Transitions, like that of one year to the next, are a good time for reflection and thoughtful planning. There are lots of different ways to do a year-end review and to set goals for the new year, whether you prefer to write in a journal, make lists of your goals, take a solitary walk to think over your priorities, draw colorful mind maps, or get together with a group of friends for support.
There’s no one right or perfect way to say goodbye to this year and get ready for the next one. I think it’s really important to figure out what appeals to you right now. What worked in the past might not speak to you any longer. The visualization meditation that your best friend swears by might not be as helpful for you. In this, as in all activities, the best tool is the one that you’ll actually use.
With that in mind, I want to offer up two sets of questions that can help you think about the year that’s ending and the new one that’s beginning. Most of us have a preference either for big-picture, abstract thinking, or for concrete, specific thinking. We can all think in both ways, of course, but we have a tendency towards one or the other which has to do with how we process information. (If you’re familiar with the MBTI, this is the dimension described by N/S in that personality typing system.) When you’re sitting down to reflect about the new year, it’s helpful to be able to start with whichever mode is more instinctive for you.
So here are two different sets of questions to help you reflect on the transition into the new year. Experiment with whichever set appeals to you — or try them all!
Set A
- What accomplishments, experiences, and events were most important to you in 2011? List at least 5 in each category.
- What would you most like to do in 2012?
- Where would you like to go?
- Who would you like to connect with?
Set B
- When you think about the past year, what themes seem most important?
- Who have you been this year? Who would you like to be next year?
- What personal qualities would you like to strengthen next year?
- What three key words capture the essence of what’s important to you for 2012?
Design your goals for the new year
Drawing on what you’ve learned from reflecting on these questions, create five to ten goals for the new year that make you feel happy and excited — the goals you really want, not just the ones you think you ought to write down. Think about your goals, word them in a way that speaks to you, and record them in a format that appeals to you. Put it somewhere where you can see it regularly, whether that’s a list in your journal, a document on your computer desktop, or a post it note on your mirror. That’s a first step in making your new year’s goals part of your everyday reality.