It might be hard to believe, but it’s nearing the end of 2024. The last days of the year are a great chance to pause, reflect, and think about what you want to embrace in the next 365 days—and what you’re ready to let go of.
Even if you’ve never written down your goals, it’s never too late to start. Whether you take a day to create a colorful reflection with graphics on Photoshop or simply jot down a few notes in your notebook, here’s how you can create an end-of-year reflection that will set you up for success in 2025.
Think about where you were last year
Take a few minutes and think about where you were and what you were doing a year ago. Maybe you never thought you’d be where you are today, or maybe you’re on track with goals you laid out 5 years ago. Whatever the case may be, taking a few minutes to meditate on how far you’ve come is a great way to begin your reflection.
Recognize your accomplishments
Write down all your accomplishments from the last year, big and small. Did your hard work earn you grades you’re proud of? Did you apply for a new job? Whatever steps you took or milestones you reached that had a positive impact on you and others around you, write them down – and don’t be afraid to brag!
Reflect on what you learned
Whether or not you realized it, you learned a lot about the world around you in 2024. Maybe you figured out how to solve a math problem that you struggled with all semester, read your local paper every week, or finally had a conversation in Spanish without having to look up any words. You’ll realize there are endless opportunities to learn and grow all year long, in and out of the classroom.
Outline areas where you would like to improve
We all have things in our lives we can improve upon, whether that be building better study habits, becoming a better writer, strengthening our networking skills or simply setting an earlier bedtime. If you feel that you need extra support or someone to hold yourself accountable, consider finding an accountability buddy or reaching out to your school’s student services center to take advantage of its resources.
Create a list of short-term and long-term goals
The final step in your end-of-year reflection should be to list your short-term and long-term goals for the coming year. This is a list that you can revisit every week, or every semester. You may find that your goals change over time, and that’s okay! Whatever your goals are, being intentional and writing them down helps you outline exactly what you want to achieve, and the steps it will take to get there.
