The holidays are a refreshing time to spend with your family, relax, and reflect on the year as we prepare for a new one on the horizon. Taking the time to think about where you were this time last year, where you are now, and how much you’ve accomplished (or not) during this time is a useful exercise. Its purpose is to not get complacent in any way, but rather to allow yourself to feel the sense of accomplishment we long for as we gear up to take down even bigger goals in the new year.
Disconnect and reflect
We are constantly all plugged into the world and everything going on in it. From the constant day to day events that take place that need immediate attention, to the world events that we are bombarded with on social media and everything in between, we barely get a second to breathe. The holiday season, at least for me, is about disconnecting, relaxing, and being away from all the noise. This allows me to get in touch with a side of myself that is usually tuned out by the noise and plan for my next moves. It also gives me the ability to be present with my family and the people I love. The first week of January is my birthday. My girlfriend and I have decided to take a trip to Upstate New York where things are simpler and quieter and get in touch with ourselves while spending quality time together. This is what it’s all about. These times make all the other times worth it. If we move too fast, we might miss these kinds of moments. When I get home from this and reconnect, I will be totally refueled and ready to tackle everything that comes my way!
With reflection comes accountability
When you reflect during the peace and quiet and analyze the progress or lack thereof you’ve made, you will better be able to piece together where things went right and where they went wrong. One of the biggest reasons we don’t accomplish our goals is due to the barriers we create with fabricated justifications for not getting things done. Personal accountability is a difficult skill to master. It takes tools and practice to get the hang of and can be very uncomfortable especially when you miss your goals. However, these growing pains are a part of the process and key to making sure you progress in the direction you wish. I personally use The 12 Week Year’s Achieve Program to hold myself accountable by measuring my activities for the week. It is imperative you figure out a way to do the same so that when the time comes to reflect, you can pinpoint key areas in need of improvement.
Creating clarity
When you give yourself the time to reflect and refuel, you allow yourself to develop a level of clarity that otherwise wouldn’t be possible. This is true in the sense of reflecting on the processes that got you to where you are currently as well as what you are putting in place to crush your goals moving forward. Being clear, as simple as it is, is something many of us overlook most likely due to the fact that it is very simple. Falling into this trap can be a huge obstacle for you to overcome later on. Use your intentions wisely and be very clear about where you want to go. All of this becomes more apparent when we give ourselves some time to disconnect from the world around us and intrinsically reflect and motivate ourselves to continue down OUR path to success. Disconnecting helps you get clear on what success looks like for you rather than someone else. This is a major contributor to overall fulfillment which is the goal in why we do what we do every day. Disconnect, reflect, and get clear on your vision for 2024 and beyond!