As the New Year looms in front of us, now is a great time to reflect on what worked well in 2018, what didn’t, and how to move into 2019 with a plan
There’s no denying that December is the busiest month of the year for many of us as we tackle everything that comes with the holiday season on top of our regular lives.
It’s smart to make time for yourself to relax and enjoy the company of family and good friends, but perhaps even more importantly, take some time to review the past year with a critical eye, recounting victories, but also analyzing where things may not have developed as you’d wished.
Research shows that when we recognize successes and, what may be considered failures, we are more likely to establish a solid plan for the future. Below are three things to do as you wrap up 2018 and prepare for what’s to come in 2019:
Celebrate what went well. When reviewing the old year, it’s a good practice to recognize what went well. Did you hit your numbers? Were you promoted? Did you start your own company? Did you finish a degree or certification program? Whatever you accomplished this year, celebrate it and own it. Also, look for reasons why you were a success with these ventures. Is that something you can replicate in 2019?
Recognize what didn’t go according to plan. There’s never a perfect plan or a perfect year because things don’t always go according to plan. The best way to get past what didn’t work well is to reflect and investigate what led to the perceived failure. Once you uncover the mystery, it’s easier to recognize the pitfalls as they inevitably rear their ugly head again in the future. While you don’t need a written plan, at least make a note of how you will do things differently the next time.
Make a plan for the New Year. What better way to end a year well than to take what we learned from it – the good, bad and ugly –and write your wishes for what you can achieve in the New Year. This is more than just resolutions that will be gone by late January. It’s a fresh start on the calendar. Take time before the clock strikes midnight on the New Year’s Eve to write a simple one-page plan for what you want to see happen in 2019. Don’t make it fancy or complicated because that may paralyze you. Instead, make it super-simple, somewhat open ended, to serve as much as a personal mission statement as a map in the new year.
As I reflect on 2018 and look ahead to 2019, I’ll be sure to recognize all of the progress I’ve made this year. Progress is beautiful, even if it wasn’t what you had planned. You can’t change the past, good or bad, but you can learn from it.
Wishing you and yours a truly Happy New Year!
The Whole Leadership Team
Mari Carmen, Esther, Michael, Ana, Aracelis, John, Amy and Sheena
