Wherever you are in the world, and whatever calendar you follow, the start of a new year is a great opportunity to stop a while and take stock.

For me, curling up in a quiet spot with a notebook, for an hour or so (or sometimes more like 3 or 4… anybody else High Literary?) to reflect on what I’ve been up to over the last 12 months, and all the plans and ideas I have for the next 12, is one of the best parts of the year end.

…If you’re thinking “that really doesn’t sound like a good time to me” then hear me out first!

You really don’t have to be a massive fan of writing to make the most of this. For you it may be more helpful to just jot down a couple of words to remind you of your goals and the things you want to do differently in the new year. You could doodle your goals! You could record your thoughts as a video or audio clip on your phone, or stick relevant images on your noticeboard or mirror.

Whatever is going to work for you! The point of this exercise is not to feel like a chore, but to help you to think and to go into the new year with some sense of purpose.


So why not take some time to reflect on your own experiences over the last 12 months, and think about what you might want to do more (or less!) of over the next year. Below you’ll find some questions and prompts to get you thinking, but you can also download the (more detailed) worksheet version of this exercise from the hoozyu platform.

This isn’t about coming up with a bunch of unrealistic resolutions that you follow for a couple of weeks and then promptly forget about - this is your life! What do you want out of the next year? Where are you heading? What new experiences are you seeking? What new knowledge or skills do you want to develop?…


Looking back over 2017…

What went really well for you this past year?

What were the biggest challenges you faced this year.

What has been your biggest learning this year?

What one idea, or change in perspective had the biggest impact on you this year?

And finally: What have you most enjoyed doing in 2017?


…And forward to 2018!

What are you most excited about in the new year?

What new challenges are you facing in 2018?

What are you hoping to achieve?

What are you hoping to progress in?

What do you want to do more of?


Don’t forget to look at your data!

Check out the list of Interests on your hoozyu Summary Report.

How much do your highest Interest scores align with your answers to the above questions? The likelihood is that you’ll see a lot of overlap, but if you find that they don’t match up much, think about what this might mean in terms of staying energised in the long term.

Your motivation scores indicate the areas that are likely to provide a sustainable level of energy and interest for you. That’s not to say that you can’t do other things (and do them well!) but it can be helpful to identify possible stumbling blocks, and how you can utilise your inherent motivations to keep you energised - whatever you’re doing!


All the best in the new year, and have a fantastic 2018!