For greater than a decade, every year, I’ve been assembly with two pals to do a “look again/look ahead” train.
Generally we break this train into two conferences; this 12 months, we did each components in the identical assembly.
How will we conduct this “look again/look ahead” train?
- Meet in individual, if doable
- Have a pad of fine paper and good markers at hand
- Convey look again/look ahead pages from earlier years
I discover this train terribly useful, but when I’m being sincere, I don’t assume I’d do it alone. It takes a number of hours, lots of onerous considering and soul-searching; I’m unsure I’d carve out the time to do it 12 months after 12 months if I wasn’t doing it with pals. Accountability!
As a result of the three of us do it collectively, we don’t neglect to do it, and we find time for it. Additionally, we take time to speak about our insights and observations, about ourselves and one another. That dialog can be extraordinarily useful.
Every of us does this train barely otherwise, so I’ll describe how I do it.
As an example, I exploit this train to discover my work life. I be aware essential private milestones, however for context, somewhat than to carefully observe what occurred.
Look Again at 2023
To do the “look again,” to jog my reminiscence, I reviewed my “23 for 23” list and my digital calendar.
On one web page of fine paper, in separate bins, I famous:
- My one-word theme for the 12 months: for 2023, “Wave”
- My annual problem: #GoOutside23in23
- Private milestones: reminiscent of celebrating my in-laws’ anniversary, giving the graduation tackle for my daughter’s high-school commencement, jury obligation, Justice O’Connor’s loss of life
- Journey: each private and work, together with holidays and conferences
Most of my entries are associated to inventive initiatives I’ve labored on, so that they every have their very own field; for example:
A few of my bins are extra idiosyncratic, for example:
- Didn’t work: I famous issues that didn’t work out, or that failed altogether; for example, I attempted to determine an thought for an audio-book from my materials, and haven’t cracked that but
- Realized: I made a listing of issues I noticed; for example, I noticed that going to conferences may be very helpful for me, and ought to be extra of a precedence; I additionally realized that I wish to spend extra time studying social media (sure, extra)
On the finish of the “look again” half of this train, I all the time say, “Wow, I can’t imagine every part that occurred this 12 months.”
Creating this type of “ta-da” checklist is de facto useful. I’ve discovered that I can turn out to be very targeted on every part that I wish to do sooner or later, or on the issues that I’ve been struggling to perform.
I get very energized by reminding myself of all of the issues I have finished.
Look Ahead to 2024
No shock, my “look ahead” is much less particular and extra aspirational.
For 2024, on one other web page of fine paper, I included all the most important classes that I used to “look again”—additionally my one-word theme of “Revisited” and problem of #Write24in24—in addition to classes reminiscent of:
- Anniversaries: 2024 marks a milestone date for my marriage, my children’s literature reading groups, and The Happiness Challenge guide
- Paperback: the paperback of Life in 5 Senses
- Adventures: My “24 for twenty-four” checklist consists of “Go on 2+4 adventures” so I’ve a field with doable adventures
- Admonitions: I wrote sure phrases in large letters, reminiscent of GROW ALL and CONVENE and WATERCOLOR
- Main to-dos: I listed objects reminiscent of “Replace my workplace” “New product”
- Massive Objectives: for example, doing one thing for TV, writing sometimes for outdoor shops, image guide
- Secrets and techniques of Maturity: I wish to make progress on this subsequent large guide venture
Simply because the “look again” helps remind me of what I’ve achieved within the earlier 12 months, the “look ahead” helps me articulate what I wish to accomplish within the new 12 months.
Placing all of it on one web page, within the briefest doable type, retains this train manageable. It additionally means it’s simple to maintain a file helpful of all of the earlier years’ sheets.
I’m struck by how typically a theme will repeat 12 months after 12 months earlier than it lastly will get resolved; then again, generally a theme that appeared essential at one level will vanish.
These pages give me an actual feeling of each continuity and alter—in my pursuits, values, strengths, and weaknesses.
How do you look again and look ahead in your work life?
