Starting in November of each year, I get a little sentimental. Many may feel the same because of the holiday season, continuing traditions, creating new ones, or thinking about being around family and loved ones.
But for me, I start to think of the year coming to a close. I naturally find myself stopping to reflect on what I’ve accomplished or overcome in the previous 12 months. As a very goal-oriented person, I like to wrap up one journey before I start on another; the reflection helps me to move on and start fresh in the new year.
Many may be intimidated by a year-end reflection because they may only focus on the negatives: what they didn’t or couldn’t accomplish. Our culture has established “New Year’s resolutions” as a mandatory requirement to be successful. But these are often given up on before the temperatures rise in the springtime. Some people may just want to focus on the year ahead and “forget” about the failures of the past year.
I encourage you to take some time for reflection at the end of each year by following the concepts I’ve listed below.
Concepts for Year-End Reflection
1. Think about your year in quarters or seasons.
This can make it seem less intimidating to break up your year into manageable periods of time to remind yourself of what you did or where you were in life in that season. In December, January or February may feel like forever ago. But ask yourself about what you did after the holidays last year, what you focused on or thought about when it was still cold outside, or that long stretch of school or work without time off.
Many often plan their year around seasons marked by spring break, summer vacation, football season, or holidays. What were you looking forward to doing on each of those breaks? What growth did you have or what development did you see in your kids? Maybe you remember your infant starting to walk before Christmas or getting their first tooth around Easter.
2. Look at your camera roll or calendar!
We’ve all been there after a long, tiring day when the kids have gone to bed and you find yourself looking through the 30 pictures you just took of them, missing them already. Go back in your camera roll to the first of the year and remind yourself of not only the big events (celebrations, anniversaries, accomplishments) but also the little moments. Maybe you have screenshots you took of writing that resonated with you in the moment, a series of 20 photos your toddler took when they stole your phone, or even grocery lists (just me?).
If you still use a paper calendar or planner, go back through the pages and see what sticks out. What did you underline, highlight, or scratch out? Remember that epic dinner you had with friends for Restaurant Week?
3. Start with the good stuff.
When you think of the last year, what immediately bubbles up to the surface of your mind when you smile? Tap into those moments that bring you joy to think about or remember. It may be a milestone, it may be related to how you look or feel, or it may be related to new people or experiences you’ve welcomed in your life. How did you feel in that moment months ago? What did you think about in those times?
4. Don’t be afraid to address failure — recognize it for what it is.
Failure has turned into such a bad word, but really it just means something didn’t work out how you planned. Now you know at least one way that won’t work to accomplish what you need or want. Sometimes failure needs to happen to reveal a more realistic or desirable goal. Sometimes failure happens to keep us humble or shift our perspective.
Did you give up on your New Year’s resolution in March? Remember that time, take a deep breath, and keep moving. Did that resolution serve you? Were you still able to accomplish something you’re proud of, even if it wasn’t your initial goal? Failures help us learn. How will you set yourself up for success in January of next year?
I’m a firm believer that reflecting on the past year can help recenter you for a (sometimes stressful) holiday season and a fresh page in the new year. Oftentimes, especially in motherhood, we can get caught up in the repetitive nature of schedules and routines, school drop-off and pick-up, and wishing for the weekend. Whether you consider the previous year “good” or “bad,” give yourself the gift of pausing for a year-end reflection. Feel proud of yourself or shift your mindset to focus on what changes you’d like to make in the future.
