Year Compass: Guide for reflection and planning a purposeful and ambitious new year

For those who haven't yet planned for the upcoming year, here's a guide to reflect on the past and breathe new life into the new year with purpose and ambition.

Personally, I turn to Year Compass, a resource designed by Hungarian scientists and translated by many dedicated volunteers. I particularly love it because it involves not only planning but also includes reflection as a first step. It emphasizes the importance of understanding your current point A before envisioning your destination point B.

Another aspect I appreciate is that the questions cover all facets of life, helping to dive a little bit deeper than common, surface-level goals. It inspires you to dream a little bigger than usual.

So the resource is there - https://yearcompass.com/.

All you need is yourself, your time (allocate at least 2 hours for this), silence, and a holiday spirit. And, of course, don't forget your coffee or tea. Water goes by default ??.

Let’s begin!

Find your category and follow the steps. It's a simple yet effective process that you'll navigate without any hassle.

If you already have a strategic plan in place

1. Revisit your strategy plans, refresh them in your mind.
2. Print the Year Compass and work on the Reflection part. Do not rush, take time for yourself. It’s okay to take pauses.
3. After reflection, revisit your strategy. Check which goals are closer, which are not in focus, and which are unnecessary.
4. Improve or update if some of the categories don’t satisfy you anymore. It’s okay to remove some big plans and dreams if they are not aligned with the current you anymore.
5. Take a break. Seriously! (??) It’s better to pause here, change your activity, and get back to Part II of the Year Compass the next day. Give yourself time to integrate the reflection.
6. On the next day, open Part II of the Year Compass and start planning the coming year. Your strategy is already in your mind, and wishes and goals would be in alignment with it. Plan your year, be open-hearted, and dream big.
7. Praise yourself and take a photo with your personal compass. You are ready for the coming year!

If you want to plan just the coming year

1. Print the Year Compass and work on the Reflection part. Do not rush, take time for yourself. It’s okay to take pauses. It might be a little bit challenging to reflect on the past year, but think of it as a game that summarizes your achievements and attempts.
2. After reflection, read all the text you’ve just written and ponder your overall impression of the year. Are you satisfied? What was the most challenging part during reflection? Were there questions that you left blank? How can you avoid it in the coming year?
3. After reflecting on reflection, take a break ?? It’s better to pause here, change your activity, and get back to Part II of the Year Compass the next day. Give yourself time to integrate the reflection and live a little bit with the feeling and impression of the past year.
4. On the next day, open Part II of the Year Compass and start planning the coming year. You already have insight into what to focus on in the next year and what you want and don't want. Plan your year, be open-hearted, and dream big.
5. Praise yourself and take a photo with your personal compass. You are ready for the coming year!

If you aim to create a strategy for the next 5-10 years and plan the upcoming year in a single round

1. Start with reflection. It’s better to formulate a strategy understanding your current point A. Without reflection, it’s challenging to identify where you stand and the aspects of your career and life that require attention.
2. Print the Year Compass and focus on the Reflection part. Do not rush, take time for yourself. It’s okay to pause.
3. Based on reflection, consider the life spheres you want to change or improve. If you already have ideas about what you want to achieve, put them down for future reference. Every idea that comes to mind - whether small, big, grandiose, or strange - should be recorded. Continue writing everything down.
4. Take a break here. Close all your papers and change your activity. Give yourself time to integrate the reflection and think over the future.
5. Spend Day 2 on strategic planning. There are different techniques and approaches. Choose the one that suits you or that you like. Ultimately, select no more than 5 strategic goals, preferably 3, and make them your focus for the next few years.
6. That’s all for Day 2. Creating a strategic plan is always time and energy-consuming, so praise yourself and have fun. You've done a great and not an easy job already.
7. On Day 3 review your strategic plans and read them. Then open Part II of the Year Compass and start planning for the upcoming year. Your strategy is right in front of you. This helps your mind align wishes and goals with it. Plan your year, be open-hearted, and dream big.
8. Praise yourself and take a photo with your personal compass. You did a great job. You have not only tactical goals but also strategic ones. You are fully prepared for the coming year!

That's it, you've done it!

The current year is remembered, events are reflected upon, and conclusions are drawn. A new plan has been drawn up, and desires and ambitions have been considered. You all are great because making a plan and setting goals is already 50% of success in achieving your dreams!

Cheers to a purposeful and ambitious year ahead!

#YearCompass #Planning #NewYearReflection #StrategicPlanning