Take time to reflect on the successes and challenges of this year in order to grow.

As the year draws to a close, many of us find ourselves reflecting on what has been an incredibly challenging yet rewarding year.

With so much uncertainty still ahead, now is a great time to pause and look back at all that we have achieved over the past 12 months—both personally and professionally—before setting new goals as we move into the new year.

Wrapping up your “year in review” can be daunting but also extremely beneficial when done correctly; here are some tips which should help make this process easier:

• Take Stock of Your Achievements and Challenges: Start by making two lists; one detailing everything you accomplished during the year (no matter how small), such as completing projects or learning new skills, etc. while the other list should focus on any obstacles or setbacks encountered throughout this period. This exercise helps put things into perspective while providing valuable insight into areas where improvement may be needed going forward!
• Celebrate Your Wins: It’s easy to forget about our accomplishments amidst all of life’s daily stresses so don\’t underestimate their importance! Whether it was finally getting around to that housework or landing that dream job after months/years searching, take some time out from work/life commitments to acknowledge and celebrate exactly what YOU were able achieve despite these trying times!
• Reflect On What You Learned In The Process: Every experience teaches us something—good or bad—so use this opportunity wisely by taking stock of lessons learned along each step taken toward achieving success. Doing so allows us to not only gain clarity regarding future decisions, but also provides invaluable knowledge which could prove useful down the line if similar situations arise.
• Set SMART Goals For Next Year Ahead: Now comes perhaps the most difficult part—goal setting! While it’s tempting to go overboard with ambitious plans, try to instead break them down into smaller achievable chunks using the acronym SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely). By doing do, you\’ll be able to keep yourself motivated throughout the journey without feeling overwhelmed by any lack of progress made at times (focus on the bigger picture).

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