Neglect New Yr’s Resolutions and Conduct a ‘Previous Yr Evaluate’ As an alternative (#559)

I’m typically requested about how I strategy New Yr’s resolutions. The reality is that I not strategy them in any respect, although I did for many years. Why the change? I’ve discovered “previous 12 months critiques” (PYR) extra knowledgeable, precious, and actionable than half-blindly wanting ahead with broad resolutions. I did my first PYR after a mentor’s younger daughter died of most cancers on December thirty first, eight years in the past, and I’ve finished it yearly since. Her passing was a somber reminder that our days listed below are too valuable to not fill them with the individuals and actions that nourish us most. The PYR takes simply 30–60 minutes and appears like this:

1. Seize a notepad and create two columns: POSITIVE and NEGATIVE.
2. Undergo your calendar from the final 12 months, taking a look at each week.
3. For every week, jot down on the pad any individuals or actions or commitments that triggered peak optimistic or destructive feelings for that month. Put them of their respective columns.
4. When you’ve gone by way of the previous 12 months, have a look at your notepad record and ask, “What 20% of every column produced probably the most dependable or highly effective peaks?”
5. Primarily based on the solutions, take your “optimistic” leaders and schedule extra of them within the new 12 months. Get them on the calendar now! Guide issues with mates and prepay for actions/occasions/commitments that you understand work. It’s not actual till it’s within the calendar. That’s the 1st step. Step two is to take your “destructive” leaders, put “NOT-TO-DO LIST” on the prime, and put them someplace you possibly can see them every morning for the primary few weeks of 2026. These are the individuals and stuff you *know* make you depressing, so don’t put them in your calendar out of obligation, guilt, FOMO, or different nonsense.

That’s it! In the event you attempt it, let me know the way it goes.

And simply keep in mind: it’s not sufficient to take away the destructive. That merely creates a void. Get the optimistic issues on the calendar ASAP, lest they get crowded out by the bullshit and noise that may in any other case fill your days.

Good luck and godspeed, everybody!

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