Want to set yourself up for a great year ahead? One of the best ways to do it is with a New Year evaluation using reflection questions.
In this post, you’ll find 12 of my favourite reflection questions that’ll help you figure out what worked and didn’t work last year so that you can plan your new year goals and have your best year yet. Want to know what they are? Keep scrolling to find out!
What are reflection questions?
Before I share the reflection questions that make a great New Year evaluation, let’s quickly talk about what reflection questions are and why you should use them.
Reflection questions are questions that help you look back over and reflect upon the things you’ve been doing (in this case over the last 12 months), what you did or didn’t accomplish and how you felt. They help you gain a better understanding of your strengths and weakness and what you want going forward – which makes it so much easier to set your goals for the coming year.
A lot like journaling prompts, reflection questions help you tap into your thoughts and emotions. They help you to identify your core values and the things that matter most which helps you not only figure out your priorities but set goals that truly resonate. Goals that you’re much more likely to accomplish because they are in line with your hopes and dreams.
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The benefit of reviewing your year…
One of my favourite benefits of using reflection questions like these to review your year is that they help you spot things about yourself and your goals that you may not have noticed otherwise.
For instance, spending time thinking about why you may not have accomplished a certain goal can help highlight a skill you need to work on and looking at goals you did accomplish can reveal the things that motivate you the most so you can do more of them.
I’ve been using reflection questions any time I want to review my progress and as journaling prompts to help me get to know myself better for quite a few years now and they always help me to get unstuck and gain clarity about what I want and the goals I need to set to set to make it happen.
And they can totally do the same for you too!
If you’ve never tried reflection questions before – especially reflection questions for your New Year evaluation – I highly recommend giving them a try!
So, are you ready to dive into these new year’s reflection questions and evaluate your year? Let’s do this!
How to answer these reflection questions…
First, set aside time and find a quiet place so you can spend some time reflecting on the questions undisturbed. My favourite time to answer reflections questions is first thing during the morning as part of my journaling routine. There’s nothing quite like those first few minutes of the day when everyone else is still in bed for peace and clarity!
Make sure you’re totally honest with your answers. There’s no right or wrong just what matters to you – so be brave and share your honest thoughts. The more honest you are, the easier it’ll be to set goals for the coming year that truly resonate. You can always shred or burn what you wrote afterwards!
Try to write without judgement and stay detached from your evaluation as best you can. The more detached you are, the more open you’ll be to the lessons you’re about to learn.
Know that you don’t have to wait until the end of the year to answer these reflection questions too. They make great journaling prompts any time you’re feeling stuck, frustrated or want a fresh start!
Okay, onto the reflection questions to ask yourself so that you can evaluate your year and set yourself up for a great 2021!
12 reflection questions for your new year evaluation…
#1. Which projects brought you the most personal pleasure?
#2. What relationships did you develop that you’re excited about? Why?
#3. What positive breakthroughs did you make that have impacted your mindset for the better?
#4. What projects flopped in the past year?
#5. What tasks or project did you find yourself dreading?
#6. What didn’t you accomplish in the past year?
#7. What did you invest time and money into that gave you the least return in profit?
#8. Why did you set these goals? Did you really want to achieve them?
#9. What contributed to these goals slipping by without your full effort?
#10. What goals are you enthusiastic about achieving this year?
#11. What are you going to do differently at work or in business this year? Why will you do it differently?
#12. Where are you going to be focusing most of your time and energy this year?
Reflection questions for your New Year evaluation…
There you have it! Twelve new year reflection questions that will help you to reflect on the past year and figure out what worked and what didn’t so that you can plan your new year goals and set yourself up to have your best year yet!
Want more reflection questions like these?? Check out my Journaling board on Pinterest. Oh and whilst you’re there, don’t forget to hit that follow button if you’re not following me on Pinterest already!
Be sure to pin this post so that you can come back to it whenever you need to too!
That’s it for this post! Did you like these year-end reflection questions? Which was your favourite? Let me know in the comments!
Until next time…
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About the Author
Hey there! In case we haven’t met, I’m Sarah, the founder of A Simple and Contented Life. The online coaching practice that helps moms and mompreneurs with an online biz create more balance so that they can thrive both at home and at work WITHOUT feeling like they have to choose between the two.
A certified master life coach, transformation coach, goal success coach and self-published author, I’m also an Executive Contributor for Brainz Magazine, a proud mum of two, a besotted wife, breast cancer survivor and your mentor for making a change for the better.
When I’m not helping my clients and club members create a great home life and business of their dreams, you’ll find me in my favourite Starbucks curled up in a chair, book in one hand, hazelnut latte in the other or attempting to walk my somewhat lazy Frenchie pup Arthur!
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