Five Things to Evaluate At the End of the Year
It's the end of the year again, and my goodness this year has gone by so fast. Self-reflection is important for any year but I think it's especially critical during the years which seem to fly by right before your eyes. It's a good reason to slow down and check in with yourself without feeling the need to move onto the next thing on the to-do list. You might even realize your to-do is outdated anyway and that it's time for a refresh.
Below are the five things I have found to be most important to reflect on come the end of the year for more clarity and purpose in the new year.
Friendships
A lot can happen in a year so it's very likely that you are not the same person today that you were when this year started. You might've heard that some friends are in your life forever and some are just in your life for a season and yet, many people feel the need to hold onto friendships which do not add value to your life or require more out of you than you have to give.
The end of the year is an excellent time to reflect on your most important friendships as well as the ones that have run their course. Some people may be friends with a version of you that is no longer available and if that is the case, it's very likely that you have also become someone who can no longer fulfill their needs. Perhaps it's time to reduce the amount of time you spend with some people or let them go altogether.
For positive relationships, take a few moments to let them know how much they mean to you. State plainly what value they bring to your life and any ways they have been a critical part of your life’s journey.
Career
Are you doing something you love? Perhaps your job was great for a time but now, you feel the need to move on. Like friendships, jobs do not have to be permanent and it's ok for your needs to change as you grow and evolve as a person. Journal about what a fulfilling job looks like and then compare that to your current career to see if they are a match. If not, what needs to be done to bring what you need and what you have into alignment? Is it asking for a raise, changing departments, or perhaps a full on career change? Having this awareness allows you to create a plan to transition if and when you need to.
Home Decor
For a long time, I thought my style was bohemian, like a well traveled maverick. Probably because I love to travel and I love to collect things from different places. And in my younger years, having an eclectic sense of home style felt appropriate but as I got older, I’ve discovered my style is much more classic and traditional. I like having a sense of grounding in my home and perhaps that is a result of traveling so much and wanting a home base when I return.
Your space should change and grow as your tastes evolve. Not only that but now is a great time to think about any home improvement projects you’ve been wanting to do but have put off. Is the coming year when you’ll finally get your dream kitchen? Perhaps it's time for a bigger apartment or to finally ditch your roommates? Or maybe you are perfectly happy where you are? Either way, take a few moments to reflect on your space and if it accurately fits your life and lifestyle.
Lifetime Goals
The start and end of a year is the perfect time to check in with your long term goals. Having a regular pit stop to ask yourself if you’re headed in the right direction is a hallmark of successful people. Keeping your goals in your mind’s eye helps you to make informed choices and to avoid distractions.
And just like everything else on this list, goals will change or evolve or become irrelevant with time. You may be chasing a goal that no longer fits the person you wish to be and replacing it with something else could open up a whole new door of clarity and even go as far as reducing the anxiety and overwhelm of doing things that don’t feel very good. More than likely, you will have felt the strain for some time if you are still working towards goals that really should be dropped.
Health and Self-Care
No matter what you have going on in life, everything becomes a lot harder when you don’t take care of yourself. It’s difficult to be focused, clear, motivated, or engaged when you’re tired, anxious, sluggish, dehydrated or malnourished.
Where have you dropped the ball when it comes to your self-care? Winter naturally brings to mind feelings of wanting to slow down and adopt a self-care routine so why not use this time to finally get a self-care plan underway? It doesn’t need to be dramatic. Even small steps like drinking a glass of water everyday or going for a ten minute walk can add up to big results. What’s important is to be aware of your needs and to slowly choose taking care of yourself over putting yourself on the backburner.
What else do you think it's important to reflect upon come the end of the year? Comment below and let’s chat about it.
