With 2016 right around the corner, it’s exciting to think ahead about your goals for the coming 12 months. This is also a great time to reflect on the past year. Despite the best of intentions, unfortunately, a lot of New Years resolutions fall by the wayside come February. Re-examining what you set out to do last year can help you figure out your strengths and weaknesses as you look ahead to the coming year.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- What went well?
- What was challenging?
- What goals no longer seemed important partway through the year?
- In the coming year, how do I want to feel about myself?
Pick one or just a few small goals. Why are they important? To help you stay positive and on track, set tangible, measurable goals so you know when to celebrate your successes and address barriers. For example:
- If you want to lose 20 pounds over the next year, shoot for 5 by April.
- If you want to sleep more, start by getting in bed 15 minutes earlier each night or put down the electronics 30 minutes earlier to help you “power down” for the night.
- If you want to go back to school, look at programs in your area or scope out online options.
Whatever your personal goals are, take time each month to reflect on your progress so far and check in with yourself about whether your actions are supporting those goals. If not, make a plan. It’s also okay to tweak them as time goes on.
Happy New Year!