The custom of making New Year resolutions has been around for thousands of years, so it’s natural for most of us to sit back and reflect on the year that was.  We often also make a promise of change to ourselves at the stroke of midnight on the 1st January.  These are often life changing promises or ground-breaking resolutions that 95% of us will break within the first few weeks of the new year….

As new year resolutions generally don’t work, there are a plethora of alternatives to being more effective, productive, content with your work and life in general.

Why don’t you set yourself up for 2020 by answering these three questions?

James Clear is one of my favourite authors as well as being an entrepreneur who writes about habits and human potential. At the end of each year, he writes his Annual Review and shares it publicly.  In his Annual Review, he answers the following three questions:

  1. What went well this year?
  2. What didn’t go so well this year?
  3. What am I working toward?

As simple as this seems, this is a great opportunity for self-refection on all aspects of your life around what worked (what you’re pleased about), what didn’t (what you’re frustrated about) and what you are planning on doing about it all.

When you read James’ Annual Review, you’ll notice he breaks the review down into all aspects of his life from work, personal, health, etc. This assists him in setting up his goals for the future – not just from January 1st.

I would highly recommend giving yourself the time to sit down before the end of the year to answer these three questions.  It is a great opportunity to reflect on how you feel you are progressing and enjoying about your personal and professional life and think about key initiatives and daily habits that will help point you in the right direction. 

Remember, you don’t need to start on the 1st of January as there there is nothing stopping you from making the changes you want to make today.

Richard Dunks – Executive Consultant

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