As one year comes to an end and the next one begins I always take the time to reflect on my life. I think about this past year; all of its joys and heart ache, successes and failures. It’s important to think about our failures and not just our successes. Don’t ignore failure and push it under the rug, pretending they never happened. How else will we learn? Then I think about the upcoming year. It’s so fresh and new, with limitless possibilities. But how will we accomplish all we want to in this new year? Without a road map we will get blown around where ever life decides to put us. This is why we make goals and plans, so we take control of our lives.
“I should be the leading lady in my own life.” (Kate Winslet in The Holiday)
When reflecting on my life I have to think about the different areas of my life: me personally, my family and my work. I some times do 3 separate lists of goals for each of these areas. Some times it is simply thinking about which area of your life needs the most attention.
Last year I had to re-prioritize my life. I realized that I spent to much time at work on meaningless things that it took away valuable time from my family and left no time for me. As moms who also work, it’s easy to leave little to no time for yourself. But you need time for yourself! It will make you a better woman and mom.
Lets sit down and think about our lives. Here is a list of things I like to think about when reviewing a year and beginning a new one.
2013
Favorite memory
Best accomplishment
Biggest failure (learn from it, don’t let it make you feel bad!)
What I’m currently doing right and will continue to do
Am I spending my time where it is important
2014
1 goal I know I can accomplish
1 stretch goal
Something I can do better in my daily life
Do not set goals for yourself that by February 1st you have already thrown in the towel. If you want to get back in shape, or get out of debt, or quit smoking- great! Making a blanket statement goal with no steps on how you are going to accomplish it is only setting yourself up for failure. Make bi-weekly and monthly goals for yourself on how you are going to accomplish your main goal. This will help keep you on track and you can stay motivated to see your goal thru to the end.
For example- If your goal is to get back in shape, then your bi-weekly and monthly goals may look something like this. For the first 2 weeks work out twice a week. Then for the next 2 weeks work out 3 times a week. Then after that work on cutting something out of your diet you know is unhealthy and replacing it with something healthy. By 2 months in be working out 3-4 times a week regularly and be eating healthy as often as possible. And so on… And leave room for error. Of course one night you will want to eat an entire pint of ice cream, and you might give in. All is not lost, just get back on the horse the next morning and keep at it.
Having a map like this will make accomplishing your goals much easier. In our microwave society if we don’t see results right away we tend to give up. But anything worth anything takes hard work!
This is the moment to really evaluate your life. Look at your entire life, the good, bad and ugly. Set goals for what you want to do and where you want to go. Create a road map for yourself, get in control of your own life and start living the life you want!