*Sigh*… Time for personal reflection. That almost seems like crazy talk in these crazy times when there’s not even enough time to get through all of your emails or spend some time with your friends and family. And I’m standing here on my soap box telling you to take some time out for personal reflection? I know. Now you’re probably thinking “well how much time,…maybe I can squeeze it in between dinner and going to sleep.” I am suggesting at least 1 hour a week. If you can make it the same day and time every week, even better! I know you can find at least one full hour of time that you can take out of your undoubtedly extremely busy life to sit down alone, avoid any distractions, and reflect on your life. So do it!
What should you reflect on? Good question! Here is a bullet-point list of the things you should always ask yourself during your personal reflection time:
- Did I spend my time wisely over the last week?
- What did I enjoy doing most?
- What did I dislike doing most?
- How could I have spent my time better/more productively?
- Am I making progress toward my life’s goals?
- What can I do next week to make progress on at least one of my major goals?
- How are my most important relationships going?
- How can I make them stronger and better next week?
- What is the most important thing I need to get done next week and how can I get it done quickly and well?
These questions will help to orient you in determining how you are doing in your life according to your own standards. It will also help you determine what you need to do in order to get back on track if you’re off track, or give you a head start on the next week to keep you going full speed ahead if you’re on the right track.
Any time you have left, you can use however you want. Just sit and relax, meditate, pray, read something interesting, listen to some music, draw a picture, whatever you enjoy doing and is relaxing for you would be a good choice.
Take some time to relax and reflect on your life each and every week for at least one hour. It’s like pulling into a rest stop, checking the map, and catching a quick bite to eat and a nap before getting back on the road of success. Do it. Enjoy it!
