Do you ever reach the end of a month and wonder what you have to show for it?
If you run a business or set professional goals, you likely review your progress each month. I encourage you to adopt a similar practice for your own personal development as well.
Not sure what to assess? Here are several questions to consider:
* What wins did I experience this month?
Highlight moments, completed projects, unexpected successes – they all count!
* What challenges did I face?
Acknowledge what obstacles turned up and how you moved through them.
* What lessons did I learn?
As you scan your entire month, choose a few standout lessons you were reminded of or discovered.
* What progress did I make toward my goals?
Consider goals you’ve set for various time frames: month, quarter, year, and beyond.
* What did I read, watch, and/or listen to?
Books, blogs, podcasts, shows, YouTube videos … make note of helpful content you may wish to refer back to.
* What meaningful connections did I enjoy?
Quality time with one of your children? Coffee with a new colleague? A ‘quick dinner’ with a friend that somehow turned into five hours? Your future self will thank you for jotting these down.
* What memories did I make?
Whether a long-awaited vacation or an impromptu afternoon at the local apple orchard, don’t rely only on your brain to remember; a written record – perhaps with a photo included – will help!
* For what am I especially thankful?
Reflecting on the above questions will likely prompt some gratitudes you’d like to record as well.
Create a file or open a notebook, choose the questions that speak to you, and jot down your responses. Not only does this give you a launching point for planning your next month, it provides an opportunity to celebrate all that you’ve experienced recently as well.
And if you’re an achiever, you could probably do with a bit more celebrating before moving on to the next goal or project. 🙂
What else would you ask in a monthly review?