It's Christmas....well almost

Christmas is only three months away! Like we say every year, hasn’t it gone fast? Before we know it, nativities will appear in shopping centers, and Santa chairs will be filled with men in red suits cheering (or terrifying) young children. Lights will be festooned across houses in celebration, and we will be subject to endless sales and bargains enticing us to spend our money.

Before the Christmas rush begins and the busyness of the season saps your time, now is a good time to review your goals from this year and start thinking about next year.

At this time of year, my family often avoids or ignores me as I tend to withdraw a little as I reflect on my year. This is self-learning for me—I need to try and be more engaging with those around me when assessing my life. I don’t think I have mastered this yet, but I'm trying.

I withdraw a little to give myself space to assess my progress against my goals, assess my vision board, and reflect on what I have done well, what I need to work on, and what I have and can learn from the year. This process builds my mental health and increases my self-awareness. A few years back I was always angry. This process of reflection helped me identify my triggers, and deal with the root cause of the issues, making the appropriate changes. As a result, I am much more pleasant to be around – well, most of the time, anyway.

Here is a quick 10-step process for assessing your goals and setting yourself up for a great start to the new year.

1. Reflect on the Journey So Far

Before diving into the details, take a moment to reflect on your journey this year. What were your major wins? What challenges did you overcome? What did you learn about yourself? Reflection is more than ticking off goals; it's about appreciating the growth, resilience, and adaptability you've shown along the way. Write down your reflections—both the highs and the lows—as they can offer valuable insights for the future.

2. Assess Your Goals

Review your original goals with a fresh perspective. Which goals have you achieved? Which ones are still in progress? And which might no longer be relevant? It’s normal for priorities to shift throughout the year, and acknowledging these changes is a sign of growth, not failure. Be honest in your assessment; clarity here is key to making meaningful adjustments.

3. Celebrate Your Achievements

Take time to celebrate your successes, no matter how big or small. Achieving a goal, reaching a milestone, or even making consistent progress toward a long-term objective deserves recognition. Celebrating these moments not only boosts your morale but also reinforces positive behavior, making it more likely you'll continue striving towards your goals.

4. Identify Areas for Improvement

Once you’ve celebrated your wins, shift focus to areas that need improvement. Look at the goals you haven't yet achieved and ask yourself why. Is it a matter of time, resources, or motivation? Perhaps certain goals were overly ambitious or simply lost relevance. Identifying these factors can help you reframe your approach, whether that’s scaling back, adjusting timelines, or finding new ways to stay motivated.

5. Revisit and Refine Your Goals

Goals aren’t set in stone. If some of your targets now seem unrealistic or misaligned with your current priorities, don’t hesitate to refine them. Adjusting your goals isn’t about giving up; it’s about adapting to where you are now. Use the SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to refine your goals, ensuring they are still aligned with your overall vision.

6. Set New Short-Term Targets

With just a few months left in the year, set some specific short-term targets that can help you make significant strides toward your goals. These could be smaller, actionable steps that are easier to achieve in a limited timeframe. Breaking down your goals into bite-sized tasks not only makes them more manageable but also keeps you focused and motivated as the year wraps up.

7. Create an Action Plan

With your refined goals and new targets in place, create a clear action plan. Outline the steps you need to take, set deadlines, and allocate resources. Consider what tools, support, or habits you need to put in place to ensure success. An action plan provides a roadmap to follow and keeps you accountable as you work towards finishing the year strong.

8. Anticipate Challenges and Plan for Them

As you set your sights on completing your goals, anticipate potential challenges that could arise in the remaining months. Whether it’s a busy holiday season, work commitments, or personal responsibilities, planning for these obstacles can help you stay on track. Build in flexibility where possible and have backup plans ready so that unexpected setbacks don’t derail your progress.

9. Stay Motivated and Accountable

Motivation tends to wane as the year progresses, especially if you feel like you’re racing against the clock. To keep your energy up, revisit your "why"—the reasons you set these goals in the first place. Stay accountable by sharing your goals with a friend, mentor, or accountability partner who can provide support and encouragement. Regularly checking in on your progress can also keep you motivated and help maintain momentum.

10. End the Year on a Positive Note

Regardless of how many goals you’ve ticked off your list, aim to finish the year on a positive note. Recognize your effort, learn from your experiences, and carry those lessons forward. Use this review not just as a look back but as a springboard for the new year. Whether you’ve smashed your goals or faced setbacks, the most important thing is that you’ve grown along the way.

Working through each step will help you review the past and move forward to the future. You have awesomeness inside you. Setting goals, reviewing, adapting, and moving forward will help everyone see how wonderfully made you are!

Visit www.philkinney.com for great self-coaching guides that will help you live your best life. I’m cheering on your success!