Reflect, Review & Reset

As we run into the end of the year, I want to encourage you to take some time for YOU over the coming week or two.

The end of year is one of the best times to reflect on what you have achieved and even more so in a year that none of us could have predicted. It also gives you the chance to review key areas of your life and reset your focus for the new year ahead.

Most people will take annual leave at this time of year however even if you are one of the few working through the festive season, I would recommend that you find one hour for a quiet coffee where you can sit down and reflect, review and reset. If you are fortunate to have a couple of weeks off, you have an amazing opportunity to get set for 2021 as you will have more time to reflect on 2020 and what you want 2021 to look like.

Regardless of how much “YOU” time you have available, the below activity will provide you with a chance to at least think through the various areas outlined below. You may spend some time going through this activity now and then come back to it over the next couple of weeks to add to it as things come to mind.

This activity is based off of the “Your Year End Review” process that Jack Canfield created and is one of the most powerful activities you can complete at this time of year (other than finishing your Christmas shopping). To see the full process visit www.jackcanfield.com

 Activity – Reflecting on your year

Once you are in a quiet space whether it be in your home, a local café or on the beach, take a moment to think about the progress that you have made this year.

Where did you start the year and where did you end up?

How much progress did you make towards your goals?

Did you achieve some of those goals that had been elusive in prior years?

Now you may be sitting there going, “well progress for the year could be very broad, so how do I clarify what I achieved?”. To assist with this question, see below the list of areas that you may wish to think about to further break down the progress of your year.

Think about the “Wins” you have had in each category. A win doesn’t need to be a major achievement, it could be quite small but has moved you forward and has progressed you to be closer to your goal/s in this area.

In each category below, spend at least five minutes thinking through your wins. I have provided some questions for each category to get you started but you need to explore your own life in each category and not be limited to the questions I have asked. Write down your wins as often this will cause deeper reflection and insights to emerge.

Work and Career is often the category that I am most involved with when it comes to working with my professional network, so let’s start there.

Work and Career - What were your professional wins? Did you get a promotion? Did you complete a project? Were you recognised within your industry for your work? Did you gain a better work life integration/balance? Did you recruit some great talent into your team? Did you extend your professional network and add some key new contacts?

Hopefully you are starting to reflect and focus on those positive outcomes you have achieved. Let’s continue and move into the next category.

Health, Fitness and Wellbeing - Did you complete a fitness program? Did you start one? Have you increased your understanding of good nutrition and how you can achieve better health? Did you learn how to do Yoga, Pilates or gain some knowledge of the need for a flexible and resilient body?

We often focus on health, fitness and wellbeing as a New Year’s Resolution goal. For now, rather than going straight into a future focus, stay in reflection mode and continue to work through the categories.

Finances - Did you hit your savings goal? Did you commence investing for the first time? Did you expand your financial knowledge on wealth creation? Did you get a better interest rate for your home loan? Did you pay your home loan off? Did you increase your salary or income this year?

Hopefully you had some wins in the financial arena of your life. Let’s keep going with your reflecting categories.

Recreation, Leisure and Fun Time - Did you find a new hobby? Did you start a sport? Did you find a great park in your local area? Did you go see a musical or comedy show that you had always wanted to see?

The recreation, leisure and fun time category is often associated with experiences with other people. Which moves us into our next area to reflect.

Relationships - Did you enhance your relationship with your wife/husband? Did you find a partner? Have you strengthened your relationships with your closest friends? Did you spend more time with family and friends? Did you repair a relationship with someone you had conflict with previously?

Often relationships can contribute to our development as individuals and that moves us into the reflection category about your own growth.

 Personal growth and development - Did you complete some formal study this year? Did you commence a new course or read a book that is extending your knowledge? Did you hire a personal coach for the first time? Did you gain a new mentor? Did you find a new podcast that is teaching you valuable lessons in an area of life.

And the final category to reflect on is how you have enhanced the community you live in.

 Community and contribution - Did you volunteer this year? Did you make some donations? Did you give blood? Did you start mentoring someone younger? Did you start mentoring someone that’s older?

Your happiest moments of 2020

Now that you have reflected on the main areas of your life the next activity is to reflect on your year and think of the happiest moments from the year. What were those and why did they make you happy?

Setting the vision for the year ahead

Ok so now you have reflected on the year that was and it’s time to shift to the future focus and the year that will be in 2021.

The best place to start is to start with creating a vision of what you want your year to look like. What does a “perfect year” look like?

Don’t worry about the how, just write down what the perfect year will look like for you.

Again, work through the 7 categories and build out your vision and goals for 2021.

• Work and Career
• Health, Fitness and Wellbeing
• Finances
• Recreation, Leisure and Fun Time
• Relationships
• Personal growth and development
• Community and contribution

To get started, with Work and Career goal setting ask yourself:

-         What does the ideal job look like?

-         Who would I be working with?

-         Where would I be working, what are the physical surroundings?

-         What is your work/life integration and balance like?

-         What is your remuneration package?

Spend some time setting the vision for your year and the goals that sit underneath them. You don’t need to do anything to plan how you are going to achieve your goals at the moment.

Just get them down on paper for now and the steps you need to take will reveal themselves the more you think about what you are aiming to achieve in 2021.

I hope 2021 will be your best year yet and if there is any way I can support you to achieve some of your goals, please reach out to me.

Cameron Norton

Cameron Norton is a People, Process and Performance specialist with a focus on helping leaders, teams and organisations achieve their potential.

His mission is to empower people to push beyond what’s comfortable to achieve remarkable progress in their professional lives.

Cameron is extremely passionate about helping people to think differently to overcome challenges that have been holding them back from achieving their potential. After all, the same thinking that created the problem isn't the same thinking required to overcome it.

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To get in touch with Cameron, you can reach him on +61 400 913 843, email him at [email protected] or send a direct LinkedIn message.

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