With 2025 right around the corner, everyone is looking back at what they have done in 2024. Especially with social media, it can be easy to see everyone else posting about how amazing their year was and think yours was terrible.
Let’s take a look at a few ways you can look back positively this year. Then let’s look at a way to look forward to 2025 without setting unachievable goals.
Looking back
So how do we first look back on the last 12 months? First, grab something to write on or your note app of choice, grab a drink and a comfy seat and let’s go. For each section we have what we’re aiming to do and then some questions to answer.
Reflect on your achievements: Celebrate the milestones you’ve reached – big or small – and acknowledge the hard work that went into them. Did you complete a personal project, learn a new skill, or overcome a challenge? Celebrate your successes, no matter how small they may seem.
- What are some things I’ve done this year that have made me proud of myself?
- Can you think of any small victories or positive habits you developed?
Practising gratitude: Think of people or things in your life who you have felt fortunate to have. These can be small things like your favourite food
- What are some things you are most grateful for in your life right now?
- Who are the people you are most grateful for in your life?
- How can you show this gratitude to others?
Focusing on Growth: Life is all about growing and changing as a person. Take a moment to think about how the last year has changed you, for better and worse.
- How have you grown as a person this year? (e.g., more patient, resilient, confident)
- What specific situations helped you grow?
- What lessons did you learn from these experiences?
- Did you develop any new hobbies or interests?
- How have your perspectives or values shifted?
Embracing the memories: Take a look at photos or videos from the year. What are some great memories that you might have forgotten about? Think about any memorable moments that have happened that make you smile.
- What are your favourite photos or videos from the year?
- Have you got any good stories from this year?
- Have you got any good quotes that make you laugh?
- Can you share a positive experience from this year?
Looking forward
Planning for the future can always be daunting. How can we look forward, set goals and not make them unachievable? Let’s go through some pointers on how to think about some goals or things we want to achieve in the next 12 months.
Making a plan
The main reason why it can be hard to finish goals is if they’re unrealistic. One framework for setting goals is the SMART method. This acronym makes you think about 5 main things you need to think about when setting goals to ensure they are easy to follow and simple enough to complete. Here are what the five sections for SMART are and some questions to ask yourself as you set your new goals:
Specific: Clearly define what you want to happen
- What exactly do I want to achieve?
- Who is involved?
- Where will it take place?
- When will I start and complete this goal?
Measurable: How can you quantify how close you are to your goal
- How will I track my progress?
- Where will I track my progress? e.g a journal or app
- What data or metrics can I use?
- How will I know when I have achieved my goal?
Achievable: Make sure your goal is not overly ambitious
- Is this goal realistic and attainable for me?
- Do I have the resources to achieve my goal? If not what can I do to gain these?
- Are there potential obstacles, and how will I overcome them?
- Can I break down the goal into smaller, more manageable steps?
Relevant: Make sure your goal aligns with your personal interests and values
- Is this goal aligned with my overall values and priorities?
- Does it contribute to my long-term vision?
- Is it worth the time and effort required?
- How will achieving this goal benefit me personally or professionally?
Timebound: Creating a timeframe for your goal creates boundaries.
- When exactly do I want to achieve this goal?
- What are the key milestones or deadlines along the way?
- Will I set regular check-in points to review my progress?
- What are the consequences if I don’t meet the deadline?
Manifesting
Another way to achieve goals is to manifest. Manifesting to visualise a goal with the belief that doing so will make it more likely to happen.
Here are some examples of manafesting:
- Visualising the goals being completed in your head
- Doing affirmations about your goals
- Creating mood boards around your goals
If you want to know more about manifestation, I encourage you to read “Manifest” by Roxie Nafousi. It talks in-depth about how to manifest and ways it can help achieve goals.
Conclusion
Hopefully, with these steps, you can reflect positively on this year and look forward to 2025. I hope everyone has a great festive period and cheers to 2025.
I’d love to hear how your year has been and how you’re setting yourself up for 2025. Please share one of your reflections in the comments below!