News Post

End of the Year Check-In for You and Your Practice

By: Calle Mendenhall, Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP

The end of the year is my favorite time to check in with myself on how I’m doing personally and professionally.  The end of the year is an obvious mark and with external factors like cold air and daylight savings time drawing us inside our homes, it’s an easier time to find quiet time for self-reflection.  What went right this year?  What went wrong?  What do I feel like is missing?  If you are someone who makes goals for themselves every January, working through a year-end review can help shed light on what goals would be most important to you.  Am I in the right practice area?  Is it time for me to retire?  Do I enjoy the people I work with?

Self-reflection has a number of benefits.  It helps increase our self-awareness, gives us a greater sense of control, betters our decision-making skills, and creates opportunities for increased alignment with our core values. [1]  It’s important to note that self-reflection should not become self-rumination. [2]  This exercise is not an invitation for a pity party.  It is simply an opportunity for us to learn about ourselves.

Below is a list of compiled topics and questions I have found to help guide my end of the year check-in.  Maybe you look at this list and immediately decide you don’t have the time or don’t want to do it.  Maybe you look at this list and decide on journaling pages for each question or topic.  Maybe you select a few that stand out to you.  There is no prize or CLE credit for working through this, nor is there a right way to do it, only the hope that it positively impacts you as you prepare for a new year.

• What were my biggest achievements this year?
• What hard issue(s) did I navigate successfully?
• What activities brought me the most joy this past year?
• What hard lessons did I learn?
• What made my life difficult this past year?
• In what ways did I step out of my comfort zone? And, what was the result of stepping out?
• How did I prioritize myself and my own wellbeing this past year?
• Describe the best day of 2024.
• Did I contribute positively to the lives of others? In what ways?
• Did I go to the doctor this past year?
• What habits worked for me this past year? What didn’t?
• How did I handle conflict?
• Did I express gratitude to the people who helped me this past year?
• What was I passionate about this past year?
• What part of my job stresses me the most?
• What part of my job do I love?
• Did I contribute to my professional community in a meaningful way this year?
• Who are three people that I should thank for their role in my life this past year?
• Am I continuing to educate myself-whether personally or professionally?
• Which friendships grew stronger this year? Which ones did not?
• How did I display empathy this year?
• Am I providing more value at my job than I am costing? In what ways am I responsible and in what ways is that outside of my control?
• What activities do I turn to manage stress?
• Do I feel valued at work?
• In what ways can I be more efficient at work?
• What risks did I take? How did they turn out?
• What is one thing I stopped doing this year that benefited me?
• If you could travel back in time to January 2024, what advice would you give yourself?
• Are you satisfied with where your career is headed?
• What skills did you acquire this year?
• Describe your 2024 in one word.

 

[1] https://www.verywellmind.com/self-reflection-importance-benefits-and-strategies-7500858.

[2] Id.