The end of the year can feel like life is stepping on your head. Everyone is overwhelmed with holiday shopping, finishing end-of-year projects, and deciding which family members to avoid or visit during the holidays.
Because this time of year is notoriously stressful and seasonal depression starts to kick in, doing some self-reflection can offer some relief and peace of mind.
According to Betterup.com, self-reflection is taking time to observe and analyze one’s thoughts, motivations, desires, and attitudes. It’s a way of looking at your life and taking account of what you have done.
Self-reflection has many benefits, such as helping you understand yourself, gaining a new perspective, and improving your decision-making skills.
Additionally, self-reflection can help you create and achieve new goals. If you want to reap the benefits of being introspective and end the year positively, try out these 11 self-reflection questions.
Personal growth questions
These questions are all about you and how you’ve grown as a person.
- What made me happy this year, or when was I the happiest?
Our brains are hardwired to focus on adverse events. It’s a way to protect ourselves from potential harm. Yet, always focusing on the negative can leave us depressed and overwhelmed.
No matter what you’ve been through this year, there’s definitely something positive you can appreciate. Maybe spending time with friends made you happy. Perhaps you were happiest when you had some alone time. Remember your happy moments and consider incorporating more happiness in your life for the coming year.
2. How did I practice joy this year?
Joy is both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it means a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. As a verb, it means to express great pleasure or delight.
To me, joy is more of an action than a verb. It is a feeling you ignite when life is grand and difficult. Joy is a buried treasure waiting to be discovered.
By asking yourself how you practiced joy, you remind yourself that you are your ultimate source of happiness.
3. What are my small wins?
Small wins are the accomplishments that not everyone sees, such as decluttering your home or waking up an hour early to work out.
While it’s important to acknowledge your external wins, such as getting a promotion, running a marathon, or having a child, only you can recognize the internal changes you made to make your success possible.
What are the small but mighty victories that only you or a select few know about? This could be eating healthier, maintaining your car, or trying some new recipes. Take time to acknowledge those crucial habits that helped you stay focused.
4. What goals did I achieve?
Did you crush all your goals this year? If so, bravo. Did you achieve half of your goals? Achieving half is still an accomplishment. Did you reach one goal? Even if you’ve only achieved one small goal, it’s still worth celebrating.
5. How did I care for myself — physically, mentally, and emotionally?
How have you taken care of yourself besides getting your nails done or buying a new pair of shoes?
Consider how you’ve taken care of your body this year. Have you been drinking more water, exercising regularly, or incorporating healthy eating habits?
Mental self-care can look like taking social media detoxes, reading more, or talking to a therapist.
Emotional self-care can include:
- Allowing yourself to cry when needed.
- Opening up to a close friend.
- Allowing others to help you when needed.
Relationship questions
Not just looking at romantic relationships, these questions focus on the people in your life.
6. Who cheered me on and encouraged me to do my best?
Haters come and go, but true friends are forever. Can you think of that friend who consistently believed in you? The friend who encourages you to chase after your dreams?
Before the end of the year, take a moment to show that friend you care. Maybe spend some one-on-one time or pick up the phone to thank you.
7. Who did I help?
After considering who has helped you, think about who you’ve helped. There’s at least one person whose life is better because of you. Maybe you know that person, or perhaps they are a stranger, but take a moment to pat yourself on the back for adding some good to this world.
Finances
Reflecting on money can be uncomfortable, but doing so can steer you in the right direction.
8. What were my financial achievements?
Now, you might think that you haven’t accomplished anything since you’re not a millionaire. However, financial achievements can mean a variety of things.
It’s an achievement to pay all your bills on time every month, to have enough money to go out for dinner once a week, and to have savings, no matter the amount. Consider how you’ve used your money this year and progressed.
9. How was I good with money this year?
Many of us have a habit of thinking we’re bad with money. Maybe we spent too much at the summer sale, or you went out one night, and your drink bill resembles your light bill.
We’ve all made mistakes, but mistakes don’t define us. You might be better at money than you think. Some ways you know you’re good with money include:
- Following a budget.
- Spending on things that bring value to your life.
- Saving, even if it’s a small amount.
Career questions
You’ve dedicated countless hours to your career. Take a moment to appreciate how far you’ve come.
10. What achievements in my career am I most proud of?
Employee of the Month, Most Sales for the Quarter, and Best Office Coffee are great accolades to be proud of. However, what career achievement are you most proud of?
Consider what you’ve achieved this year, and take a moment to value what your career accomplishes.
11. What has been the overall impact of my work?
Sometimes, we can get into the routine of work and just go through the motions. However, chances are your work has made an impact.
If you’ve shown up daily for work, you’ve made someone’s life easier.
2024 has been quite the year. There have been presidential elections, inflation, wars, and Beyonce’s release of a country music album. No matter what happens in the world, looking at your life and saying you’re proud of what you’ve done and who you’ve become is essential.
