English
Hey-hey, here comes December! A time of festive cheer and grand plans. Some people are already dreaming of their winter holidays, while others are beginning to slowly create their gift list and visit Christmas markets. What do I do during December?
I have my own tradition intended for this magical time of year, one that I have followed for several years now. I want to share it with you too. After all, it's a great time to reflect on your life, your success and your future, when you're standing on the edge of the old and new year!
From December the 1st to December the 24th, I will answer five questions that I write down. It is essential to answer them truthfully, to think them over and analyse each answer, and obtain some benefits for my future development over the next coming year. The following are the five questions I ask myself:
- What did I learn over the past year? You must agree that every day of our lives is an invaluable lesson. A year can feel like a whole training programme! I follow the principle of "life-long learning" and consider new experience as valuable. In answer to this question, I list the skills I have mastered, new knowledge gained, and the opportunities they have created for me over the past year. In short, I run through everything that will help me to be even more successful in the future.
- What's been my most significant achievement that I am proud of? A year is always eventful. What events made me feel excited and grateful? For example, in 2020, I consider the launch of the Lectera platform to be my most significant achievement because I have been striving for this for over half my life. Achievements can also be the skills that were incredibly difficult to learn, the results of a long journey, personal changes, shifts in relationships with loved ones, etc.
- What challenges did I face during the year? It's important to clarify, I don't usually use words like "mistake" or "failure", only "new experience" or "a new challenge". Yes, occasionally, certain events are unpleasant to think about. Still, once a year, you need to do this to remind yourself: no one is perfect. It is perfectly normal to encounter difficulties. It's not normal to give up what you started because you were afraid of them! The most important thing is not to linger over the third question for too long - you should list your so-called "challenges" and carry on down the list, in precisely the same way as in life.
- What discovery have I made for myself? I try to remember everything that has surprised me this year. This question reminds me of how important it is to remain open to new things, not to lose the ability to be surprised and to have the opportunity to enjoy change. You can't assume that you know everything in the world or understand all of the wisdom in the world either. Otherwise, you will lose the necessary flexibility of thinking and forget how to adapt.
- What "superfluous" things did I do that I shouldn't have done? Think about how often you got upset or took active steps when you just needed to relax. Being omnipresent is not the same as being effective. Understanding this helps you avoid burnout. Yes, we all want to be able to do as much as possible in life, for this reason, you must not give up the things that give you pleasure or that make you happy.
Based on the answers to my questions, I establish my goals for the following year. There must be five of them. For each goal, I write a description of how I plan to measure my goals. When I want to achieve them, and why. For example, "lose 10 kg by the beginning of spring to look good wearing my shorts in summer." These details help me to be certain that my goals are realistic, achievable and are essential to me. The single most important thing is to always keep these goals in front of you - put them on a poster or note and keep them in a prominent place.
To properly develop my goals, I also answer the next five questions:
- What skills will I develop next year?
- What new knowledge do I want to learn?
- What will I do for my health?
- What will I do for my family and friends?
- What will I try my best NOT to do?
My December tradition helps me make the most of the past year and get ready for the following one. I hope it will help you too!
