The period between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, often called the “liminal week,” is a unique time for personal reflection. The holiday celebrations are winding down, and the new year is just around the corner. It’s a natural pause, a time to look inward and set the stage for what’s next. These reflections don’t just shape your personal life—they can have a profound impact on your career. Here’s how you can use this time to grow professionally.
1. Reviewing the Past Year
The first step in reflection is to look back. What were your greatest career achievements this year? Did you secure a promotion, complete a major project, or strengthen key professional relationships? Equally important is acknowledging challenges or mistakes. Use them as opportunities for growth rather than setbacks.
How to Apply This to Your Career:
- Create a “Career Year in Review” document, noting milestones, skills gained, and lessons learned.
- Identify patterns: Are there recurring challenges you need to address? Successes to replicate?
- Reach out to mentors or peers for feedback on how you’ve grown or areas to develop further.
2. Setting New Intentions
Reflection naturally leads to forward-thinking New Years Resolutions. Once you’ve reviewed the past year, consider what you want to achieve next. This is about more than resolutions; it’s about setting purposeful, actionable goals that align with your long-term vision.
How to Apply This to Your Career:
- Set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals for the year ahead.
- Consider both short-term goals (e.g., mastering a software tool) and long-term ones (e.g., transitioning to a leadership role).
- Coachability
- Visualize your ideal career trajectory and identify actionable steps toward it.
3. Assessing Life Balance
The post-holiday calm is an excellent time to evaluate your work-life balance. Were you overly stressed or burned out this year? Did your personal life take a backseat to professional demands, or vice versa? Balance is essential not just for happiness but also for sustained career success.
How to Apply This to Your Career:
- Set boundaries: Define clear work hours and protect personal time.
- Invest in self-care routines that energize you for professional challenges.
- If your current role makes balance impossible, consider having an honest conversation with your manager or exploring alternative career paths.
4. Cultivating Gratitude and Letting Go
Gratitude fosters a positive mindset, while letting go of what no longer serves you opens up space for new opportunities. Reflect on what you’re thankful for in your career—mentors, meaningful work, or supportive colleagues—and acknowledge habits or patterns that need to change.
How to Apply This to Your Career:
- Write a gratitude list focused on your professional life.
- Identify one unproductive habit or limiting belief to leave behind as you step into the new year.
- If necessary, consider what relationships, roles, or projects no longer align with your goals.
Bringing It All Together
Reflection isn’t just a personal exercise—it’s a professional necessity. By taking the time to thoughtfully review, plan, and reset during this transitional period, you can step into the new year with clarity and purpose.
Use these reflections as a foundation for your career development. Whether you’re striving for a promotion, seeking better work-life balance, or simply aiming to enjoy your work more, this practice will help you grow not just as an employee but as a whole person.
This week isn’t just downtime; it’s your runway to the future. Take advantage of the calm to look back, look forward, and step boldly into the new year.
Action To Happiness wrote an interesting article that successfully recorded what people truly cared about in retrospect during the Christmas to new years period. To read more on what real people wish the spend more time on in their life click here!
Tips for the New Year from Jesse Itzler:
- Add a winning habit every quater
- Create six mini adventures a year
- Do 1 defining thing a year
- Say yes to everything
- Take three hours a day for yourself
- Prioritise adventure: Make the journey of your life an adventure. This outlook pens you up to new experiences and adventures that make life worth living.
- Break things down into digestible bites
Choose from the interview courses available here or buy Filtered OUT The Workbook on Amazon here.
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