As the New Year looms in front of us, now is a great time to reflect on what worked well in 2021, what didn’t, and how to move into 2022 with a plan.
As December begins to wind down, now is the time to carve out that space for yourself; to relax, to reflect on and 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.
Here are three things to do as you wrap up 2021 and prepare for what’s to come in 2022:
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 finish a degree or certification program? Were you more present to your family? Did you adopt a new good habit? 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 the new year?
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 New Year’s Eve to write a simple one-page plan for what you want to see happen in 2022. Don’t make it fancy or complicated because that may paralyze you. Instead, make it super-simple, somewhat open-ended, to serve as both a personal mission statement and a map in the new year.
As I reflect on 2021 and look ahead to 2022, 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!
With love,
Mari Carmen and the Team
