportunity to look back on the twelve months behind you, considering what worked, what didn't, what you'd like to keep the same, what you'd like to change, and more.
Regardless of how much progress we've made this year, it's important to reflect on our lives and make sure we're headed in the right direction. Reflection is essential to self-improvement, and we should do it regularly throughout the year. Some people find that reflecting on their lives before the coming year can be very helpful in making the right decisions moving forward. Here are 11 areas you can reflect on your life before the end of the year:
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Areas of Your Life To Focus On During The Reflection Process
IMAGE SOURCE: PEXELS
01) Personal Reflection
Reflecting on your own personal growth is an important step in becoming a better version of yourself. Think about areas you want to improve in 2023, and set realistic goals for yourself. This will help you achieve what matters most and make you feel more self-confident when you accomplish those goals! We live in a constantly changing society, so it's important to reflect on how we can adapt ourselves to these changes.
Here are self-reflection questions to ask yourself:
What have you accomplished in the last year?
What small things have changed in your life over the past year?
What has made you happy or has made a huge impact?
What are your biggest accomplishments/growth points in life?
Think about what you want for yourself next year.
02) Growth Mindset
A growth mindset refers to a person who believes they can grow their abilities over time through effort and hard work, even if they don't have a natural talent or intelligence (or aren't born with it). People with growth mindsets think intelligence can be developed through effortful study and practice. They also believe that talent isn't something that some people are born with—it's something anyone can develop through hard work and perseverance!
03) Professional Life
Let's start by looking at work. Work takes up a huge portion of our lives. The average person spends eight hours a day and five days a week focusing on it. Ask yourself the following questions, how did it go? Did you complete all of the projects you wanted to? Did you hit your goals and KPIs? Did you experience the growth you wanted?
Considering these things will allow you to determine what goals you want to hit and what you want to achieve going forward. Do you want to apply for a new role? Are you going to ask for a pay rise or promotion? Are there any courses you wish to take to improve yourself? If you own your own business or manage a team, now is the time to recognize their efforts too. You may want to say a round of thank yous, put on a festive work party, or distribute an appreciation voucher for your staff.
Also, setting short-term goals is a great way to go if you're looking to improve your job performance or jump-start your career. We highly recommend it because it helps you focus on what you need to do each day and allows you to measure your progress.
Here are some ideas for short-term career goals:
Add new team members.
Take on a leadership role at work.
Start your own business or blog.
Update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
Take an online course in your field of interest.
Network with other professionals in your area or industry.
Volunteer in your community with a nonprofit organization.
04) Relationships
How's your personal life looking? How are relationships going with people in your life? This can be romantic relationships, friendships, or other familial relationships.
Consider the most important to you and weigh things up. Do you want to move things forward further with a partner? 2023 could be the year for moving in together, engagement or children. Maybe it's been a challenging year, and the new year could be a good time to draw things to an end. Do you need to set some boundaries with people? 2023 could be the time you determine how much influence you want different people in your life to have. Also, the best decision can be going to therapy or counseling to help with issues from the past. The main thing is to reflect on what you want.
05) Physical Health
Health, of course, plays a major role in our lives too. How has your health been over the past year? Do you have a healthy life? Of course, there are some things we can't do much about - illnesses or injuries that we need to treat and allow for healing. However, you may find that some elements of poor health are preventable and that you can take steps to improve this going forward. You may find that getting your recommended exercise or following a more healthy and balanced diet can help.
06) Financial Planning
This is an obvious one, but it's worth emphasizing: If you haven't already done so, now's the time to review your finances for the past year and plan for next year. That includes reviewing your budget and spending habits and creating an actionable plan for spending less and saving more in 2023.
Here are simple questions to ask yourself:
Did you hit a financial goal the previous year?
Are you saving enough for retirement?
Are you contributing to your 401(k) or IRA every month?
Do you have an emergency fund set up?
If your answer is no to any of these questions, now is the time to start planning how much money you need to feel financially secure.
07) Daily Routines
Most people go through their days without overthinking about what they're doing or why they're doing it — they do their thing and go on with their lives. But if you want to get more out of your days, try reflecting on how your day went at night before going to sleep or first thing in the morning. Ask yourself questions like "What did I learn today?" "How did I make others happy today?" "What did I accomplish today?"
Reflection doesn't just happen once a year — it's something that can be done daily. Take some time every few days to look back on your routine and see if there are areas where improvements could be made. One of my favorite methods to reflect on my life is by writing down what I did each day as soon as possible after it happens. I can look back at it later and see how things have changed over time. You can also try keeping a diary if that interests you more than just writing sticky notes about each day's activities. The important thing is to ensure you have a history of what you've done.
IMAGE SOURCE: PEXELS
08) Mental Health
This can be difficult for many people, but it's necessary to remember that mental health is just as vital as physical health. If you've been struggling with depression or anxiety over the last few months, then it could be time for some serious reflection. Make sure you're taking care of yourself by eating balanced meals and getting plenty of sleep each night. If you feel you need help, talk to someone who can provide support without judgment.
09) Learning
Did you complete any learning goals this year? It could be learning how to use a new computer program or app, or it could be learning how to cook an entirely new cuisine from scratch. Whatever your new skills are, pat yourself on the back because that's impressive! Set some new ones for 2023 if they haven't already been accomplished.
10) Social Media
Are glued to your phone on a regular basis? Social media has its benefits, but if you spend hours scrolling through Instagram every night instead of interacting with real people, you're missing out on important opportunities for human interaction. This year, make an effort to spend more time with friends & family and less time on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter!
11) Empathy And Kindness
It's easy to become consumed with our lives and forget how others might feel. If your social media feeds are filled with complaints about politics or other hot-button issues that don't affect your daily life directly, then they're not likely to make you feel better. Instead, find ways to offer support and kindness to others, even if they don't know it. If you've done something nice for someone else recently, write them a thank-you note or send them flowers.
We're at the end of the year, and it's time to reflect on what you've accomplished. Whether it's your career or personal life, there's always room for growth and improvement. Each consideration will make 2023 the best year!
Did you make your new year's resolutions yet? Let us know in the comments section!