It can’t have escaped your notice: Strictly is in full swing, the shops are full of sequins, and Nigella is advertising... Greggs?
The end of the year offers a unique opportunity to pause, reflect, and set our sights on the future. Taking time to review your year isn’t just a feel-good exercise; it’s a powerful strategy for personal and professional growth. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you reflect on 2024 and set meaningful, achievable goals for 2025.
1. Start with Gratitude
Begin your review with gratitude. What moments brought you the most joy or fulfilment? Listing these moments can shift your mindset to a positive frame and help you appreciate your progress, however small it may seem.
2. Celebrate Your Achievements
Write down your key wins, both big and small. Maybe you completed a significant project, mastered a new skill, or overcame a personal challenge. Celebrating achievements helps solidify your successes and boosts confidence as you approach the new year.
3. Identify Challenges and Lessons Learned
Take note of the hurdles you faced. What didn’t go as planned, and what did those experiences teach you? This step isn’t about dwelling on negatives, but rather acknowledging growth areas and lessons that can guide your future choices.
4. Look for Patterns and Themes
Review your notes and identify any recurring patterns. Did you find yourself overcommitted? Was there a habit that consistently led to success? Recognising these themes can help you reinforce positive practices and address what’s holding you back.
5. Assess Your Growth
Think about how you’ve grown personally and professionally. Did you become more resilient, more empathetic, or develop new technical skills? Acknowledging growth helps build motivation for future goals.
6. Envision Your 2025
Picture where you’d like to be a year from now. How do you want to feel? What new skills or experiences do you want to gain? Write these down as intentions, which will act as a guiding light for your goals.
7. Set SMART Goals
They say a goal without a plan is just a dream. Break down your larger goal into smaller, actionable milestones. Couch to 5k is a great model for this—setting a big, overarching goal and breaking it into achievable, time-bound steps. You might also find my blog on How to Stick to Your Goals helpful.
8. Find an Accountability Buddy
Research into goal setting shows that making your goal public increases the likelihood of success. An accountability buddy can keep you motivated, check in on your progress, and offer encouragement when you need a boost.
9. Take Action!
Regular small steps towards your goal will help you to feel like you’re making progress. Some of my clients like to use a phrase, motto, mantra, or even a song to stay motivated. As a self-confessed perfectionist, I find “Take imperfect action” works wonders for me!
I hope these steps have given you a framework to reflect on 2024 and start thinking about what 2025 could bring. If you’d like to go deeper, I’m offering a special 90-minute coaching session that will guide you through this reflection and planning process. You'll leave with a clear, actionable plan for a successful 2025.
This session, available until 31 January, costs £175 and includes a pre-coaching questionnaire to maximise our time together, as well as a follow-up email for added accountability. Feel free to get in touch if you'd like to book your spot!
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