by April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach
Just like at the end of the school year, when teachers wrap up grades and organize their notes for the student to take onto the next level, the new calendar year can be a wonderful benchmark for review as well.
If you were to "grade" yourself for 2010, how would your report card look?
- Did you set goals for the year?
- Was it a year of improvement in a hobby or a sport?
- Did you vow to say "NO" more?
- Was there a focused effort on timeliness?
- Did you complete a large project?
How did you do? Reflecting on what you've accomplished and whether you'd award a passing grade or feel you failed miserably is a great starting point for moving forward.
With things you're proud of improving, evaluate what effort went into that adjustment. Determine if you can shift some of the things you've learned from last year's effort over to things you're still finding a challenge.
Reward yourself for a job well done. We tend to beat ourselves up when we reflect. Choosing to find the negative. What is that all about?
I hereby give you permission to pat yourself on the back for things that went well in 2010. I also give you permission to forgive yourself for things that didn't go quite as planned.
Looking forward to 2011, ask yourself if you have a plan, a goal or a certain intention. What is it?
Mine is the same that it has been for the past few years. Take care of myself. I have to say, last year I would have received an A. Sure there were months I did better than others, but overall, I returned to what I set as most important as an overall goal for the year.
Make sure to take some time to consider how you stood in your own way as well. I know for a fact how I did this. I was asked to speak at an international conference and I chose to turn it down. Yes, it was kind of a big deal. At the moment of the decision though, my family's needs were a bigger deal. {It would have been right in the thick of back-to-school!} So, that international speaking career was put on hold for a little longer. And because my intention was to take care of myself, I really was OK with it.
So, now it's your turn:
- What worked in 2010?
- What needs improvement?
- What will you continue working on in an effort to improve something else?
- What is your plan, goal or intention for 2011?
If de-cluttering pops up on your 2011 "things to improve", be sure to hop on over to the 31 Days of Organizing Tips happening over on The Mental Clutter Coach during the month of January.
Then, meet me back here next week when we'll take a look at why New Year's Resolutions fall apart {and why this post had nothing to do with Resolutions!}
Thanks for tuning in!
Keepin' it Tidy,
April
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April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect
