How to: Evaluate your Year
As I prepare for the new year, I take stock of what worked for me and what did not. Doing an annual year in review helps to bring some of my priorities into focus, gives me a sense of gratitude for the past, and guides what I should leave behind.
One take away from last year was that I shifted my mindset around self-care. The idea of self-care for me has evolved into a version of self-discipline that is grounded in respect for what will serve my future self. I purchased a Peloton bike which helped me get into a consistent routine of working out. Having a convenient and consistent way to exercise was so beneficial for my mental health. Another investment in my well-being included seeing a therapist, a coach, and enrolling in self-coaching scholars.
Another act of self-discipline was paying off debt. This was something that worked really well for me this year and I hope to continue to maintain the current mindset I have around money, finances, and investing. I’ve embraced the less is better, quality > quantity, and really drilling down into the cost-per-use when making any purchases.
One of the things that did not work or could have been better for 2019, hit me when I lease expected it. During my training with Brene Brown this year, it became clear to me what was not working for me. This was not what I expected to happen but nonetheless there I was in the front row, feeling the heat of guilt and shame pour over me. While being trained by one of my idols, I could see why this year has held some real challenges and struggles for me. During the training, I was able to see my part in the issue I was facing over and over again. I walked away from the training not knowing exactly how I was going to fix the issue but knowing that I was responsible for my thoughts and actions.
Connecting with others was a theme this year. I made it a priority to spend time with friends, but the flip side of that was not making my relationship with my partner a priority. We are still in the early stages of parenthood and navigating how to spend quality time together without having family nearby to babysit or lend a hand did start out as a challenge. So it is easier for both of us to spend time with our respective friends while the other primary parents. But as we went through the year we eventually found a babysitter and started to have some date nights out to help us reconnect.
As I start to plan for 2020, I think it’s important to evaluate and learn from the past. I will be trying to amplify the good and minimize what did not help me in the past. If this is a practice that resonates with you and you live in the Bay Area, consider signing up for my workshop. If you are not in the Bay Area and would like to be coached on how to Cultivate your Year yet, sign up with your e-mail here to learn about a special offer.
