While we are having a holiday or looking forward to one, we have an opportunity to reflect on the past year and look at all the things (good, bad and perhaps ugly) that may have occurred. This process will definitely help us sharpen our focus and aid us in setting our goals and improve our wellbeing going forward.
There are three areas in our life that we have regular input into and we can use these areas to reflect on the year that was, these are:
- Family life (the most important and a good starting point);
- The workplace; and
- The community group (this comes in many different forms, it may be the sports club, church, school council, P&C, men’s shed, rotary, lions, chamber of commerce, a volunteer group).
When looking at these three areas of our life, consider benchmarks that we may have set, and achievements and/or failures that we have had along the way?
Our Family Life – have we fulfilled our personal goals for the year?
- Have I had some me time? (for blokes this is cave time, for ladies it is quite often simply shopping or getting their hair done);
- Families/relationships, have I been working on them?
- Did I have that family holiday?
- How’s that bucket list going? Have I done at least one thing this year on the list?
- Am I identifying/maintaining my passions and interests?
The Workplace
- Business and Financial Review – budgets – how did I go?
- Planning for Reward for Effort can come in many ways. Recognition/acknowledgement – positive affirmation, team bonding, socialising, professional development, extra holidays (time-off in lieu), other bonus (can be anything), increase in salary.
- Increasing job satisfaction, am I enjoying the journey?
- Am I looking out for my work mates?
The Community Group
- Am I involved?
- Am I continuing to learn new things?
- Am I a positive and helpful participant?
We sometimes take things for granted so we need to make sure we relish and appreciate our achievements; a lot happens in a year. The benefits of reflecting on the past year are insightful for our wellbeing. Some of the benefits are:
- We realise the enormous number of things achieved (big or small) across the three areas in our life and that it is important to feel good about it.
- Reflecting allows us to take a break from being in the thick of things (a real break) and reset our goals and priorities in an orderly and informed manner to ensure we are not over committed. This will get our energy levels up and running again for next year.
A quote that I saw, when I attended a long-standing family friend’s funeral, epitomised a great philosophy to life, yearly reflection and our wellbeing …live your life well, do no harm, help where able, always try to find common ground, and enjoy every single day.
The Team
The Regional Men’s Health Initiative
delivered by Wheatbelt Men’s Health (Inc.)
PO Box 768, Northam WA 6401
Phone: 08 9690 2277
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