We have 2.5 months left in this year before we’ll all get inundated with New Year’s resolutions and conversations about goals.
I bet you’ll also spot posts on LinkedIn about starting on those goals early, eg by working on them in December.
I’m a fan of that approach because come January, you already have momentum and are less likely to stop when February hits.
How far have you come already, though?
The coming days and weeks are a great opportunity to not just look ahead but to also reflect on the progress you’ve made. I have no doubt you’ve grown personally and professionally this year, so grab a pen and a piece of paper and write down your answers to these questions:
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What important goals did you set yourself at the start of the year and which of them did you achieve?
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What was the impact of achieving these goals?
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What have you done this year that you’re really proud of?
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What happened in 2023 that has changed how you think about your professional career for the year ahead?
When we set ourselves goals and targets it’s easy to forget how far we’ve come already. Especially during times when we’re working hard to accomplish something and we feel like we’re not making progress.
Let me share a personal example: Annika has been going through the ‘4 month sleep regression’ that is a natural part of a baby’s development (and that I had no idea was coming!). She went from sleeping reliably for about 3 hours at a time to suddenly waking up 10-12 times a night (!!) for feeding and being settled back to sleep. It was draining and we needed to do something about it.
We’ve been working with a fantastic sleep consultant for the last 3 weeks. Annika made constant progress but I didn’t always see it. When I took her for a visit to Germany, she started sleeping better but I was still so sleep deprived and worn out, that I couldn’t recognize how far she’d come. When you’re up at 3am, you’re not very coherent, not the most patient and you find yourself thinking ‘how will I ever get through this?’. The days and nights seem long and tiring.
A call with our consultant helped put things into perspective, because those 10-12 wake-up’s 2 weeks ago have turned into 2 wake ups with 4 hour blocks in between. She does need to wake up because she needs to fill her little stomach with more milk. But I can handle 2 feeds a night much better than 10 interruptions.
Step back and look at the big picture
It’s tempting to stay stuck in the weeds when you’re busy with everyday life, work, family, hobbies and all the things that fill your 24 hours. You’re not doing yourself any favors, however, by ignoring the bigger picture and how far you’ve come.
Maybe you didn’t get the promotion you hoped for. Or you were rejected for the job you applied for. What did you learn along the way, though? Did you become better at salary negotiations and job interviews? Did you find courage to ask for something you’d never done before?
As you look toward the rest of this year and the beginning of 2024, I encourage you to not just find new shiny goals to pursue but to also reflect on your progress so far.
Who are you today compared to the person you saw in the mirror on January 1st 2023?
Celebrate your achievements and let them remind you that even when the big milestones don’t happen as planned, you’re still moving and making progress.
It would make my day to hear from you! Let me know 1 thing you’re proud of this year.
Have a great week!
Eva